Video 48: RIP, MONA LISA, 97/ MOVIE ADS (1939-1980)

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran and legendary actress Mona Lisa (1922- 2019) passed away on Sunday afternoon (August 7). She was 97.

The news of Mona Lisa's passing was confirmed by her daughter Vangie Bocobo, where according to her, her Mom died peacefully at home, without experiencing pain.

Born in Tondo on June 22, 1922, Mona Lisa (Gloria Lerma Yatco in real life) started her acting career appearing in bit roles. In 1939, using the name Fleur de Lis, she made history when she became the first actress to wear a bathing suit on the big screen. The movie "Giliw Ko" was LVN Pictures' initial film presentation where Mona Lisa played a supporting role. It topbilled Mila del Sol, Fernando Poe, Sr. and Ely Ramos under the direction of Carlos Vander Tolosa.

More on Mona Lisa- see link: https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/08/25/19/veteran-actress-mona-lisa-passes-away

Image above- From the book, "Mona Lisa, A Portrait (From the Memoirs of a Grandmother" by Celine Beatrice Fabie

LVN Pictures was established in 1939 by three friends--- Doña Narcisa "Sisang" Buencamino de Leon, Carmen Villongco and Eleuterio Navoa, whose initials spelled the name of the company. Their first movie, Giliw Ko, a musical starring Ely Ramos, Fernando Poe, Sr., Mila del Sol and Fleur de Lis (later renamed Mona Lisa) was a sensational box-office hit. However, its succeeding films did not fare well at the tills and in order to save the company, Doña Sisang had to buy out the other stockholders.

Giliw Ko, directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa, is one of the five existing pre-war movies available.

"Giliw Ko" (1939)

LVN Pictures
Release Date: July 29, 1939/ Metropolitan Theater
and August 1-10, 1939/ Grand Theater

Director Carlos Vander Tolosa

Cast Ely Ramos, Fernando Poe, Mila del Sol, Fleur de Lis, Ben Rubio, Precioso Palma, Cecilio Joaquin

"Dilim at Liwanag" (1940)

Atic Inc and X-otic Production
Release Date: March 19-27, 1940/ Grand Theater
Director Eduardo de Castro
Cast Lucita Goyena, Fernando Poe, Ben Rubio, Mona Lisa,

"Tinangay ng Apoy" (1940)

X'Otic Films, Inc.

Release Date September 24- 29, 1940/ Fox

Story Hilaria Labog

Direction Tor Villano

Cast Serafin Garcia, Mona Lisa, Amanding Montes, Prima Vera, Armando Cris, Sonia Reyes, Juanito Lazaga, Pugo & Togo

"Paraluman"

X'otic Films, Inc.

Release Date February 12-19, 1941/ Grand

Story Susana de Guzman

Direction Tor Villano

Cast Fernando Poe, Paraluman, Mona Lisa, Salvador Zaragoza, Amanding Montes, Manuel Eloriaga, Jose Troni, Lina Rosales, Martina Jimenez

"Ang Viuda Alegre" (1941)

X-otic Films Inc.
Release Date: July 31- August 7, 1941/ Times Theater

Music Franz Lehar
In Charge of Production Eduardo de Castro

Director Enrique H. Davila
Cast Lucita Goyena, Fernando Poe, Serafin Garcia, Mona Lisa, Lupe Velasco, Jose Troni, Sonia Reyes, Rosario Ong, Manuel Eloriaga, R. Centenera, Antonia Santos, S. Zaragosa, Juanito

"Intramuros" (1946)

(The Rape of a City)

ABG Productions

Release Date August 11- September 5, 1946/ Illusion

Original Screenplay T.D. Agcaoili

Music/ Orchestration Lucio San Pedro

Produced and Directed by Fernando Poe

Cast Fernando Poe, Mona Lisa, Gregorio Ticman, Zony Quizon/ Introducing Flora Mirasol/ Also Starring Rogelio Nite, Rosa Mia, Jose Sanchez, Davao Santiago, Oscar del Rosario, Tugak, Pugak, Bruno de Romero, Alicia Pastoral

"Kalbario ng Isang Ina" (1946)

Palaris Films

Release Date November 11- 24, 1946/ Illusion

Story and Direction Tor Villano

Cast Mona Lisa, Teddy Benavidez, Rosa Mia/ Also Starring Rogelio Nite, Alfredo de Lara, Lupe Velasco, Quirino Austria, Azucena del Valle/ Featuring Tugak and Pugak

