Chanda Romero

Chanda Romero
Chanda Romero
	Romero in 2024
Born	Maria Chanda Josefa Valenzuela Obsum Romero-Alejandrino; February 26, 1954 (age 71); Cebu City, Philippines
Occupation(s)	Actress, Singer
Years active	1967–present
Agent	Sparkle GMA Artist Center
Known for	Working Girls, Contessa, Prima Donnas, Mananayaw
Spouse	Jose Mari Alejandrino (m. 2013)

Last updated September 09, 2025

Maria Chanda Josefa Valenzuela Obsum Romero-Alejandrino (born February 26, 1954^[1]) is a Filipino actress. She started in 1972 and was still active until today.

She first started in 1972 in the film Kundoktora with Vilma Santos which was shown at the exact date of the Martial Law. During the 70's, she become known as a sexy actress. Her prolific work in sexy films and dramas caught the attention of many directors, and in the 1980s, showed her serious work as an actress in the Ishmael Bernal's Working Girls and Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin? , both in 1984.

Biography

Chanda Romero is the daughter of Enrique Romero, son of Francisco Romero Jr. and Gloria Baena Villanueva of Negros Oriental, and Remedios^[2] Valenzuela, daughter of Ramiro Valenzuela and Josefina de la Victoria of Cebu.

Her father Enrique, also known as Bobby, was the paternal grandson of Francisco Domingo Romero Sr., presidente municipal of Tanjay, Negros Oriental from 1909 to 1916 and later a member of the Provincial Board of Negros Oriental, and Josefa Muñoz, daughter of Tanjay presidente municipal Don José Muñoz Teves and Alejandra Ines Calumpang .^[3]^[4]^[5] Her father was also the maternal grandson of Enrique Cayetano Villanueva, Sr., governor of Negros Oriental from 1916 to 1925 and later representative of the 2nd district of Negros Oriental from 1925 to 1931, and Francisca Baena Gómez, Negros Oriental Carnival Queen in 1905.

Other relations include her mother's sister Milagros Valenzuela de Urgello, Cebu Carnival Queen in 1937; her grandfather's brother José María Emeterio Romero, the first Philippine ambassador to the Court of St. James's and later Secretary of Education; Eddie Romero, National Artist for Film; Jose Romero, Jr., former Philippine ambassador to Italy; Hector R.R. Villanueva, Press Secretary of Philippine President Fidel Ramos and later Postmaster-General of the Philippines during the Arroyo administration; among others.

Career

In the 1970s and the 1980s, she had a staple of films in which she starred with award-winning actresses such as Elizabeth Oropesa, Hilda Koronel, Gloria Diaz and Daria Ramirez. As a result, she caught the attention of directors Celso Ad Castillo, Ishmael Bernal, Danny Zialcita and Lino Brocka. Her leading men include Philip Salvador, Eddie Garcia, Christopher de Leon, Dindo Fernando, Joel Torre, etc. In the 1990s, her work in television also brought her success. Shows such as Villa Quintana . She was also praised for her role in the 1997 movie Ligaya Ang Itawag Mo Sa Akin which was directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna. Romero is a freelancer but does more projects in GMA Network. She has starred in ABS-CBN projects as well like the religious-centered drama series Kapalaran and the role of Vida Mojica in the Vietnamese-Filipino teleserye starring Maricel Soriano and John Estrada, Vietnam Rose. During 2012, she transferred to TV5 for the first time and became part of Kidlat as Minerva Megaton. As of 2025, Romero is part of ABS-CBN's hit primetime action series FPJ's Batang Quiapo as the scheming politician Olivia Guerrero-Torres.

Personal life

She married Jose Mari "Mayi" Alejandrino on October 25, 2013. On May 17, 2014, Chanda and Mayi professed their vows in a commitment ceremony at the Tierra de Maria Chapel in Tagaytay.

