THE FIFTIES # 217: LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, ALICIA VERGEL, WITH LUCAS 'LOLO HUGO' PAREDES IN "ESKANDALOSA" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Eskandalosa" (1954)

Ace-York Pictures

Release Date July 3- 12, 1954/ Center

Music Tito Arevalo

Direction Eddie Romero

Cast Leopoldo Salcedo, Alicia Vergel, Lucas "Lolo Hugo" Paredes

THE FIFTIES # 189: FRED MONTILLA, NENA CARDENAS, WITH IKE JARLEGO, JR., MERCEDITA SEVILLA IN EDDIE ROMERO'S "TAKAS!" (1954)/ UPDATED

"Takas!" (1954)
Deegar Cinema Inc.
Release Date February 13- 20, 1954/ Center
Direction Eddie Romero
Cast Fred Montilla, Nena Cardenas, Ike Jarlego, Jr., Mercedita Sevilla

Synopsis: The unit headed by Pepe Celi (Fred Montilla), in possession of two steel trunks of gold bullions, is wiped out by a Japanese patrol, and Celis himself, badly wounded, is left for dead.

Liberation time finds Pepe facing a court martial for betraying his unit to the enemy and is condemned to imprisonment by the false accusation of a scheming co-officer, Marasigan.

As a prison trustee assigned to the hospital, Celis meets a Japanese patient who reveals to him that his son caught in the raid with him, did not die but left in the care of nuns in a convent in S. Demetrio. Celis could identify the child by a locket around his neck, containing a map where the bullions are hidden.Breaking jail, Celis is beset by the agents of the law, headed by Lladoc and Marasigan‘s henchmen who are afraid to be exposed. In his attempt to reach S. Demetrio, Celis is wounded in some encounters and is treated by a nurse (Nena Cardenas) who falls in love with him. At S. Demetrio, the nuns reveal that his son died, and they turn over to him the locket containing the map.

Meanwhile, in his search for clues leading to the whereabouts of the escaped Celis, Lladoc stumbles into other clues revealing how Celis was double-crossed by Marasigan. By playing Marasigan against his henchman, Caro, the latter begins to fear for his safety and squeals on Marasigan, clearing out Celis.
Lladoc then trails Marasigan, but the latter has already cornered Celis who has been forced to reveal where the treasure is hidden, by holding as hostage Celis’ boy companion (Ike Jarlego, Jr.). Lladoc, together with the nurse who is also in search of her fugitive lover, arrives on the spot where the treasure is hidden to find Pepe and Marasigan engaged in a mortal combat with Marasigan having the upper hand. Marasigan is shot, his henchmen captured.

Celis is cleared and happily reunited with the nurse, and the young boy who has been his faithful aide and companion during his many trials. (Source: Literary Song-Movie Magazine/ 1954)

THE FIFTIES # 172: PANCHO MAGALONA, RITA GOMEZ, WITH BOY ALANO, TONY CAYADO, BELLA FLORES, ARURAY, MARTIN MARFIL IN FRANCISCO V. COCHING'S "MALDITA" (1953)/ KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ UPDATED

 "Maldita" (1953)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date October 2- 11, 1953

Serialized in Pilipino Komiks

Story Francisco V. Coching

Direction Enrique Moreno (or Eddie Romero)

Cast Pancho Magalona, Rita Gomez, Boy Alano, Tony Cayado, Bella Flores, Aruray, Martin Marfil 

 

When Sampaguita was in the process of scouting for an actress to play the role of Maldita, another popular F.V. Coching character in Pilipino Komiks, Coching insisted on Rita Gomez, whom he had seen in the Gerry de Leon film, Ang Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo (based on Amado Yasona komiks serial). His choice could not have been more apt as the film went on to become one of the top moneymakers in 1953. Gomez was herself on her way to becoming a fine performer, as attested to by her Famas Best Actress award in the 1958 adaptation of another Coching komiks serial Talipandas, playing the character of the bar girl with a heart of gold, which was also one of the country’s official entries to the Asian Film Festival that year.

