SERIES ON THE GIANTS NO. 5:
THE ILAGANS
Source: Jingle Extra Hot Movie Entertainment Magazine
No. 12,
HERMOGENES ILAGAN: FATHER OF ZARZUELA
Siya ang “puno” ng mga Ilagan sa Show Business.
Siya rin ang tinaguriang “Father of Tagalog Zarzuelas” o “Father of Philippine Zarzuelas.”
Ipinanganak si Hermogenes Ilagan noong Abril 19, 1873 at namatay siya noong Pebrero 24, 1943. Coronary thrombosis ang ikinamatay niya.
Sa loob ng 40 taon, pinausbong niya ang Philippine drama at Philippine theater at sa ilalim ng kanyang mga kamay ay namulaklak ang maraming dramatistang Pilipino. Ang mga taong yaon ay tinawag na “Golden Age of Philippine Theater.”
Maagang na-exposed sa arts si Hermogenes. Ang kanyang ama, si Simplicio Ilagan, ay isang band-leader at choir master sa Bigaa, Bulacan kung saan naninirahan
Mahigit na 100 zarzuelas ang iniwang alaala ni Hermogenes at karamihan sa mga ito ay mga klasiko. Ilan sa mga zarzuelang sinulat niya ay Ang Buhay Nga Naman,. Dalagang Bukid, Dahil Kay Ina at Wagas na Pag-ibig. Ang huling zarzuela na itinanghal niya ay ang Dalagang Bukid noong 1940.
Labing-apat lahat ang mga anak ni Hermogenes, 11 ang buhay at tatlo ang namatay. Ito ang Original Ilagan Family at ang kani-kanilang mga propesyon:
- Marcelo (namatay noong sanggol pa);
- Conrado (Conde) – dentistry (not completed), musician, film director;
- Eustacio (Tito Arevalo) – lawyer, composer and musical-director;
- Pilar (Laling Talte) – pharmacist and well-known comedienne;
- Gerry (de Leon) – (needs no introduction);
- Angel (Esmeralda) – lawyer and actor;
- Alfredo – painter, scriptwriter and fine arts graduate;
- Rose – lawyer;
- Cesar – philosophy graduate (he was shot to death by the Japanese during the 2nd World War);
- Luz – teacher and voice-culture graduate;
- Simplicion – (died at the age of 17);
- Honor – voice culture graduate;
- Hermogenes, Jr. – lawyer, composer-announcer, lyricist and former radio commentator;
- Patria – plain housewife.
TITO AREVALO: THE MUSICIAN
Siya ang nakatatandang kapatid nina Gerry de Leon, Laling Talte at Angel Esmeralda (panganay nilang kapatid si Conrado Conde). Siya ang ama ni Robert na mayroon pang dalawang kapatid na babae (sina Deanna at Corazon) na walang involvement sa Show Business.
Ipinanganak si Tito noong
Before the war, he used to play the piano for silent movies like his brother Gerry. Lumalabas din siya bilang aktor sa mga pelikula, mostly drama and comedies but later he concentrated on musical scoring. Karamihan sa mga pelikula niya ay gawa ng Palaris Productions na pinamahalaan ng nasirang Fernando Poe, Sr. Some of his memorable films are Nasaan Ka, Irog, Ama’t Anak, Ang Kanyang Ina, Hanggang Pier, etc.
Nang tanungin kung bakit iba-iba ang mga apelyido nilang magkakapatid, ang paliwanag ni Tito: “Paano, sabay-sabay kaming pumasok sa Show Business
Marami nang natamong FAMAS awards bilang musical director si Tito, namely: Huwag Mo Akong Limutin (1960), El Filibusterismo (1962), Igorota (1968) at Lilet (1971). Nong 1951, isang taon bago naitatag ang FAMAS, siya ang nanalo ng Best Musical Scoring sa Maria Clara Awards para sa pelikulang Diego Silang (sa sa favorite works niya; ang iba pa ay ang Noli at Fili). Noong 1969, nanalo rin siya ng Golden Harvest Award sa Asian Film Festival, also for Best Musical Scoring, para naman sa pelikulang Igorota.
Ilan sa mga walang kamatayang komposisyon ni Tito ang mga sumusunod: Magandang Bituin, Ikaw ang Mahal Ko, Hinahanap Kita, Irog Ako ay Mahalin at Minamahal, Sinasamba.
Although he has slowed down considerably, aktibo pa rin si Tito sa musical scoring field. Kasalukuyan niyang ginagawa ang Sebastian, starring Ramon Revilla in the lead role.
He is also still active as a lawyer.
“In fact,” Tito says, “kapapanalo ko pa lang ng isang kaso a few months back.”
Nang lumagay sa tahimik si Liberty Ilagan noong 1970, tuluyan na niyang tinalikuran ang Show Business. Magmula
Ang naging esposo ni
Sa kasalukuyan, ang mag-asawaay abala sa pag-aasikaso ng kanilang negosyo, ang Barrio Fiesta-Ihaw-Ihaw chain of restaurants.
