Tita Duran as child star

Many people remember Tita Duran as Sampaguita Pictures’ drama and musical star. And then as the loveteam and later wife of Pancho Magalona and mother of Francis M.

But before World War II, Tita was a popular child star who topbilled tearjerkers, (circa the late ’30s and early ’40s) like Anak ng Hinagpis, Awit ng Magulang and Ang Pusong Wasak, among many others.

The four-year Japanese Occupation gave Tita the chance to move from childhood to adolescence away from the limelight.

Tita returned to the big screen in 1946 as Sampaguita’s exclusive contract star. She was the young guerilla fighter in Guerilyera, the teener with a crush on Oscar Moreno in Unang Pag-ibig and the object of Fred Montilla’s courtship in Tatlong Puso.

But she made her most memorable movies with Pancho; Dahil sa Iyo, Always, Kay Ganda Mo, Umaga Na Giliw, Kay Ganda Mo Neneng, Sa Isang Sulyap Mo Tita, Sa Isang Halik Mo, Pancho and Vod-A-Vil. Those films were tailor-made for Tita and Pancho, who also became a byword in musicals. — RKC