"Maldita"

Story and illustrated by Franscico V. Coching

Serialized in Pilipino Komiks/ 1953

THE FIFTIES # 180: OSCAR MORENO, ERLINDA CORTES, WITH OSCAR KEESE, CONRADO CONDE, JUAN MONTEIRO, ANDRES ITURBI, ETANG DISCHER, NORMA BUENAOBRA IN "MAY ISANG TSUPER NG TAXI" (1953)/ UPDATED

"May Isang Tsuper ng Taxi" (1953)

Lebran Productions

Release Date July 14- 23, 1953/ Dalisay

Direction Eddie Romero

Cast Oscar Moreno, Erlinda Cortes, Oscar Keese, Conrado Conde, Juan Monteiro, Andres Iturbi, Etang Discher, Norma Buenaobra, Noemi de Leon, Paquito Legaspi, Ric Balmori, Ching Macabasco

THE FIFTIES # 174: CESAR RAMIREZ, NENA CARDENAS, VAN DE LEON, WITH TITA MUNOZ, BOY ALANO, TONY CAYADO, MYRNA DELGADOIN F.V. COCHING'S "EL INDIO" (1953): KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ UPDATED

El Indio (1953)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date May 20, 1953/ Life Theater

 Direction Enrique Moreno

Cast Cesar Ramirez, Nena Cardenas, Van de Leon, Tita Munoz, Boy Alano, Tony Cayado and Myrna Delgado /with Bert Olivar, Martin Marfil, Totoy Torrente, Eddie Garcia, Olive dela Torre, Conrado Conde, Ely Nakpil

Francisco V. Coching’s El Indio, serialized in Pilipino Komiks in 1952-53, is an adventure komiks novel which tells the story of Fernando, a handsome and dashing colored Spanish mestizo who went back to the Philippines to exact revenge on his father whom he believed abandoned him and his mother Blanquita. There, he discovered the cruel and oppressive colonial government, and joined the rebels in the fight against the oppressors as El Indio. El Indio is the sequel to Coching’s earlier series entitled Barbaro, and is one of most popular series in Philippine komiks history. (Komiklopedia)

El Indio was adapted into the big screen in 1953. Sampaguita Pictures was able to secure the movie right of the novel and signed up Cesar Ramirez to play the role of Fernando or El Indio. The movie also starred Nena Cardenas, Van de Leon, Tita Munoz, Boy Alano under Enrique Moreno direction. The movie had its grand opening at Life theater, May 20, 1953.

El Indio covers courtesy of Gerry Alanguilan

Comic book artist and writer Gerry Alanguilan, creator of Wasted and Elmer and a big fan of Francisco V. Coching, is in the forefront of digitally restoring Coching’s classic 50s komiks serial novel El Indio. For the past several years, Gerry, in between deadlines, was able to scan the original comic book pages and meticulously restored each page. He hopefully to see this on print next year.
http://gerry.alanguilan.com/archives/724

Click images to enlarge

THE FIFTIES # 138: OSCAR MORENO, JOAN PAGE, RUDY FRANCISCO, WITH CHICHAY, TOLINDOY, SYLVIA LA TORRE, BOY ALANO, BELLA FLORES IN "ANG ASAWA KONG AMERIKANA" (1953)/ UPDATED

"Ang Asawa kong Amerikana"
Sampaguita Pictures
Release Date January 19- 29, 1953/ Life
Music Juan Silos, Jr.
Screenplay Luciano Carlos

Direction Enrique Moreno (Eddie Romero)
Cast Oscar Moreno. Joan Page, Rudy Francisco, Chichay, Tolindoy, Sylvia La Torre, Boy Alano, Bella Flores, Aring Bautista, Horacio Morelos, Marcela Garcia, Herminia Caranza, Eddie Earcia, Apolonia Aguilar

THE FIFTIES # 128: FRED MONTILLA, ANITA LINDA, WITH MONA LISA, TITO AREVALO IN "BUHAY ALAMANG (PAGLUKSO'Y PATAY)" (1952)/ UPDATED

