PELIKULA, ATBP.: CARMEN ROSALES, PART 1

SI CARMEN ROSALES,
MAALAALA MO KAYA?

An Interview with Local Movies’ ‘Great Recluse’

By Manny B. Fernandez

Source: Expressweek, September 21, 1978

The legions of moviegoers who were thrilled to see Carmen Rosales

from 1938 to 1965 – a span of one generation – started missing her 13 years ago when she chose the life of a virtual recluse. Mameng, as she is fondly called, is the first acknowledged real superstar even before the term “superstar” was conceived and the first undisputed queen of Philippine Movies, and the darling of both the so-called bakya and the high-heeled crowds.

Who will ever forget this living legend of Philippine Movies, especially when one hears the lilting song, Maalaala Mo kaya or the plaintive Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig which were immortalized in two of her early films with the same titles. Ms. Rosales has carved out a golden niche in Philippine Movies’ Hall of Fame and occupied a warm spot in the hearts of many Filipino fans.

The Great Garbo has flickered out from the screen and the public view. To this day, La Garbo has stubbornly remained uncommunicative and inaccessible for reasons only known to her.

On the other hand, Carmen Rosales (who, by the way, does not want to be compared to Greta Garbo) has finally emerged from the shadows – almost – by consenting to guest star in Inday Badiday’s TV show Would You Believe? last month. But, would you believe, Mameng didn’t appear because of a freak accident three days prior to that supposedly “first” public appearance in many years? Those who waited for that Big Moment must have heard the apologies of Inday. What really happened? Mameng got caught on the chord of her telephone, stumbled hard on the floor, and got bruised just above her left eyebrow. But, as a real pro would have done under the circumstances, Mameng immediately apologized for her non-appearance to Inday and to all the people who expected her to be with them during the program. With her face still bandaged, Mameng went to Broadcast City and apologized via a remote control broadcast.

Again, would you believe that Inday’s second edition of the “revived” TV program scored a very high rating that night? Mameng’s fans – and they include society matrons from such villages as Forbes Park, Bel-Air, and Magallanes, plus a big number of star-contemporaries – had to content themselves with just listening to her voice. Just the same, all these to-do over Mameng indicates her unwaning charisma.

However, Mameng’s failure to appear in Inday’s show elicited varied speculations. It even spawned controversies. Others saw in the accident a valid excuse. Some interpreted her non-appearance in unsavory terms. Still others saw it as plain gimmickry. A movie reporter even commented: “Dinaig pa niya si Nora Aunor sa gimmick!”

How did Mameng react to it all?

“Isipin nila ang gusto nilang isipin,” she said. “I wouldn’t like to appear awkward on any screen with that bruise just to please them, see? Honestly, I was badly injured. Nevertheless, I apologized. Wasn’t that enough?”

Look her best

She added: “I’ve always applied glamour professionally. I want to look my best always. After all, people haven’t seen me these long years. I wouldn’t have disappointed them had I appeared but don’t you think I would have disappointed them more had they seen me “unglamorous?”

Clad in a stretchable pair of dark shorts and loose three-fourth blouse, Mameng spoke on quite a range of topics concerning movies and movie people in an exclusive interview at her Green Park duplex in Pasig, Metro Manila. On her failure make it to Inday’s TV program, she unleashed a final salvo: “I earned a name without the benefit of gimmickry, ngayon ko pa ba gagawin ito?”

At any rate, the public was left again to conjectures as to how Mameng looks today. I she still glamorous? Has she aged beyond her years? How does she sound and act today? These, and all sorts of queries ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. Indeed, just for that incident, Mameng has aroused intense curiosity.

Earlier, talks percolated that Mameng was content in living in her past glories and laurels. Consequently, so the talks went, she has fallen back to a life of reclusion. Reports too had it that she had shunned public life because she had grown “that old” or “that ugly” or both. Worst, gossip-mongers had it that she went through an unsuccessful plastic surgery, that’s why she is now ashamed to face the public.

“Some people can be that unkind, you know,” Mameng said. “Pero sa tagal ko na sa Show Biz, sanay na ako riyan. Immuned na ako sa mga intrigues, ‘Day (a Visayan expression, meaning “sweet”).”

Reminded that sophisticated observers had called her the Greta Garbo of Philippine Movies, the “I-want’to-be-alone” woman, she begged: “P’wede ba, huwag akong ikumpara kahit kanino!:”

How does she take the recent furor and speculations about her?