"Bisig ng Batas" (1947)

McLaurin Brothers
Release Date: May 1947
Director Jorge de Santos
Cast Mona Lisa, Ricardo Brillantes, Pacita del Rio, Fernando Royo, Rosa Mia, Vicente Ocampo, Jose Luz Bernardo, Luis Vizconde, Isa Rino

"Hanggang Langit" (1947)

Kayumanggi Pictures

Release Date June 12- 26, 1947/ Dalisay

Direction Paquito Bolero

Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Mona Lisa, Ricardo Brillantes, Engracio Ibarra, Vicente Ocampo, Rosa Mia, Chipopoy, Jose Camia, Bella Flor, Berting (Wonder Boy) Labra

"Pag-ibig at Patalim" (1948)

GLM Prodyctions

Release Date June 14- 22, 1948/ Boulevard

Music Ray Alinsod

Direction Ernesto C. Lopez

Cast Teddy Benavidez, Mona Lisa, Amparo Aquino, Salvador Zaragosa, Luis Vizconde

"Sunset Over Corregidor (Krus ng Digma)"
X'OTIC Productions
Release Date: December 8, 1948/Times
Direction Carlos Vander TolosaCast Linda Estrella, Teddy Benavidez, Mona Lisa, Fernando Royo, Bimbo Danao, Rosa Aguirre, Cris de Vera

"Matimtiman (Babaeng Silangan)"
Pangilinan Productions
Release Date: April 8- 13, 1948/ DalisayStory Fred SantosDirection Fil M. PaculanCast Mona Lisa, Fred Santos, Gil de Leon, Aurora Dizon, Tolindoy, Amelia Saginsin, Ric Carlos, Sonia de Gracia

"Sagur"
X'otic
Release Date: June 9- 19, 1949/Life
Direction Mar I. Esmeralda
Cast Fernando Poe, Mona Lisa, Fernando Royo, Luningning, Bimbo Danao, Armando Cris, Cris de Vera

"Batang Lansangan"
Milagrosa Pictures, Inc.

Release Date: April 3- 11, 1948/ Dalisay
Story R.L. Brillantes

Photography Jesus Nepomuceno
Music S.S. Suarez

In charge of Production Atty. Pascual C. GarciaDirection Jorge de Santos

Cast Ricardo Brillantes, Mona Lisa, Fernando Royo, Pacita del Rio/ Also Starring Vicente Ocampo, Jose Luz Bernardo, Isa Rinio, Ric Bustamante, Ben Cosca, Juanito Guinto, Tony Cruz, Francisco Carel and the Mga Batang Lansangan

"Siyudad sa Ilalim ng Lupa" (1949)

X'Otic Films
(Made by Movietec)

Release Date April 21, 1949/ Life

Story Fausto Gonzales

Arranger Luis Calasanz

Music Josefino Cenizal

Direction Carlos Vander Tolosa

Cast Mona Lisa, Fernando Royo, Luningning, Bimbo Danao/ Also Starring Perla Soliman, Armando Cris, Cris de Vera/ Co-starring Jose Troni, Totoy Torrente, Oscar Obligacion, Matty Torres, Manuel barbeyto, Pedro Faustino, Julio Gonzales/ Introducing Carol Varga

"The 13th Sultan" (1949)

X-Otic Productions

(Made by Movietec)

Release Date September 23- 28, 1949/ Times

Direction Eduardo de Castro

Cast Fernando Poe, Luningning, Fernando Royo, Mona Lisa, Bimbo Danao, Carol Varga, Gil de Leon, Cris de Vera/ Featuring Berting Labra (the 'Sabu' of the Philippines)

"Buhay Alamang (Paglukso'y Patay)" (1952)

Lebran Productions

Release Date September 2, 1952/ Life

Direction Enrique Moreno (Eddie Romero)

Cast Fred Montilla, Anita Linda, Mona Lisa, Tito Arevalo

"Ulila ng Bataan" (1952)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date September 22- October 1, 1952/ Life

Direction Armando Garces

Cast Tessie Agana, Mona Lisa, Sylvia La Torre, Boy Alano/ Introducing Ramon Revilla/ with Precy Ortega, Totoy Torrente, Martin Marfil, Jose de Villa, Ben Medina, Olive La Torre, Batotoy, Aring Bautista, Horacio Morelos, Jose Salameda, Ric Flores

"Insiang" (1976)