"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

THE FIFTIES # 667: PANCHO MAGALONA, TITA DURAN, TESSIE MARTINEZ, WITH BERT OLIVAR, TONY CAYADO, JOSE DE VILLA, CHICHAY, PEDRO FAUSTINO, TOTOY TORRENTE, MARTIN MARFIL IN FRANCISCO V. COCHING'S "BARBARO" (1952)/ KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ UPDATED

  Barbaro is an adventure komiks novel about Sabas, a man who was driven by cruelty and oppression to become the sworn enemy of the colonial government. Barbaro was Coching’s first epic tackling the theme of Filipinos revolting against their Spanish colonial masters and it became one of his most popular works. The komiks serial spawned a sequel entitled El Indio featuring Sabas’ son. (Komiklopedia)

It was adapted into the movies in 1952 and emerged as one of the top ten box-office hits that year. Playing Barbaro was Pancho Magalona with reel-and-real partner Tita Duran as his love interest. The movie was directed by Enrique Moreno, later to be known as Eddie Romero.

"Barbaro" (1952)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date January 25- February 4, 1952/ Life

Serialized in Pilipino Komiks

Story Francisco V. Coching

Direction Enrique Moreno (or Eddie Romero)

Cast Pancho Magalona, Tita Duran, Tessie Martinez/ Also Starring Bert Olivar, Tony Cayado, Jose de Villa, Chichay, Pedro Faustino, Totoy Torrente, Martin Marfil/ Guest- Olive La Torre

"Ang Barbaro" 

Katha't Guhit ni Francisco V. Coching

Inilathala sa Pilipino Komiks/ 1951

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

THE FIFTIES # 85: TITA DURAN, PANCHO MAGALONA, WITH TOLINDOY, ARURAY IN "KASINTAHAN SA PANGARAP" (1951)/ UPDATED

"Kasintahan sa Pangarap"
Sampaguita Pictures
Release Date September 3, 1951/ Life
Music Pastor De Jesus
Direction Enrique Moreno (Eddie Romero)
Cast Tita Duran, Pancho Magalona, Tolindoy, Aruray

THE FIFTIES # 134: FRED MONTILLA, TESSIE AGANA AND MYRNA DELGADO IN "ANG PRINSESA AT ANG PULUBI" (1951)/ UPDATED

"Ang Prinsesa at ang Pulubi" (1951)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date June 20- 29, 1951/ Life

Direction Enrigue Moreno (Eddie Romero)

Cast Fred Montilla, Tessie Agana, Myrna Delgado

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 97: TITA DURAN, PANCHO MAGALONA, WITH TITO AREVALO, LUZ MAT. CASTRO, TESSIE MARTINEZ, ROBERTO ROSALES, PACO ROMERO IN "ALWAYS (KAY GANDA MO)" (1949)/ UPDATED

"Always (Kay Ganda Mo)"
Sampaguita Pictures
Release Date April 1 1949/Life
Story Dr. Fausto J. Galauran
Music Tito Arevalo
Direction Eddie Romero

Cast Tita Duran, Pancho Magalona, Tito Arevalo, Luz Mat. Castro. Tessie Martinez, Roberto Rosales, Paco Zamora

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 72: CARMEN ROSALES, ELY RAMOS , LILLIAN LEONARDO, WITH ROBERTO ROSALES, ROSIE LORENZANA, VICENTE LIWANAG IN "ANG SELOSA" (1948)

"Ang Selosa"
Sampaguita Pictures, Inc.
Release Date: April 8- 13, 1948/ Center 

Story Inigo Ed. Regalado
Music Tito Arevalo 

Direction Eddie Romero

Cast Carmen Rosales, Ely Ramos, Lillian Leonardo, Roberto Rosales, Rosie Lorenzana, Vicente Liwanag, Oscar Frazenda, Arsenio Almonte, Ely Nakpil, Ramon Toledo Jr., Dick Tuazon, Liberty Ilagan