Her mother died on July 6, 2020, as one of the casualties of COVID-19 in Cebu City.^[6]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role
1974	Kundoktora
1975	Alat!
1976	Hindi Kami Damong Ligaw
1977	Banta ng Kahapon
1979	Ang Agimat ni Pepe
1978	Mananayaw
1978	Mercenario^[7]
1980	Aguila	Diwata
1980	The Last Reunion	Rita
1981	Karma	Cristy
1982	My Only Love	Tiffany
	Batch '81	Jenny Estrada
	Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan?	Charley
1984	Bagets	Christine
	Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin?	Glacilda Gancayco
	Soltero	RJ Juan
	Working Girls	Anne
	Hindi Mo Ako Kayang Tapakan	Thelma
1985	Bituing Walang Ningning	Edith
1985	Bakit Manipis ang Ulap?	Jocelyn
1986	Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
	Sensual
	Sobra Na... Tama Na... Asiong Aksaya!
	Always & Forever
	Agaw-Armas	Lucia
1987	Walang Karugtong ang Nakaraan	Tess
1988	Rosa Mistica	Lucila
1993	Hindi Kita Malilimutan	Cita
1995	Campus Girls	Aling Pilar
1997	Ligaya ang Itawag Mo sa Akin	Lolay
2004	Naglalayag	Maita
2007	Eddie Romero's Faces of Love
2008	Love Me Again	Migo's mother
2009	When I Met U	Sylvia
2010	Rosario	Tenant
2014	Shake, Rattle & Roll XV	Aling Lina
2023	Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience	Contessa
2024	Espantaho	Adele

Television / Digital Series

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1995–1997	Villa Quintana	Illuminada "Lumeng" Samonte	Episode Guest: "Abito" Credited as "Chanda Romero"
2000	Maalaala Mo Kaya	Charito
2001–2002	Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin	Amarra Luna	Supporting Cast
2002–2003	Kapalaran	Magda
2003–2004	Narito ang Puso Ko	Clara Bautista
2005–2006	Vietnam Rose	Vida Mojica
2006	Now and Forever : Linlang	Gina Dimaano	Supporting Cast / Antagonist
2007	Princess Charming	Doña Amparo Vda. de Saavedra	Episode Guest: "Black Jewel in the Palace" Credited as "Chanda Romero"
	Magic Kamison	Maja	Supporting Cast / Protagonist
	Impostora	Doña Anatella Vda. de Cayetano	Eps
	Maalaala Mo Kaya	Estella
2008	Mars Ravelo's Dyesebel	Doña Felicia Montemayor
2008–2009	Luna Mystika	Doña Benita Sagrado
2009	Zorro	Agida
	Adik Sa'Yo	Doña Aurora Manansala
	Sine Novela : Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit	Doña Lucia Enriquez-Recto
2010	The Last Prince	Dama Rosata
2011	Dwarfina	Celia
	Sisid	Mommy L	Guest Cast
	Sinner or Saint	Racquel	Episode Guest: "Ang Mama Kong Mamaw" Credited as "Chanda Romero"
	Spooky Nights	Mommy Glo
2012	My Beloved	Elsa Quijano
	Faithfully	Amanda Quillamor	Episode Guest: "Pulang Laso" Credited as "Chanda Romero"
	Maalaala Mo Kaya	Mrs. Miranda
2013	Kidlat	Minerva Megaton
	My Husband's Lover	Soledad "Sol/Sinag" Del Mundo	Episode Guest: "Family Picture" Credited as "Chanda Romero"
	Maalaala Mo Kaya	Fatima
2014	Kambal Sirena	Doña Victorina Villanueva
2014	Ismol Family	Mama China "Mommy C"
2014–2015	Strawberry Lane	Ms. Digna Castro	Episode Guest: "Paano Mo Nagawa Ito?" Credited as "Chanda Romero"
2015	Ipaglaban Mo	Zeny
	Pari 'Koy	Madam Martha Buenavista	Episode Guest: "Sa Ngalan ng Anak" Credited as "Chanda Romero"
	Magpakailanman	Mama
	Princess in the Palace	Doña Pilar Buenaventura
2015–2016	The Half Sisters	Cielo
2016	Once Again	Carmen Mateo	Episode Guest: "Davao Bombing: Mga Kuwento Ng Pag-Asa" Part 1 / 2 Credited as "Chanda Romero"
	Magpakailanman	Euphemia	Episode Guest: "Tungkod" Credited as "Chanda Romero"
	Maalaala Mo Kaya	Mrs. Pacita Piano
2017	Legally Blind	Marissa Reyes-Evangelista	Episode Guest: "Batik: Ang Santa Claus Ng Tarlac" Credited as "Chanda Romero"
2017	Magpakailanman	Tess	Episode Guest: "Bagong Bahay, Bagong Away" Credited as "Chanda Romero"
2018	Dear Uge	Maui	Supporting Cast / Anti-Hero / Antagonist
	Contessa	Charito Castillo vda. de Imperial / Black Scorpion	Episode Guest: "Mommy's Home" Credited as "Chanda Romero"
	Dear Uge	Remy	Supporting Cast / Protagonist
2018–2019	Cain at Abel	Belenita "Belen" Castillo-Larrazabal / Fe Ledesma	Episode Guest: "Ang Halimaw na ng biyenan, at impaktong manugang" Credited as "Chanda Romero"
2019	Dear Uge	Violy	Supporting cast / Anti-Hero
2019–2022	Prima Donnas	Lady Primarosa Claveria	Supporting Cast / Protagonist
2023	Voltes V: Legacy	Contessa
2023	Magandang Dilag	Sofia Veneracion vda. de Robles
2024	Black Rider	Doña Salvacion Valerio vda. de Nadela (Romana's Mother)	Recurring Cast / Protagonist
2024–2025	Forever Young	Guada	Supporting Cast / Antagonist / Anti-Hero
2025	FPJ's Batang Quiapo	Vice Mayor Olivia Montenegro/Guerrero-Torres	Supporting cast / Antagonist / Anti-Hero