“Aba, sa isang banda ay mabuti naman at pinag-uusapan pa ako. Talagang mahirap ang maging public property. Kahit na nanahimik ka na, ini-intriga ka pa. Well, as I have said, immuned na ako.

Have there been calls or invitations for her to grace this and that affair?

“Oh, yes. Pero kung ayaw kong pumunta, hindi nila ako mapilit. I have reasons and that’s my right, ‘di ba? Perhaps, that’s the reason why some call me a Great Garbo. A mystery.”

But Mameng said she has not completely shunned public appearances. On New Year’s Eve last year, she appeared briefly in a marathon TV show called Celebration. She came on the compromise that they put her with an image of the Sto. Niño.

“Sandali lang ang appearance ko noon, she explained. She also attended the wake for Bobby Vera-Perez last year and Ricky Belmonte’s birthday, also last year. “Why only last August 6, I attended Inday Badiday’s birthday at the St. Francis Subdivision in Meycauayan, Bulacan and even danced the rhumba with Rez Cortez.”

Why not a movie comeback? Someone had convinced her on some words to this effect: “Carmen, why not? Look at Bette Davis, Lana Turner, and Ava Gardner. They’re still in films despite these many years.”

“You know what I answered?”, asked Mameng. “Si Bette Davis, Lana Turner and Ava Gardner sila. Ako si Carmen Rosales. See the big difference?”

Still, persistent offers are coming. There was the respectable producer who offered Mameng a role on her own terms. “Why not?”, she had told him. The negotiation took six months or so. They met twice – at Madrid and Roberto’s. “But everything didn’t materialize, probably because I had made it a rule that before I consider a comeback, everything is alright – the story, the script, the director, my wardrobe and costume jewelries, etc. In that particular offer, I requested for two make-up artists, two hair-stylists, and my own designer to take care of my clothes, plus a commuter van to take me from my house to the set and back. I also insisted my price. (She named it, and it was astronomical even by today’s standard.) I’ve been away for 13 years. Iningatan ko ang pangalan ko during these years and I can say it is untarnished.”

Gracious exit

Pointing out that she made a gracious exit from the movies, she considers a comeback a “big gamble.”

“I can’t afford a flop this kind? Kung hindi ko segurado ang publiko ko, mabuti nang huwag mag-comeback. Sayang kung magkaganoon pa, di ba, ache? So, if any producer couldn’t meet my terms, que si hoda, mag-retire na nga ako from the movies forever. After all, I’ve served the public for so long. In fact, talagang ayaw ko na. Marami silang dinadahilan na issue. I’m still allright pa naman. There’s only one Carmen Rosales daw. Akala ba nila I’m not realistic about things? Aba, who can win over age? Lahat ay tatanda and no one is spared from the hands of time, and that includes me. Aba naman, from 1938 to 1965! And 1978 na tayo! That’s a long, long time even for a very, very beautiful star. I had fought against ageing up to a certain time and come out a winner. In those years, alaga ang photography ko. Alam ko ang ilaw ko. But now, it’s 1978 and please wake up! Why, does the public still expect me to look as young as Vilma Santos or Nora Aunor, or as seductive as Alma Moreno? Aba, let’s face facts naman! Iyan and hirap sa Show Biz, akala ng lahat you’ve discovered the fountain of youth.”

What will be a major criterion for her considering a comeback?

“Que se hodang medyo mataba ako. Ang importante ay ang performance, di ba? Look at Shelley Winters and Ida Lupino. They’re not slim. Kaya, kapag may nagsabing si Carmen Rosales ay matanda na, si Carmen Rosales ay hindi na maganda, okey lang. As I’ve said, at least, pinag-uusapan pa ako. That’s one way of knowing you still exist, ‘di ba, ‘day?”

Mameng said that, to prove she is not insecure or conscious about appearing in public, she goes around shopping, particularly at the Uni-Mart in Greenhills, in shorts san make-up.

“Even in family affairs, I don’t wear make-up. Ngayon, kung may intrigerong reporter na makita akong chapter, que si hoda. Problema niya ‘yon, di ba? I run my own life and my private life is my own business, see? I really don’t mean to disappoint the public but then, if you were in my position, will you show your swollen face just to please the sponsors of the show? Think logically. I was not to be paid for that TV appearance. Remember, I was supposed to be a guest only. Besides, valid naman ang reasons ko why I didn’t make it.”