Ano na kaya ang buhay ngayon ni
Mahirap siyang makontak sa telepono at nang sabihin niyang she would forget the movies for good, pati na yata pagpapa-interview ay kasali sa desisyon ni
“She is happy with her life at present,” ayon sa isang kaibigan ni
Si Liberty ay isa sa apat na anak nina Fely
Because she was active during the time when the fad was the Love Team,
RONALDO
Ronaldo Valdez became a member of the Ilagan Clan by virtue of marriage. Siya ang mister ni Marife, isa sa dalawang anak na babae ni Gerry de Leon.
“He is a name to reckon with as far as serious acting is concerned,” sabi ng isang kritiko. “He is the type of actor who can be convincing as an action hero, as a romantic hero, as a dramatic hero – name any kind of role and he has done it, with flying colors.”
Ronaldo – he is Ronald Gibbs in true life – began his film career in the early 60’s. Pa-ekstra-ekstra muna siya
Nagkaroon siya ang malaking pagkakataon nang makilala siya ni Dolphy na siyang nagbigay kay Ronaldo ng malaking break bilang leading man ni Susan Roces sa Kaming Taga-Ilog. Magmula
Ronaldo is the shy and silent type. Pa-smile-smile lang siya, pero the moment he steps before the cameras, he abruptly changes personalities. Biglang nawawala ang mahiyaing Ronaldo at ang papalit ay kung anumang karakter ang ginagampanan niya at that moment.
“I am sensitive,” confesses Ronaldo, “and I suppose every artist is. One time, I went to see a movie, a dramatic movie, and I really cried. Another time, I was watching the TV-movie Brian’s Song and I was so touched I really cried. Brian’s Song is the story of two friends, close friends, and the most touching scene in it is when one of them lies dying, saying goodbye to his friend.”
ROBERT & BARBARA
Ang mag-asawang Robert Arevalo at Barbara Perez ay gumawa ng “unprecedented record” sa history ng Philippine Movies noong taong 1965 nang kapwa sila nanalo ng major awards (si Robert bilang Best Actor at si Barbara naman bilang Best Actress) sa FAMAS derby dahil sa mahusay nilang pagkakaganap bilang peasant couple sa Daigdig ng Mga Api, direksyon ng Uncle Gerry (de Leon) ni Robert na humakot ng halos lahat ng tropeo sa taong ‘yun (kasali na ang Best Picture award).
Buntis pa mandin
Sayang nga lang at hindi na masyadong aktibo ang mag-asawa. Nakapanghihinayang na ang mga katulad nilang serious artists ay tuluyan na yatang mawawala sa movie scene.
“Maraming frustration sa pelikula,” ayon kay Barbara na kasalukuyang nag-e-enjoy sa papel niya bilang maybahay ni Robert at ina ng dalawa nilang anak na sina Anna (16) at
Ganoon din ang frustration ni Robert. “Wala na siguro akong kilalang aktor na mas frustrated pa kaysa asawa ko,” dugtong pa ni Barbara. “Kapag nanood nga kami ng magagandang pelikula sa Betamax, nakikit ko sa mukha ni Robert ang kanyang frustration.
Dahil nga serious actor siya at hindi box-office star, madalang ngayon ang paggawa ng pelikula ni Robert, although he is the type of actor who can easily switch from action to drama to light comedy. Karamihan sa mga pelikula niya ay yaong tinatawag na may “political themes” at may “social relevance”, katulad ng Sakada, Noli Me Tangere, Daigdig ng Mga Api, Hubad na Bayani at iba pa.
Business Administration ang kursong tinapos ni Robert sa Ateneo. Ang naghimok sa kanya para pumasok sa pelikula ay si Cirio
Unang pelikula niya ang Noli Me Tangere (1962, direksyon ni Manong) kung saan ginampanan niya ang papel na Crisostomo Ibarra. Sinundan pa ito ng maraming pelikula na gawa ng Premiere Productions (pag-aari ng pamilya nina Cirio
Nasubukan na rin ni Robert ang magdirek ng pelikula, isang karanasang matatawag din niyang “very frustrating.” Una niyang dinirek ang Akin ang Huling Awit (with Manny de Leon in the lead role) noong late 60s. Hindi maganda ang naging resulta ng pelikula. After a few years, sinubukan uli ni Robert ang magdirek: masaklap uli ang nangyari. Ang pelikula, titled Hiwaga sa Pulong Pasig (1973), ay nagkabitin-bitin at hindi natapos. Pero dahil nga hilig, hindi nawalan ng pag-asa si Robert. Noong 1976, muli siyang nagdirek and this time, successful ang pelikula, Hubad na Bayani, na na-nominate pa mandin bilang Best Picture sa Urian Awards the next year. Si Robert din ang gumanap na lead role sa pelikula. Nasundan ng isa pa ang Hubad na Bayani at ito ay ang Sinong Pipigil sa Pagpatak ng Ulan? (1979) na hindi naman masyadong napansin ng bakya crowd at ng mga kritiko.