Awards and nominations

Year	Film Award/Critics	Category	Work	Results
1978	Gawad Urian Awards	Best Supporting Actress (Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktres)	Inay	Nominated
1979	Gawad Urian Awards	Best Supporting Actress (Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktres)	Boy Pena	Won
1979	Gawad Urian Awards	Best Actress (Pinakamahusay na Pangunahing Aktres)	Mananayaw	Nominated
1982	FAMAS Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Karma	Won
1986	FAMAS Awards	Best Actress	Bakit Manipis ang Ulap?	Nominated
2014	40th Metro Manila Film Festival	Best Supporting Actress	Shake, Rattle & Roll XV	Nominated
2024	50th Metro Manila Film Festival	Best Supporting Actress	Espantaho	Nominated

References

1 2 Eusebio, Aaron Brennt (February 26, 2021). "'Prima Donnas' actress Chanda Romero has a simple wish on her birthday". GMA Entertainment (GMA Network). Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
↑ "Chanda Romero: I am open to loving and giving love". The Philippine Star. February 11, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
↑ Merlie M. Alunan; Bobby Flores Villasis; Negros Oriental Centennial Foundation (1993). Kabilin: legacies of a hundred years of Negros Oriental. Negros Oriental Centennial Foundation. ISBN 9789719135401 . Retrieved October 17, 2010.
↑ Romero, José E. (1979). Not So Long Ago: A Chronicle of My Life, Times and Contemporaries. Manila: Alemar-Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.
↑ Echauz, Robustiano (1894). Apuntes de la Isla de Negros (in Spanish). Tipo-lit. de Chofre y comp. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
↑ "Chanda Romero's mom dies of COVID-19". GMA News Online. July 6, 2020. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
↑ "Now Showing". Bulletin Today . November 14, 1978. p. 34. He kills to avenge a family tragedy!

External links

Media related to Chanda Romero at Wikimedia Commons

Chanda Romero at IMDb

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[primachanda-1] 1 2 Eusebio, Aaron Brennt (February 26, 2021). "'Prima Donnas' actress Chanda Romero has a simple wish on her birthday". GMA Entertainment (GMA Network). Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2024.

[2] "Chanda Romero: I am open to loving and giving love". The Philippine Star. February 11, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2025.

[AlunanVillasis1993-3] Merlie M. Alunan; Bobby Flores Villasis; Negros Oriental Centennial Foundation (1993). Kabilin: legacies of a hundred years of Negros Oriental. Negros Oriental Centennial Foundation. ISBN 9789719135401 . Retrieved October 17, 2010.

[:1-4] Romero, José E. (1979). Not So Long Ago: A Chronicle of My Life, Times and Contemporaries. Manila: Alemar-Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.

[5] Echauz, Robustiano (1894). Apuntes de la Isla de Negros (in Spanish). Tipo-lit. de Chofre y comp. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2020.

[6] "Chanda Romero's mom dies of COVID-19". GMA News Online. July 6, 2020. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2021.

[7] "Now Showing". Bulletin Today . November 14, 1978. p. 34. He kills to avenge a family tragedy!

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