Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr., known professionally as Dolphy, was a Filipino comedian and actor. He is widely regarded as the country's "King of Comedy" for his comedic talent embodied by his long roster of works on stage, radio, television and movies.
The Cinema of the Philippines began with the introduction of the first moving pictures to the country on August 31, 1897, at the Salón de Pertierra in Manila. The following year, local scenes were shot on film for the first time by a Spaniard, Antonio Ramos, using the Lumiere Cinematograph. While most early filmmakers and producers in the country were mostly wealthy enterprising foreigners and expatriates, on September 12, 1919, Dalagang Bukid, a film based on a popular zarzuela, was the first movie made and shown by Filipino filmmaker José Nepomuceno. Dubbed as the "Father of Philippine Cinema," his work marked the start of cinema as an art form in the Philippines.
LVN Pictures, Inc. was a Filipino film studio that was considered one of the biggest in the history of Philippine cinema and its foremost establishment in motion picture post-production until 2005. In its heyday of motion picture production, LVN Pictures has been compared to that of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) of Hollywood because it had, under contract, the biggest stars and film craftsmen of the period. Before its closure in 2005, LVN Pictures was known as one of the oldest living film studios in the country.
Amparo Robles Custodio-Moya, known professionally as Chicháy, was a Filipina comedian and actress. Her short and stocky stature, scratchy voice, and prematurely-aged appearance allowed her to portray grandmothers while only in her thirties.
Sampaguita Pictures was a Philippine film production company. It was named for the Philippine national flower, sampaguita. Though no longer functioning, the company's Sampaguita Compound remains in Quezon City.
Erlinda Gaerlan Asturias-Aguilar, popularity known as Alicia Vergel, was a Filipino actress, film producer, entrepreneur and politician. She was known for playing fiesty, strong-willed characters and was famous for her portrayals in films of varying genres. She was the first recipient of FAMAS Award for Best Actress and Maria Clara Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Teresa Theodossis-Martin, better known by her stage name Tita de Villa, was a Filipino actress. Her long acting career started in 1954 in a Sampaguita Pictures movie, Dalagang Ilocana , the movie which also catapulted the career of actress Gloria Romero into stardom. In the film, De Villa played a bit role of a lady boarder. Typecasted into playing antagonistic roles, De Villa is perhaps known for her portrayal of the scheming matriarch, Mena, in the highly successful soap opera Gulong ng Palad in the late 1970s until the mid 1980s. She was married to Manuel Martin, known to most as the director Jose de Villa.
Rustico Roldan, professionally known as Carlos Salazar was a Filipino actor and a matinee idol in the 1950s. A contemporary of the likes of Delia Razon, Rosa Rosal, Jaime Dela Rosa and Nestor de Villa, Roldan took up the screen name of Carlos Salazar and began his career with LVN Pictures, and made several hit movies. After making 15 films for the said studio, Salazar made one film under Champion Pictures entitled Objective: Patayin si Magsaysay, and one film under Larry Santiago Production for Student Canteen.
Rebecca Busbus Buslon-Tushinsky better known as Rebecca del Rio was a Filipino actress typecasted as a glamorous contravida or villain in Sampaguita Pictures who was the first Filipino to be awarded as Asia’s Best Actress.
Teresita Rigo Durango Magalona, known professionally as Tita Duran, was a Filipino film actress who began as a child actress. She was the first successful child star of Philippine cinema.
Sigrid Sophia Agatha de Torres von Giese, known professionally as Paraluman, was a Filipino actress whose career spanned four decades. Dubbed as the Greta Garbo of the Philippines, she is often cited as one of the greatest screen figures in the country. She first appeared in the film Flores de Mayo (1940) and rose to fame in the self-titled film opposite Fernando Poe Sr. She has since appeared in over 90 motion pictures including several foreign films such as Elephant Girl (1951) and Surrender - Hell! (1959). She has received two FAMAS Awards and has been inducted at the Eastwood City Walk of Fame.
Gloria Anne Borrego Galla, known professionally as Gloria Romero, is a Filipino actress. With a career spanning 70 years, she has appeared in over 250 motion pictures and television productions. Referred to as the "Queen of Philippine Cinema", she is known for her sophisticated and demure image. She is one of the major stars of the Golden Age of Philippine Cinema in the 1950s to mid 1960s, becoming the country's highest paid movie actress and one of the top box-office draws of the era.
Charles Wahib Valdez Davao was a Filipino actor known for roles in film and television.
Bienvenida Anong, better known for her screen name Nelly Baylon, was a Filipina film actress. She was discovered by the owner of Sampaguita Pictures while she was selling sampaguita flowers on the streets of Manila.
Manang Biday is a traditional Ilocano folksong in Northern Luzon, particularly in the province of Ilocos. This song implies the courtship of a young maiden named Manang Biday. Serenading a love interest is a custom of the Filipinos. Until today, it is still practiced by the Ilocano. It is also a courtship dance. "Manang Biday" was originally composed by Florante Aguilar.
Lolita Rodriguez was a Filipino actress whose career spanned four decades. Regarded as the "Queen of Philippine Drama", she was noted for her restrained, subtle acting style and was famous for her performances in a range of film genres, from drama, comedy and action. She is a recipient of two FAMAS Awards for her portrayal in Gilda (1956) and Weighed But Found Wanting (1974).
Iginuhit ng Tadhana , also known as Man of Destiny, is a 1965 Filipino biographical film about then-Senate President Ferdinand Marcos. Directed by Mar S. Torres, Jose de Villa and Conrado Conde, the film stars Luis Gonzales as Marcos, Rosa Mia as Marcos' mother Josefa, and Gloria Romero as Marcos' wife Imelda. The film was produced by 777 Film Productions and was first released by Sampaguita Pictures in the Philippine provinces on August 24, 1965, during Marcos' campaign for president in the 1965 presidential election.
Gloria Romero is a Filipino actress who has had an extensive career in film and television. She began her career as a background actor in the late 1940s before landing a supporting role in Madame X (1952). She rose to stardom the same year with leading roles in Monghita and Palasig. Having achieved box-office successes in the Philippines and all over Asia, the films she appeared in have grossed over ₱1 billion, making her one of the highest-grossing Filipino box-office stars of all time.
Hongkong Holiday is a 1957 Filipino musical romantic comedy film directed by Mar S. Torres. The film stars Gloria Romero, Ric Rodrigo, Dolphy, Paraluman and Daisy Romualdez, under the production of Sampaguita Pictures and Golden City Film Production. The film follows the story of Ana, the daughter of a wealthy Chinese magnate, who escaped from her family after finding out about the upcoming arranged marriage.