Cinemanila Corporation

1976 Filipino Film Festival

Release Date December 25, 1976

Screenplay Mario O'Hara, Lamberto Antonio

Film Editor Augusto Salvador

Cinematography Conrado Baltazar

Music Minda D. Azarcon

Executive Producer Ruby Tiong Tan

Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Hilda Koronel (in the title role), Mona Lisa, Rez Cortez, Marlon Ramirez and Ruel Vernal

FILM REVIEW

by Mario A. Hernando

Originally published at The Philippines Daily Express/ December 31, 1976

Re-published at The URIAN Antholgy 1970-79

---to read, click images to enlarge---

"Itim" (1977)

Cinema Artists Philippines

Release Date January 14, 1977

Screenplay Doy del Mundo, Gil Quito

Cinematography Ely Cruz, Rody Lacap

Production Designer Mel Chionglo

Editing Ike Jarlego, Jr.

Sound Ramon Reyes, Sebastian Sayson, Luis Reyes

Music Max Jocson

Producer Severino Manotok/ Cinema Artists Philippines

Director Mike de Leon

Cast Tommy Abuel, Mario Montenegro, Mona Lisa and Introducing Charo Santos/ Also Starring Moody Diaz, Sarah Joaquin and Susan Valdez

FILM REVIEW by Pio de Castro III

Originally published at The Times Journal, January 18, 1977

Re-published at The URIAN Anthology 1970-77

---to read, click images to enlarge---

"Mananayaw" (`1978)

Emperor Films International, Inc.

Release Date May 14, 1978

Story and Screenplay Jose Dalisay, Jr.

Cinematography Jose Batac, Jr.

Film Editor Segundo Ramos

Music George Canseco

Direction Lino Brocka

Cast Chanda Romero, Phillip Salvador and Marissa Delgado/ Also Starring Mona Lisa, Ben Rubio, Rene Hawkins, Joey Luna/ with the special participation of Alicia Alonzo, Fritz Infante

(Synopsis) Letty (Chanda Romero), a sex model in a supper club “fashion drama”, is the kept woman of Ramon Vergara (Ben Rubio), a politician. He is enamoured with her naive amorality and rewards her with ample favors. Dindo (Phillip Salvador), her partner in the act, is a dreamer who hopes to become big as a legitimate fashion model. His unaffected ways are soothing and precious to Letty.

Ramon sets up Letty in a furnished apartment. His wife, Carina (Mona Lisa), expresses her disgust but allows his indiscretions as long as they remain as temporary arrangements. However, Ramon falls deeply in love with Letty and wants to have a child by her. Letty begins to feel the pressure. She does not want to become pregnant.

She leaves the supper club and showers her affection on Dindo, who, it appears, is also in love with her. Ramon discovers the affair and throws out Letty. She is forced to live with Dindo in his small apartment. But Dindo is the practical type and aspires for a higher standard of living. The two soon realize that they cannot live together. Letty goes back to the supper club and dials Ramon. She is now agreeing to his demands — and to his macho domination.

Source: Lino Brocka: The Artist and His Times

"Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak" (1978)

V.S. Film Co., Inc.

Release Date July 14, 1978

Story Celso Ad Castillo, Ruben Arthur Nicdao

Screenplay Celso Ad Castillo, Ishko Lopez, Lando Perez Jacob

Cinematography Romeo Vitug

Some scenes photographed by Ricardo Remias

Music George Canseco

Direction Celso Ad Castillo

Cast Vilma Santos, Bembol Roco/ Also Starring Robert Talabis, Joonee Gamboa, Angie Ferro, Olivia O' Hara, Mona Lisa, Mario Escudero, Fred Panopio, Adul de Leon and Lito Anzures/ Co-starring Miniong Alvarez, Andres Centenera, Carpi Asturias, Filing Cudia, Yolanda Luna, Mervin Samson, Dolores Pobre/ Special cameo appearance of Jennifer Cortes and Diomedes Maturan

FILM REVIEW:

"Pagputi: Birds of Omen"

by Joel David

Lifted from Unitas Millennial Traversals/ 2015

Part 1- Traversals Within Cinema

---to read, click images to enlarge---

"Atsay" (1978)

Ian Film Productions

Release Date December 25, 1978

The 4th Metro Manila Film Festival Entry

Direction Eddie Garcia

Cast Nora Aunor (in the title role), Ronald Corveau, Armida Siguion- Reyna/ Also Starring Roldan Aquino, Renato Robles, Mona Lisa, Angie Ferro, Bella Flores, Nenita Jana, Roma Roces and Amy Austria/ Introducing Baby Herrera