Trivia:
Did you know that from the ‘40s to ‘60s, great love stories transpired off cameras in showbiz? This was ignited by the couple Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran in the ‘40s to early ‘50s. Pancho did belong to an affluent family from the Visayas. His dad Enrique Magalona was then a senator. Pancho’s sister Susan Magalona was the first Filipina named one of the ten world’s most beautiful women by beauty cynosures in U.S.
It so happened that Pancho was smitten by the charms, talent of Tita who started her career as a child star. This propelled Pancho to try showbiz. He auditioned at the Sampaguita Pictures where Tita was a contract star. Fate destined Pancho to fulfill his dream, not only to be the love team of Tita in many blockbuster flicks but ended in their marriage.
Their initial starrer as husband and wife was Dahil sa Iyo, with its classic theme song of the same title remains to this date one of the most loved Tagalog ditties. That era’s top American balladeer Jerry Vale had its English version Your Love is mine which turned a big hit internationally.
Blessed with children, Tita opted to retire from showbiz. In the case of Pancho, he metamorphosed from a singing idol to a versatile actor, topped by Hanggang sa Dulo ng Daigdig. He bagged the FAMAS best actor award that truly impressed a Hollywood producer. Pancho thus bannered the American film The claw, with top Hollywood star Kirk Douglas.
Pancho’s marriage with Tita went on smoothly up to her demise yet he cherished his wife’s memories that kept him not to marry anew, with no romantic flings whatsoever. After his death, one of his children Francis Magalona became famous as a rap singer and actor-host albeit momentarily for his illness caused his death. His children Elmo, Maxene and Saab Magalona have carved a name of their own in the recording, acting and hosting industries.
In the early ‘50s, movie queen Gloria Romero sat as one of the judges in the search for Mister and Miss Number One conducted by Sampaguita Pictures for newcomers. The winners were Juancho Gutierrez and Amalia Fuentes. Ironically, the duo didn’t end as a love team behind the cameras for it was Gloria who caught the fancy of Juancho. He indefatigably wooed Gloria till she gave in. Their church wedding made it in the front page of the number one newspaper Manila Times.
For years, confidantes of the couple knew that Gloria suffered in silence, out of the womanizing ways of Juancho inspite of their having a child Maritess. Until Gloria could no longer stand it. She broke off with him. Subsequently. Juancho got seriously sick, bed ridden. Through Maritess, Gloria learned about what occurred. Called a martyr by her chums, Gloria took him back, showing her undying love for her husband by spending all her time to take care of him.
Juancho’s words to Gloria prior to his last breath were full of repentance for his misdoings that led her to whip uncontrollably, out of great love. No wonder, from that time up to this date, Gloria has never remarried, often seen visiting Juancho’s grave, so they say.
The well known Elvis Presley of the Philippines Eddie Mesa epitomized an unusual love affair with actress Rosemarie Gil. Eddie was the singing idol of the ‘50s when he bumped into the discovery of his home studio Premiere Productions , Rosemarie Gil. She won in the search among colegialas who would delineate the role of Sta. Rita de Casia.
A student of Assumption College, Rosemarie got the role easily with her display of inherent penchant for acting. Eventually, Eddie’s friendship with Rosemarie blossomed into a serious involvement. There were those who did not accede to their relationships. But the duo didn’t dilly-dally to exchange marital vows and blessed with sons Michael, Mark and daughter Cherrie.
However, many felt disconcert when years later, the couple found something awry in their marriage. Eddie and Rosemarie agreed to separate amicably. Eddie had chosen to settle in U.S., turning his back to his still flourishing showbiz career. Both had declared a new found love. Amid their break up, their kids Michael, Mark and Cherrie shone as competent performers in the klieg lights and boob tube as well. Cherrie made it big too as a recording star.
Later, a loveless Rosemarie enplaned to the United States where she accidentally met anew Eddie who was unattached too. A rekindled love beckoned them in the midst of some misgivings. Yet as the saying goes, love knows no bound and lovelier the second time around. Latest news has it that what brought Eddie and Rosemarie in a solid ties, inseparables could be an acumen for charitable works. Up to this day, they’re engaged in a foundation, mostly assisting the ethnic group.
During the burial of Eddie’s best friend Fernando Poe Jr., the statement he uttered to me has been clearly instilled in my mind. “You know, God has a way to fall into an unconditional love that you would never imagine to tap you. That’s what Rose and I have been enjoying to the fullest.”
Controversies Engulf Metro Manila Film Festival
At this writing, the Metro Manila Film Festival 2015 committee seems mum on the controversies thrown to the ongoing film fest. First, the decision to disqualify Honor Thy Father for best picture award while in other categories, it competed. In fact, it garnered several awards.
Congressman-actor Dan Fernandez who enacted a major role in Honor Thy Father, a John Lloyd Cruz starrer, found the excuse of the committee flimsy. Aside from the truth, the disqualification was announced the day before the opening of all the entries started. Dan filed a petition against the members of the committee at the Congress.
Added to this, after ten days of showing. The real top grosser has yet to be made public. At that, Vice Ganda has been airing that his movie with Coco Martin the Beauty and The Bestie’s remains number one at the tills. However, the producer of My Bebe Love (Vic Sotto, Ai delas Alas and Aldub pair) has clobbered The Beauty…black and blue since day one.
Kibitzers have alleged two or three composing the said committee are co=producers of some of the entries favored at the awards night send top box office hits. In this light, my good friends film fest officials Boots Anson Roa and Marichu Perez Maceda discarded the mentioned innuendoes.
Angel Locsin: Fully Recovered from Surgery
Nice to hear that after her disc bulge surgery, Angel Locsin has fully recovered, up and about that she’s now. A source did hush-hush that she’s all set to start a new project under ABS-CBN. What’s more exciting is the info that Angel and her bf Luis Manzano have already mapped out final plans for their wedding this 2016.
With the recent wedding of singer-actor Kean Cipriano and actress Chynna Ortaleza, Angel and Luis will be next in line. Heard that Luis’ parents Governor Vilma Santos and Edu Manzano are agog for their son’s marital plunge, so with Angel’s parents.
Filipino TV’s Barber’s Cut Makes Waves
Congrats to the Filipino TV show in Canada titled Barber’s Cut for making good weekly, every Monday, 10:30 pm, aired at EST. Its hosts are Filbert Wong, son of Balita Toronto newspaper’s columnist Atty. Rogie Wong, Warren Antonio, grand nephew of Tony Antonio, publisher-editor of Filipino Star News Michigan and Anjo Pallasigui.
Thanks for inviting me recently as one of the guests in a no-hold-barred discussion on politics and showbiz.
Current Tidbits:
Gossip-mongers have a field day beating around the bush that Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo have a lovers quarrel. They blame jealousy for the duo’s spat. Come on, have Daniel and Kathryn admitted a more than friendly relationship?
Could it be true that Alden Richards still sees Julie Ann San Jose frequently? Where does it leave Maine Mendoza? Gosh, ayaw yan ng mga Aldub fanatics.
A nosy scribe informed this writer that one of these days Coco Martin will finally nod that he’s really that way with Julia Montes. Really? How would Julia react, knowing that she denied Coco’s her lover many times in the past?