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 35: CARMEN ROSALES, LEOPOLDO SALCEDO, WITH GERARDO DE LEON, ROBERTO ROSALES, TERESITA MARTINEZ, ROSIE LORENZANA, OSCAR PRASENDA IN "ANG KAMAY NG DIYOS" (1947)

"Ang Kamay ng Diyos" (1947)

Sampaguita Pictures, Inc.
Release Date December 19 1947- January 15, 1948/Center
Music Tito Arevalo
Director Eddie Romero
Cast Carmen Rosales, Leopoldo Salcedo,Gerardo de Leon, Roberto Rosales, Teresita Martinez, Rosie Lorenzana, Oscar Prasenda, Bert Olivas, Jose Luz Bernardo, Candida Valderama

POST-WAR TAGALOG MOVIES # 36: CARMEN ROSALES, OSCAR MORENO, WITH ROBERTO ROSALES, JOSE CRIS SOTO, VICENTE OCAMPO, AMELITA SOL, IN "MAMENG, INIIBIG KITA" (1947)

"Mameng, Iniibig Kita" (1947)
Sampaguita Pictures, Inc.
Release Date October 16-27, 1947/Dalisay

Story Eddie Romero

Photography H.J. Fallorina
Music Tito Arevalo
Director Gerardo de Leon
Cast Carmen Rosales, Oscar Moreno, Roberto Rosales, Jose Cris Soto, Vicente Ocampo, Amelita Sol, Lita Cuevas, Teresita Martinez, Manolo Vaca, Menggay, Manuel Andrade, Jr., Melvin Ilagan

THE NINETIES # 584: FERNANDO POE, JR., BING LOYZAGA, SUBAS HERRERO, PAQUITO DIAZ, ROY ALVAREZ, LITO LEGASPI, BING DAVAO, CARIDAD SANCHEZ, ROBERTO GARCIA, SUNSHINE DIZON IN "KAHIT BUTAS NG KARAYOM PAPASUKIN KO..." (1995)

"Kahit Butas ng Karayom Papasukin Ko" (1995)

Libran Films

Release Date March 1, 1995

Story and Screenplay Eddie Romero and Manny Palo

Cinematography Ver P. Reyes

Film Editor Augusto Salvador, Rene Tala

Production Designer Doni Gonzales

Musical Director Jaime Fabregas

 Direction Wilfredo 'Willie' Milan

Cast Fernando Poe, Jr., Bing Loyzaga, Subas Herrero, Paquito Diaz, Roy Alvarez, Lito Legaspi, Bing Davao, Caridad Sanchez, Roberto Garcia, Sunshine Dizon/ Introducing Mona Margarita/ Special Participation of Luis Gonzales

Original theatrical poster of "Kahit Butas ng Karayom Papasukin Ko" (1995)

(Private Collection)

THE EIGHTIES # 972: VIC VARGAS, WANG HSING GANG, DAN ALVARO, ROSEMARIE SONORA, TANYA GOMEZ, ISABEL RIVAS IN "HARI SA HARI, LAHI SA LAHI" (1987)

"Hari sa Harii, Lahi sa Lahi (King and Emperor)" (1987)

A Co-production of the Philippines and China

Release Date August 20, 1987

Direction Eddie Romero, Hsiao Lang and Chou Lili

Cast Vic Vargas, Wang Hsing Gang, Dan Alvaro, Rosemarie Sonora, Tanya Gomez, Isabel Rivas, Liu Chun, Chang Jie, Alan bautista, Ruben Rustia, Chou Jie and a cast of 10,000

 

THE EIGHTIES # 405: CHARITO SOLIS, JOHN SAXON AND TETCHIE AGBAYANI, WITH JUDITH CHAPMAN, MARK GIL IN EDDIE ROMERO'S "DESIRE" (1982)

"Desire" (1982)

Hemisphere Pictures, Inc.

1982 Metro Manila Film Festival Entry

Release Date December 2, 1982

Direction Eddie Romero

Cast Charito Solis, John Saxon and Tetchie Agbayani/ with Judith Chapman, Mark Gil