DECEMBER 24, 1963: THE DEATH OF ARTURO "BOY GOLDEN" PORCUNA

Arturo Porcuna, alias Boy Golden was a notorious gangster who figured prominently in gangland violence and Mafia-like vendetta during the early 60s. That time, the streets of Manila became the center of several fierce and violent confrontations among feuding gang groups. Porcuna was feared but his life was brief and his bloody end came in the early morning of December 24, 1963 when he was shot to death by members of his rival gang group.

From the front page of The Manila Chronicle, here's the full news account of that fateful day---

PORCUNA, 2 AIDES SHOT DEAD BY FOES
by Rufino Rogel, Jr.

Arturo Porcuna, alias "Boy Golden," notorious police character and two of his henchmen were gunned down by members of a rival gang in the room of an apartment in Mandaluyong, Rizal shortly after 2 o'clock this morning. Killed with Porcuna were two new members of his gang known as "Jojo" and Bert". Their real names were not immediately available as they reportedly joined Porcuna's gang only a few days ago.

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Jaime San Miguel, a Porcuna henchman who rented the three-room apartment at No. 91-B Col. F. Vicencio street, told Patrolmen Domiciano Valenciano and Juan Perez who rushed to the scene to investigate that the gunwielders were Eddie Luz, Baby Soriano, Antonio Razon, Rene Sebastian and three others whom he was not able to identify. The gunmen arrived in two cars, a Fairlane and an Impala and motorcycles. As the front door of the apartment was open, they entered without being detected by the occupants. They proceed to the second floor and surprised Porcuna and three of his henchmen while they were opening their Christmas presents, in one of the rooms. They opened fire on the men inside the room and when Porcuna, Jojo and Bert fell, the gunwielders left. San Miguel who was also in the room at the time hid in one of the lockers and was not injured.

The wife of Porcuna known as Marla and Anita Dee, the wife of San Miguel, were in the other room when the shooting took place. With them in their room was their housemaid.

When the police arrived, they found the bodies of Porcua, Jojo and Bert all riddled with bullets. They found on the flo0r empty shells of an automatic carbine and a Thompson submachinegun. The police were inclined to believe that the victims were surprised in the room by the gunmen who were obviously on a mission to liquidate Porcuna and his henchmen.

Follow-up articles on the case--- to read, click images to enlarge---

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Part of the turbulent life of Arturo Porcuna was recreated in a movie directed by Danny Zialcita, titled Hindi Sa Iyo ang Mundo, Baby Porcuna.

I never had a chance to see this movie when it made its theatrical run in 1978. It earned money and made a noise when it won the Gawad Urian's Best Actress for its lead star Beth Bautista. I think it never came out in video format and I am wondering if a copy still exists.

"Hindi Sa Iyo ang Mundo, Baby Porcuna" (1978)- Stars Beth Bautista, Joseph Sytangco, Dick Israel, Anthony Alonzo, Josephine Garcia, Suzanne Gonzales/ Directed by Danny Zialcita

Synopsis:

Halaw sa tunay na pangyayari, isinasaad ng Hindi sa Iyo ang Mundo, Baby Porcuna ang buhay ng kapatid na babae ni Boy Golden, isang kilalang maton noong 1960's. Si Baby Porcuna (Elizabeth Bautista) ay isang mananayaw ng burlesk sa tanghalang pinamamahalaan ni Cris (Dick Israel).. Nahahalayan sa hanapbuhay ng kanyang kapatid, kinuha ni Boy (Anthony Alonzo) si Baby habang nagsasayaw sa tanghalan, at iniuwi sa apartment na kanyang tinutuluyan upang ilayo kay Cris kahit may anak na si Baby rito. Nakilala ni Baby si Tommy (Joseph Sytangco), isang mang-aawit sa tanghalan ni Cris. Nanligaw si Tommy at nag-alok ng kasal. Matapos matuklasan ni Baby ang pakikipag-ulayaw ni Cris sa ibang babae, nabuo ang kanyang pasyang iwanan ito at magpakasal kay Tommy. Naging maunos ang kanilang pagsasama dahil sa kaugnayan ni Baby kay Boy Golden at sa magulong pamumuhay nito. Ang pakikipag-alitan ni Boy dahil sa dalawang babae, kina Emma (Josephine Garcia) at Susan (Suzanne Gonzales) ang naging sanhi ng kanyang kamatayan. Natanto naman ni Cris na tunay na may pagtingin siya kay Baby. Binayaran niya si Tommy upang layuan si Baby. Nasaktan si Baby at bilang ganti ay sinabuyan niya ng asido si Tommy. Nagsisi si Baby nang malamang si Cris ang may kagagawan ng lahat, ngunit tulad ng ugnayan nina Boy, Emma, at Susan, ang kina Baby, Cris, at Tommy ay humantong din sa isang malagim na wakas.

Source: Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino