RIP, LILIA DIZON, 92/ SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY (1948- 58)

Movie ad  of "Kamagong (Bayani ng Mahirap) signed by Lilia Dizon

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran actress Lilia Dizon passed away at 8:20 a.m. this morning (June 15) in her home. She was 92.

Reports said that she died due to lung cancer complications.

Her remains will be cremated today in Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City.

According to ABS-CBN News, Christopher’s sister Toni Abad made a eulogy for their late mother.

“To Pinky, Christopher, Melissa, Corrie, and I, she was simply 'Mom.' But above all she loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all her heart and soul. She was always giving honor and praise to God even during the final days of her life. She often said that nothing can ever separate me from the love of God,” she said.

“When she couldn’t read the Bible anymore I made a vow that would read it to her every night. Those are the most precious nights that I will always treasure in my heart.”

Lilia, whose real name was Claire Strauss, was born in Pampanga in 1928. She was the only child of Filipina Regina Dizon to German-American Jew Abraham Strauss.

From a bombshell, Dizon rose to fame for her acting chops as seen in the 1950s movies under LVN Pictures, including "Bathaluman," "Sanda Wong" and "Kandelerong Pilak."

In 1955, she toured the US for playing the title role in Gerry de Leon’s “Sanda Wong,” giving her the chance to meet Hollywood stars Marlon Brando and Lucille Ball.

In 1956, she won as Asia’s Best Actress at the Cambodia Film Festival for “Kandelerong Pilak," which was directed by National Artist for Film Lamberto Avellana. The Prince of Cambodia, Narodom Sihanouk, who later became the country's king and prime minister, personally gave Lilia the trophy when he visited the Philippines that year.

In 1958, Dizon starred opposite Pancho Magalona in “Glory at Dawn,” and in 1961, she acted alongside Fernando Poe Jr. and Joseph Estrada in Armando Garces’ “Baril sa Baril.”

In 1945, when Lilia was only 17 years old, she married actor-director Gil de Leon and had three children with him, Pinky, Christopher and Melissa. Their marriage lasted for 18 years.

After their separation, Dizon left showbiz and lived in the United States, where she married businessman Antonio Abad and had two two daughters with him, Toni and Corrie.

In 1974, Lilia returned to Philippine showbiz to join her son Christopher in his silver screen debut, Lino Brocka’s “Tinimkang Ka Ngunit Kulang."

Among her last films were “Wrinkles" by director Eric Quizon in 2006, and “Paraiso: Tatlong Kwento ng Pag-asa” in 2007 directed by Ricky Davao, Jun Lana and Joel Ruiz.

Source: Philippine Star https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2020/06/15/2021087/asias-best-actress-lilia-dizon-christopher-de-leons-mom-dies-92

"Kaaway ng Babae" (1948)

LVN Pictures

Release Date November 20-29, 1948/ Dalisay

Story and Direction Nemesio E. Caravana

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Lilia Dizon, Armando Goyena, Alfonso carvajal, Bayani Casimiro, Luis San Juan, Armando Canseco

"Krus na Bituin" (1948)

LVN Pictures

Release Date November 7- 16, 1948/ Center

Direction Gregorio Fernandez

Cast Jaime de la Rosa, Lilia Dizon, Armando Goyena, Tessie Quintana/ Introducing Delia Razon

"Sohrab at Rustum"
LVN Pictures
Release Date: November 22- December 1, 1950/ Life
Direction Nemesio CaravanaCast Rogelio de la Rosa, Lilia Dizon, Armando Goyena, Rosa Rosal, Evelyn Villar

"Pulo ng Engkanto"
LVN Pictures
Release Date March 8- 17, 1951/ Dalisay
Direction Oscar del RosarioCast Lilia Dizon, Pugo and Togo, Alfonso Carvajal/ Also Starring Cecilio Joaquin, Ben Medina, Zony Quizzon, Jose Corazon de Jesus, H. C. Curry, Tony Dantes, Gallardo Acuna, Herminio Alvarez, Ely Ventus, Jerry Tecson

Haring Cobra" (1951)
LVN Pictures
Release Date November 17- 26, 1951/ Life
Story Jose L. Santos
Direction Richard Abelardo
Cast Rogelio dela Rosa, Lilia Dizon, Jose Vergara, Ven Medina, Jose Corazon de Jesus, Elena Acosta

"Bathaluman" (1952)

LVN Pictures

Release Date: July 29- August 7, 1952/ Dalisay

Music Quin Velasco

Direction Enrique Jarlego

Cast Lilia Dizon, Mario Montenegro, Evelyn Villar, Eusebio Gomez, Oscar Keese, Jose de Cordova, Victor Blanco, Nela Alvarez

"Tucydides" (1954)

LVN Pictures

Release Date January 30- February 8, 1954/ Dalisay

Story Dominador Ad Castillo

Music Juan Silos, Jr.

Direction Artemio Marquez

Cast Lilia Dizon, Armando Goyena, Milagros Naval, Cecilia Lopez, Eusebio Gomez, Jose Cris Soto, Florentino Ballecer, Victor Blanco, Pacita Corrales, Belen Velasco

Armando Goyena and Lilia Dizon in LVN Pictures' "Tucydides" (1954)

"Kandelerong Pilak" (1954)

LVN Pictures

Release Date October 12-21, 1954/ Life

Music Juan Silos, Jr.

Direction Lamberto V. Avellana

Cast Lilia Dizon, Teody Belarmino, Tony Santos, Alfonso Carvajal, Johnny Reyes, Jose de Cordova, Miguel Lopez, Dan Mesinas, Mario Roldan, M. Alvares

"Sanda Wong" (1955)

Vistan-Chapman/ Premiere Productions, Inc.

Release Date September 27- October 6, 1955/ Life

Story/ Screenplay Teodorico C. Scatos

Music Tito Arevalo

Direction Gerardo de Leon

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Lilia Dizon, Danilo Montes, Lola Young, Gil de Leon, Vicente Liwanag, Mario Barri, Bruno Punzalan

Lilia Dizon and Danilo Montes in "Sanda Wong" (1955)

(Photo courtesy of  Cesar Hernando)

"Simaron" (1955)

Everlasting Pictures

Release Date January 10-19, 1956/ Dalisay

Story and Screenplay Ding M. de Jesus

"Umaalong Ginto" (1956)

National Pictures

Released thru Center Film Exchange

Release Date September 19-25, 1956/ Center

Story Rachel E. Fidelino

Direction Narciso S. Asistio

Cast Jose Padilla, Jr., Lilia Dizon, Rosita Noble, Carlos Padilla, Jr., Gil de leon, Jose Villafranca

"Glory at Dawn (Lualhati sa Umaga)" (1958)

Pacific Movie Productions, Inc.

Release Date August 20- 26, 1958/ Center

Screenplay J.C. Pangilinan

Music Tito Arevalo

Direction Gil de Leon

Cast Pancho Magalona, Lilia Dizon, Martin Marfil, Max Alvarado, Flor Bien, Blackie Francisco, Rosauro Oracion, Domingo del Valle/ Featuring Aruray, Tembong, Tony Dungan, Boy Osin, A. Dagumboy, Loreta de Lara, Vicky Serrano, Linda Lopez, Leon Timog, Ric Perez, Shirley Rodriguez, Quiel Mendoza/ Introducing Lourdes Lozano, Ernesto Santos