Synopsis: A sultan, on a pleasure trip, came to Manila where he meets a pretty girl whom he falls in love. They become engaged and they are making preparation for marriage when the Sultan is called by an urgent business to sail abroad. The girl who is left behind, thinking that he would not come back and fearing that she would be the object of sneers in the social group to which she belongs, marries another before the child she carries in her womb would begin to show.
After a time, however, the Sultan comes back, makes discreet inquiries and finds out what happened to his former sweetheart. Believing that the child is really his, he orders his aide, Dampilan, to kidnap the child which Dampilan does while the parents are away from home. The Sultan comes back to his sultanate, but keeps the presence of the child a secret to his people, until one day he decides to let them know about it. The revelation is not welcome by his people, especially by Datu Balawis, his brother, who is now deprived of his succession right to the Sultanate by virtue of the presence of the child-heir who is named Palasig (Cesar Ramirez). Balawis plots to kill Palasig, but the child is ably defended by Dampilan, a loyal follower of the Sultan. But in one of his attempts to overthrow the Sultan, the latter is killed. Through the intervention of Dampilan, however, the child assumes the throne of his father.
The mother, in the meantime, thinking that her child was dead, adopts another and names her Florinda (Gloria Romero). Palasig all the while grows up into manhood and gives up the idea of seeing again his mother, inasmuch as she has not done anything to rescue him. He trains himself to be fit to honor his father’s throne. After some years, Florinda and her adopted Father, while on a trip to the south, fall prey to a group of Moro sea raiders. Florinda falls a captive to Datu Balawis group. When Palasig meets Florinda, he frees her and this leads to a feud between the two until Balawis is killed. It is clear that Palasig is in love with Florinda, and when he announces that he would marry her, the Sultan’s people repudiate his choice because the bride he has chosen is a Christian. Led by the council of panditas or Moro priests, even Dampilan, his loyal friend turns against Palasig. What happens henceforth is anybody’s guess. (Source: Literary Song-Movie Magazine)
Known as the “Queen of Philippine Cinema,” Romero passed away peacefully, her daughter Maritess Gutierrez confirmed.
“In this time of loss, our family deeply appreciates the support, prayers, sympathy, all the lovely messages, and heartfelt condolences that we’ve received,” Gutierrez said.
Admired for her acting versatility, beauty, and elegance, Romero graced the screens during the “Golden Age of Philippine Cinema” in the 1950s and starred in films like Dalagang Ilocana (1954), Sino Ang May Sala (1957), and Paru-Parong Bukid (1958).
Her career continued to flourish in the next decades and made a mark in several other movies, including Nagbabagang Luha (1988) and Tanging Yaman (2000).
“A round of applause for a life well lived,” actress Lovely Rivero posted on social media.
Romero’s wake will be held at the Arlington Memorial Chapel in Quezon City. – Rappler.com
Gloria Romero (Gloria Galla in real life) was born in 1933 in
At the zenith of her illustrious career, Gloria Romero was the acknowledged Queen of Philippine Movies. Her popularity soared high in the local movie world and there were no questions as to who reigned supreme as the Queen of local movies that time. Gloria Romero was it. Gloria had the respect and affection of both fans and colleagues. She’s unique, as a beauty, an actress, a celebrity, and as a person.
Palasig (1952)- Stars Cesar Ramirez, Gloria Romero, Aruray, Tony Cayado,Totoy Torrente, Pedro Faustino/ Directed by Artemio Tecson
Monghita (1952)- Stars Oscar Moreno, Gloria Romero, Norma Vales, Myrna Delgado, Van de Leon, Jose de Villa/ Directed by Artemio Marquez
It was in Madame X (1952) that she was given a new, more dramatic name: "Gloria Romero." She got her first memorable role in Palasig (1952) opposite heartthrob Cesar Ramirez, but it was her lead role in Monghita (1952), opposite Oscar Moreno that cemented her bankability and popularity. In 1953, she played the daughter of Carmen Rosales in May Umaga Pang Darating. Ms Romero played opposite many leading men: Ramon Revilla in Apat na Taga (1953); Fred Montilla in Recuerdo (1953); Pancho Magalona in Musikong Bumbong (1954); Ric Rodrigo and Luis Gonzales in Pilya (1954), and Dolphy in Dalagang Ilocana (1954), for which she won the
But more than beauty, it was talent that catapulted her to the top. A natural actress, she refined her talents with study and discipline. From the start, her directors recognized that here was a born actress. For a while, the studio exploited her dramatic intensity by putting her in countless tear-jerkers. Gloria carried on gamely, squeezing out copious tears from her audiences. Then the studio decided to test her versatility and tried her out in comedy and musical pictures. She came through just as beautifully.
Recuerdo (1953)- Stars Fred Montilla, Gloria Romero, Ramon Revilla, Myrna Delgado/ Directed by Octavio Silos
Ang Biyenang Hindi Tumatawa (1954)- Stars Gloria Romero, Ric Rodrigo, Chichay, Tolindoy, Etang Discher, Bella Flores/ Directed by Armando Garces
Romero's other memorable movies were Vacacionista (1956), Eternally (1957), and Alaalang Banal (1958). She tried other formula by appearing as characters popularized in comic strips: Her first two attempts, Mister Kasintahan (1953) and Kurdapya (1954), were so successful she immediately made Mariposa (1955) and Miss Tilapia (1956), where she played the original Facifica Falayfay. Afterwards, Ms Romero ventured into the dramatic format again, with Artista (1955), Teresa (1956), opposite her popular love-team partner Luis Gonzales; plus remakes of pre-war musical movies like Pagdating ng Takipsilim (1956), Colegiala (1957) and Paru-parong Bukid (1957). All these blockbusters made her Queen of Philippine Movies (her closest rival was Nida Blanca), and Sampaguita Pictures renewed her contract for another 8 years-- making her the studio's longest exclusive star. She made some 30 movies with her frequent screen partner, Luis Gonzales.
Source: Internet Movie Database