Dinner in honor of the original movie queen

In 1982 this columnist had the honor and pleasure of hosting a dinner for Rosa del Rosario, the Original Movie Queen. Rose flew to Manila from San Francisco to receive the Walang Kupas Award along with other 14 other ‘immortals of Philippine Cinema.’ Special guest of the night was another Walang Kupas awardee, Norma Blancaflor.

Tribung Pinoy provided the musical numbers, singing songs from the movie queen’s starrers like Bakya Mo Neneng, Bulaklak at Paruparo, Bulalakaw, Caprichosa. She gamely joined Tribung Pinoy and danced to the tune of her songs.

Walang Kupas Award was given by At Iba Pa and the Doña Josefa Edralin-Marcos Foundation. Doña Josefa was the special guest and speaker. At Iba Pa is a group composed of movie personalities like Boots Anson-Roa, Mel Chionglo, Mike de Leon, Simon Ongpin, Bibsy Carballo, Ishmael Bernal, Ronald Constantino and Laurice Guillen.

Rose and Norma with Susan, Rosemarie Sonora and Ricky

One of the guests was Lino Brocka, a big fan of Rose, ‘the idol of my youth.’ Lino wanted to direct Rose, but it didn’t push through as at that time the country was in chaos. In 1983, Ninoy Aquino was assassinated, triggering nationwide demos which culminated in the People Power Revolution in 1986.

This columnist recalls receiving a letter from Rose, profuse with thanks, ‘for your kindness and generosity.’

Remember When? takes a nostalgic look at that night, honoring a great actress and person, the Original Movie Queen. A look tinged with sadness as Rose and Norma and Lino are gone. And so were some of the guests: Ricky Belmonte and entertainment writers Ramon G. Teodoro (Mama Monchang), Manny Pichel and Bob Castillo.

The other guests included Ricky Lo, Ethel Ramos, Manny Fernandez, Norma Japitana, Ronald Constantino, movie queen Susan Roces and her sister Rosemarie Sonora. — RKC