33 stars : Paano at bakit sila sumikat!

MANILA, Philippines — In celebration of the 33rd year of Pilipino Star NGAYON (PSN), let’s cite 33 stars, a number of them considered icon na, and how they were discovered for showbiz. Yes, noong mga taong non-existence pa ang mga pa-kontes para sa mga mahihilig mag-aritsta, tulad ng Star Hunt, Pinoy Big Brother (PBB), Star Struck and the now non-existing Artista Academy ng TV5.

Let’s start with Gloria Romero, born December 16, 1933, and has been in showbiz for 60 years, pero in demand pa rin sa mga serye at pelikula.

Kuwento ni Gloria, nasa Sampaguita Pictures daw siya noon, talking with the late Eddie Romero for a possible role as an extra in a movie he was going to direct. Nasa canteen sila noon ng studio at nagkataon namang nandoon din si the late Dr. Jose Perez, owner ng film firm. Tinawag siya nito at tinanong ang kanyang pangalan, “Gloria Galla po,” she replied.

Then and there, naisip ni Dr. Perez na palitan ang kanyang family name na Galla at palitan ito ng Romero, dahil ipapakilala na siya sa first movie ni Direk Eddie.

Sumunod naman ay si Eddie Garcia. Eddie is a Bicolano from Sorsogon. Nasa military siya when he presented himself to Dr. Jose Perez na ang asawa ay si Mrs. Azucena Vera-Perez ay isa ring Bicolana (Camalig, Albay).

Ani Mrs. Perez kay Eddie, “Puwede siyang kontrabida, Pinggoy (Dr. Perez pet name),” and the rest is history.

-Si Mrs. Perez din ang nag-suggest kay Dr. Perez na papirmahin ng kontrata si Nora Aunor at gawin nang artista matapos nitong marinig na umawit si Nora.

Tulad ni Mrs. Perez, isang Bicolana rin si Nora (Iriga, Camarines Sur.)

-Vilma Santos started as a child actress. She auditioned for the role of Trudis Liit, a Sampaguita Pictures movie. Tagged as the Star for All Season, she is busier now as a politician.

-Susan Roces was in town from Bacolod City and had the chance na makapamasyal sa Sampaguita Pictures.

Isang assistant ni Dr. Perez ang nakakita sa kanya, at tinanong kung interested ba siya na mag-artista. When Susan said yes, dinala siya nito kay Dr. Perez. Susan’s real name noong wala pa siyang asawa is Jesusa Sonora.

-Dahil din kay Susan, napasama ang nakababata niyang kapatid na si Rosemarie Sonora sa grupong tinagurian ni Dr. Perez na Star ’66.

Kabilang sa nabanggit na grupo ang namayapang asawa ni Rosemarie na si Ricky Belmonte. Their eldest daughter, Sheryl Cruz followed their footsteps.

Rosemarie is no longer do films or TV series anymore.

Among the Stars ’66, tanging si Gina Pareño na lamang ang occasionally na napapanood natin sa TV at pelikula. Usually, mga mother role na ang kanyang ginagampanan.

-Maricel Soriano, like Ate Vi, started in showbiz as a child star too.

Her reason for joining showbiz is because, aniya, gusto niyang bigyan ng magandang buhay ang kanyang pamilya. Maricel remains one of local films na pinakamahusay na artista.

Napapanood siya ngayon sa seryeng The General’s Daughter ni Angel Locsin.

-In the cast of The General’s Daughter is Tirso Cruz III, na lumaki ang pa­ngalan noong kanyang kabataan dahil ka-tandem siya ni Nora Aunor.

-Nasa cast din si Albert Martinez, na nakilala bilang elder brother lang ni William Martinez.

-Si Janice de Belen naman ay teenager pa back then when she played Flordeluna.

-Si Eula Valdez naman ay isa sa mga teenage co-stars na kasama sa pelikula na Bagets 1.

Kasama niya rito sina Aga Muhlach at Yayo Aguila. 15 years old lang si Aga that time.

-Samantala, ang naging asawa naman ni Aga na si Charlene Gonzales na isang former beauty queen ay sumikat dahil na rin sa kanyang titulo, pero kahit hindi naman siguro siya naging beauty queen ay sisikat pa rin siya dahil ang kanyang mga magulang ay sina the late Bernard Bonnin and former beauty queen too, Elvie Gonzales.

-Ang Miss Universe 1969 na si Gloria Diaz ay sumikat nang magbida siya sa pelikulang Pinakamagandang Hayop, co-starring with her was Elizabeth Oropeza, who was a former Miss Luzon.

-Ang Miss Universe 2015 naman na si Pia Wurtzbach ay nagkaroon ng kauna-unahang pelikula na pinagbidahan niya, ang My Perfect You, where she had for her leading man, Gerald Anderson.

-Guess naman how Gerald was discovered for showbiz.

Nanonood lang daw siya noon ng palabas sa plaza sa General Santos City kung saan featured ang ilang Kapamilya stars, kabilang na doon si Joross Gamboa. Joross invited anyone among the audience to join him onstage and dance with him.

Kasama ang mga kaibigan, tumalon si Gerald sa stage at sumayaw.

Inimbitahan ng talent manager ni Joross si Gerald na sumama sa kanila sa Manila at mag-audition sa Pinoy Big Brother.

-In the same PBB episode was Kim Chiu, ang big winner ng kanilang season na naging girlfriend ni Gerald paglabas nila ng bahay ni Kuya. Ngayon, ang girlfriend na niya ay si Bea Alonzo, na nagsimula namang mag-artista sa edad na 13. Ang Star Magic na discovery and talent arm ng ABS-CBN ang nag-umpisang mag-build up sa kanya para maging big star ngayon.

-Dina Bonnevie was watching then her late ex-boyfriend, Alfie Anido, re-enacting a scene for a movie na ginagawa niya for Regal Films, nang namataan siya ni Mother Lily Monteverde.

And that was that.

-Malaking advantage kung ang isa na gustong mag-artista ay may mga magulang at kamag-anak na sikat din.

Halimbawa na lang ni Oyo Boy Sotto, na ang mga magulang ay sina Dina and Vic Sotto.

Oyo now is married to former Kapamilya talent Kristine Hermosa.

-Vic’s brother, now Senate President Tito Sotto, and his wife, Helen Gamboa, a singer-actress, ay may daughter din na nag-artista, si Ciara Sotto.

-Jasmine Curtis Smith, whose elder sister, Anne Curtis ay sikat na nang siya naman ay pumasok sa showbiz.

-No need to tell you that the Padilla clan has the most number of actors and actress sa local showbiz. Aside from Robin and Daniel Padilla.

There is Bela Padilla, na ang mother is related to Robin’s Mom. Si Daniel, na anak nina Karla Estrada at Rommel Padilla.

Robin himself is married to Mariel Rodriguez. He has a daughter, Kylie, na artista rin and married to Aljur Abrenica.

Robin has two uncles na parehong maituturing na actors to reckon with in their respective time, sina Jose Padilla at Carlos Padilla.

Carlos, who later became an international boxing referee, is the father of singer-actress Zsa Zsa Padilla, who is also the mother of TV host-singer Karylle, and Zia Quizon.

Karylle, whose Dad is dentist Modesto Tatlonghari, is married to Yael Yuson, himself a top musician.

Zia’s Dad, of course, is the late King of Comedy, Dolphy.