As the merry month of May officially begins today, let me give you happy recollections about the Superstar and National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor, movie queen Gloria Romero, costume dramas leading lady Delia Razon, Asia’s Queen of Song Pilita Corrales, Chef Margarita Fores and original Kilabot ng mga Kolehiyala Hajji Alejandro.
Thanks to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts-funded Pelikula at Lipunan festival, I managed to watch the films of Nora Aunor.
You see, I grew up in my paternal grandmother’s household where all the ladies were fanatics of Vilma Santos. When I was six, the first film I watched inside a cinema was Lipad, Darna, Lipad, and this was followed by countless Santos movies because my lola Atanacia and aunts brought me along with them.
During my project development officer days in the Cultural Center of the Philippines, then head of the Committee on Cinema and Cinema Program Eddie Romero always made sure that the Pelikula and Lipunan lineup of movies had a Nora Aunor section.
It was then that my eyes opened and heart marveled at Nora in her classic films Himala, Bona, Merika, Ikaw Ay Akin (with Santos and Christopher de Leon), Bilangin Ang Mga Bituin Sa Langit and, my most favorite, Beloved.
Beloved, where Nora gave life to Adora, was a totally different experience because in the movie, she is rich, sophisticated, glammed-up from head to toe, with Hilda Koronel as her antagonist. To witness her on the silver screen, playing a character that was not her usual cinematic offering, was truly unforgettable and one for the books!
Starstruck was how I felt seeing Gloria Romero in the flesh. This happened during the Moments of Love movie premiere. This movie queen, who I used to watched in black and white films such as Dalagang Ilocana, Kufradia and the ones she was paired with Ric Rodrigo and Luis Gonzales, approached me, held my hand and said: “Apo, tulungan mo naman kaming i-promote ang pelikula namin.”
It took me a few second before I was able to reply an affirmative.
In her seasoned years, my favorite Gloria Romero films include Tanging Yaman, Magnifico, Kung Mahawi Man Ang Ulap and, of course, her iconic villain role as Connie in Condemned, where she was commanding, menacing and still quite regal despite the Diana Ross-like hair and outlandish outfits.
The costume drama era leading lady, Delia Razon, had a personal encounter with her at her house. She said, “Ms Romero asked me to deliver a script to her for an epic drama series that was supposed to be the flagship project of the Cinema Program. On the dot I was at her abode and when she received it, she was dressed to the nines, beautifully made-up, with the most congenial of smiles.
“I still remember what she said, ‘Nabigla ka ba, iho, na ayos na ayos ako? Alam mo naman, lumaki ako sa studio system. Hanggang ngayon ko dala-dala ko na dapat pag artista ka, lalo na nga’t may makakakita sa iyo, dapat lagi kang mukhang artista, ayos artista.’”
I was the publicist of Pilita Corrales’ An Evening With Pilita concert, held at the Theatre at Solaire.
Remembering my interview with her always brings a smile because she was candid, funny, gracious, elegant and fragrant. She was relaxed and even said: “I liked your questions, pinag-iisip mo ako,” and her all-woman laughter punctuated the punchline.
My only personal encounter with Margarita Fores happened inside the Roxas Bahay na Puti, which is located in the heart of Cubao, Quezon City.
She was the one who prepared the Christmas dinner for the entertainment press. If my recollection is correct, it was during the time when Secretary Mar Roxas became the vice president.
The food of Ms. Fores was delicious, including the Pasta Negra that was served exclusively in Café Bola, which was just in Megamall then, and all her pasta and Italian dishes in Cibo that had been tempered to the tastebuds of the Filipinos, always delicious and flavorful.
Of the many songs of the original Kilabot ng Kolehiyala, for some unknown reason “Panakip Butas” tops my list. It must be the melody and the ache that laces the lines, “Baby, kung mahal ka niyang talaga, sige pakasal ka. Sige pagpatuloy mo na, panakip butas na lamang ako.”
Live performance, Alejandro commanded the stage and was always electric. I saw him sing “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika” during the Music Man @50 celebration of Maestro Ryan Cayabyab.
When it was finally him to sing the most iconic Metro Pop item, he walked to centerstageto instant applause. He had the audience from start to end, all eyes on him, hearts fluttering, as he gave the finest rendition of Mr. C‘s composition.
I also had the opportunity to watch him perform at the Theatre at Solaire with his contemporary and rival ‘macho guwapito’ Rico Puno, who was considered his rival during the Manila Sound era and romantic balladeers Marco Sison.
Other essential Alejandro songs are “Nakapagtataka,” “Tag-ulan, Tag-Araw” and “May Minamahal.”
These icons deserve their own museums that will house their awards, laurels, photos, posters, videos and other memorabilia that show how legendary they are. May documentaries about their stellar careers and colorful personal lives get a greenlight. Musical plays about their days of wines of roses, trials and triumphs deserve to be onstage.
Nora Aunor, Gloria Romero, Pilita Corrales, Delia Razon, Margarita Fores and Hajji Alejandro, let us preserve and perpetuate their art. Their art must live forever.