She recalled, however, that a day or two later, she received phone calls and read articles saying it was good she did not appear on TV.

“Hindi nga raw ako nag-appear sa movies, sa TV pa? Bakit, pang-TV na lang daw ba ang beauty ko? Sayang daw ang mystery! Ako pa ngayon ang nasisi! Well, on one side, at least nalaman ko na marami pa rin ang nagmamalasakit sa akin. If I wanted to accommodate Inday, it was because she’s a personal friend. And I believe she’s just doing public service regarding my ‘whereabouts’. Ha-ha-ha-ha-! Besides, a lot of people were really waiting for my appearance. This, I learned from incessant phone calls and from Inday herself later.”

If Mameng was quite “silent” and “inactive” in the movies these many years, she thought it was due to her continuous medication for sinusitis. Her sinus has been bothering her for many years and has affected her eyesight, too! “But I’m all right now.” She advises today’s actors and actresses: “Never wash your eyes after a whole day’s shooting in front of heavy klieg lights.”

Her start

Carmen Rosales started her career as second lead to Atang de la Rama in Ang Kiri. But after Excelsior Pictures’ Arimunding-Munding opposite Jose Padilla, Jr. in 1938, she became a superstar overnight. Three major film companies immediately vied for her services, namely, Excelsior Pictures, Sampaguita Pictures and LVN. Don Pedro Vera of Sampaguita bought her contract from Excelsior and Mameng became the most controversial superstar, ala Nora Aunor, that time.

She teamed up with Rogelio de la Rosa under Sampaguita and made box-office hits like Señorita, Takip-Silim, Lambingan, Colegiala, and later, in Maalaala Mo Kaya, Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig, etc.

Not to be outdone, LVN paid Mameng P45,000 – a hefty amount in those days – for Kampanang Ginto. She was paired with Rogelio de la Rosa who had moved to LVN after the movie Tampuhan with Mameng, because of misunderstanding with her. This explained why their last film together at Sampaguita was almost unfinished. Mameng became the highest-paid actress during her time, excelling Rosa del Rosario, Corazon Noble, Mila del Sol and other stars in the gate receipts. And out of respect to a great actress, no other top star, male or female, had been billed ahead or on top of Mameng’s name. And why not? She was crowned “Queen of Philippine Movies twice: in 1948 and 1949.

Her career spanned five generations of stars and superstars, in this wise: pre-war years – Rosa del Rosario, Rogelio de la Rosa, Leopoldo Salcedo, Jose Padilla, Jr., Fernando Poe, Sr., Angel Esmeralda, Ely Ramos, Corazon Noble, Mona Lisa, Rosario Moreno, Arsenia Francisco, Elsa Oria, Rudy Concepcion, Norma Blancaflor and Paraluman; second generation – Anita Linda, Lilia Dizon, Celia Flor, Lillian Leonardo, Alicia Vergel, Erlinda Cortes, Linda Estrella, Rebecca Gonzales; third generation – Gloria Romero, Nida Blanca, Delia Razon, Nestor de Villa, Tessie Quintana, Charito Solis, Edna Luna, Ric Rodrigo, Rita Gomez, Eddie Rodriguez, Ramon Revilla; fourth generation – Amalia Fuentes, Susan Roces, Marlene Dauden, Barbara Perez, Lita Gutierrez, Mina Aragon, Daisy Romualdez, Romeo Vasquez, Eddie Gutierrez, Jose Mari, Liberty Ilagan, Bernard Bonnin; fifth generation – Josephine Estrada, Rosemarie, Gina Pareño, Blanca Gomez, Loretta Marquez, and others.

Carmen’s last movie was Gintong Recuerdo produced in early 1965. She co-starred with the then “Stars ‘66” of SPI. She was still billed above the title, ahead of her co-stars. But Mameng’s most memorable movies, today considered as classics of Philippine movies, in point of prestige and box-office records are Arimunding-munding, Señorita, Probinsiyana, Ang Guerrilyera, Takip-Silim, Debutante, Maalaala Mo Kaya, MN, Kamay Ng Diyos (directed by Eddie Romero), Hindi Kita Malimot, Sandra and Inspirasiyon. The last-mentioned movie won her a FAMAS Best Actress trophy in 1953.

Like most artists any where in the world, La Rosales also had a “temper” on the set.

“I hate co-stars who arrive late on the set. I arrive early or on time fully made-up,” she said. “I also hate scene-stealers. Kapag frame mo, kahit extra ka lang sa pelikula, e ibibigay ko. Pero kapag frame ko na, you better give what is due me!” But she is a natural scene-stealer. She can steal a scene with just a wink or movement of her eyes – this according to the late Doc Perez.

Her life at present

The off-screen name of Carmen Rosales is Januaria Carmen Keller Rosales Vda. de Puyat. (She was married to the late Jose Puyat, son of the late Don Gonzalo Puyat). As a “civilian” – a term she herself coined – she immensely enjoys her present status.

At home, she dubs at landscaping, she crochets bedspreads, and pays attention to the interior decoration of her house. (“I also love to cook and that explains why I’m ‘big’ now.”)

On weekends, her two grandsons by Rene (Carmen’s eldest son by her first marriage), John, 10, and Jobie, 9, would visit her. Mameng’s son, Cesar (by her marriage to Peping Puyat) and grandson Bobeem, 5, live with her in adjacent house. She also commutes from Manila to Baguio every now and then because “gusto ko ang klima doon.”

“I used to sport a blonde hair before,” she revealed. “Pero nagsawa na rin ako. Besides, allergic na ako sa certain types of hair color and dyes. I now sport a salt-and-pepper hair. Not a few say mas bagay daw ito sa akin. Besides, this is the natural color of my hair now.”

What can Mameng say about Philippine Movies today? How do they compare to those during her time, her heyday?

“Marami ang nagsabi sa akin na maganda raw ang pelikula noong araw,” she said. “In my opinion, our crowd is apparently not yet ready to take these bold movies without malice. I believe it’s high time we educated the public on realistic love scenes. As long as the execution of these scenes are artistic and in good taste, I don’t see any reason why we should take them with malice.”

How about our young superstars today?

“You know what I answered?”, asked Mameng. “Si Bette Davis, Lana Turner and Ava Gardner sila. Ako si Carmen Rosales. See the big difference?”

Gracious exit

Pointing out that she made a gracious exit from the movies, she considers a comeback a “big gamble.”

What will be a major criterion for her considering a comeback?

Mameng said that, to prove she is not insecure or conscious about appearing in public, she goes around shopping, particularly at the Uni-Mart in Greenhills, in shorts san make-up.

She recalled, however, that a day or two later, she received phone calls and read articles saying it was good she did not appear on TV.

Her start

Like most artists any where in the world, La Rosales also had a “temper” on the set.

Her life at present

At home, she dubs at landscaping, she crochets bedspreads, and pays attention to the interior decoration of her house. (“I also love to cook and that explains why I’m ‘big’ now.”)

What can Mameng say about Philippine Movies today? How do they compare to those during her time, her heyday?

How about our young superstars today?

“Well, they are quite lucky. Many of them attain success in just a short span of time.
During our time, stardom was slow, a painstaking process.” (Mameng was an exception because, after Arimunding-munding, the rise to the top was meteoric.) And how lucky these superstars can get, financially. They are now paid in amounts that, in our time, would stagger the imagination. They become millionaires overnight. I’m happy for them. I just hope they compensate for that price with professionalism.”

Her advice to today’s young stars?

“Love your profession. Keep studying your craft. That’s the only way to stay long in the trade. And remember, there’s nothing better than being nice, honest and sincere!”

On Lino Brocka’s acclaimed Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag, she commented: Okey siya mag-direct. If there’ll be a chance, I’d like to have him as my director.”

What does she think of our male actors today?

“Too bad, some of tem are effeminate-looking. I love swards, but I can’t imagine myself sleeping in bed with them.”

Unlike Anita Bryant (who spearheaded a crusade against Homos), Mameng loves them. “They are a most intelligent, happy and creative lot. I can easily tell one with a flick of a finger.”

She earned the title the “Original Queen of Gays” because she used to crown the queen of swards during gay parties and fiestas in Tondo and suburbs. “Aba, kasama ko noon sina Pablo S. Gomez & Co.”

Getting serious now, and reflecting on her semi-retirement, Mameng said she does not mind being a public property, stressing that “I’ve had my time.” She had tasted the sweet and bitter side of success. “I never had it so good. And if ever I live my life again, I would still want to be an actress. But perhaps, this time, one who has discovered the fountain of youth.”

She treasures the wisdom from Doc Perez: “The golden talent is a diamond kept in a jewel box well-polished.”

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