Kaya ayon, siguro maiintindihan ninyo kung bakit nasabi ni Barbara na “very frustrated” ang asawa niya.
Si Barbara man ay mayroon ding frustration.
“The other night,” Barbara recalls, “we were watching a movie called Song Without an End on Betamax and I love the role portrayed by Capucine. It is the story of musician Frank Litz and Capucine portrays the role of a royalty who falls in love with the musician. Ganoon ang gusto kong mga roles. They are the kind of roles na hindi ko nagawa sa loob ng mga taong aktibo ako sa movies.”
Noong aktibo pa si Barbara sa Sampaguita Pictures, ang studio-discoverer ni Barbara, panay depressing roles ang ginagampanan niya: kung hindi pilay ay maysakit, at kung hindi naman maysakit ay ‘yung malapit nang mamatay. “In fact,” Barbara jokes, “I always died in my films.
Nag-aaral
Si Barbara rin ang babaing gumawa ng “sentimental record” nang tanggihan niya ang isang
“I have made about 40 films all in all,” according to Barbara, “at karamihan niyan ay ginawa ko hindi dahil gusto ko ang roles kundi dahil kailangang gawin ko.”
Ilan sa mga memorable pictures niya ay ang Historia De Un Amor where she played Josephine Estrada’s sister dying of cancer – “I love that movie because it is romantic---I am romantic at heart, you know”; Daigdig ng Mga Api, Ito ang Pilipino, Patria Adorada (both with Joseph Estrada) at Asedillo (with Ronnie Poe).
Ngayon, Barbara is as good as retired. Huli niyang ginawa ang Boyfriend Kong Baduy (1975) kung saan gumanap siya bilang old-maid aunt ni Orestes Ojeda.
(Correction by Pelikula, Atbp.: Ang No Man Is An Island ay isang pelikulang natuloy na gawin ni Barbara Perez katambal si Jeffrey Hunter. Kinunan ito sa Pilipinas. Ang tinanggihan ni Barbara Perez ay mga offer na pelikula mula sa MGM at Universal International na maglulunsad sa kanyang international career sa
ESMERALDA & NOBLE
Matagal nang retired sa Show Business sina Angel Esmeralda at Corazon Noble at matagal na rin silang nagkanya-kanya ng landas. Sila lang mga magulang ni Jay Ilagan (na mayroon pang dalawang kapatid: sina Leslie, kuya ni Jay, at isa pang babae na napatay ng Hapon noong panahon ng giyera).
Si Angel ay isa sa mga kapatid ni Gerry de Leon. Isa siya sa mga matinee idols during the mid-30s at ilan sa mga unforgettable movies niya ay ang Estrellita, Mariposa, Kahapon Lamang, kung saan naging leading lady niya si Aling Cora. Ginawa rin ni Angel ang Nasaan Ka, Irog at Milagro ng Nazareno, dalawa sa mga pelikulang dinumog ng tao noong araw. Nagsimula si Angel sa pelikula at noong panahon ng Hapon, lumabas rin siya sa entablado tulad ng karamihan sa mga artista noong araw. Sa kasalukuyan, isang private person si Angel na tuluyan na yatang tinalikdan ang pelikula.
Samantala si Aling Cora naman ay paminsan-minsan pa ring dumadalo sa mga movie gatherings, lalo pa’t ang mga ito ay may kinalaman sa career ni Jay. Ang tanging papel niya sa buhay ngayon ay tagasubaybay kay Jay at sa kanyang mga apo. Mayroon pa rin siyang mga offers pero ayaw na talaga niyang lumabas sa pelikula.
“Sa loob ng pitong taong inilagi ko sa pelikula,” paggugunita ni Aling Cora, “mahigit na 40 films ang nagawa ko.”
Nagsimula siya noong 1939 at tumigil siya noong 1945 nang mabali ang kanyang braso sa isang malagim na pangyayari.
“Nasa Red Cross evacuation center kami
Unang pelikula ni Aling Cora ang Anak ng Pari kung saan naging leading man niya si Rogelio de la
Ilan sa memorable films niya ay ang Pasang Krus, Tarhata at Magsasampaguita. Star siya sa lahat ng ‘yan. Ilan sa madalas ipareha sa kanya sina Rogelio de la Rosa, Ely Ramos, Ben Rubio at Jose Padilla, Jr. maliban sa naging asawa niyang si Angel Esmeralda.
JAY ILAGAN
He is a real “child of Cinema”. Nagkaisip siya sa paligid ng mga movie cameras, mga klieg lights at sa pagbabalatkayo. Musmos pa lamang siya ay nandoon na siya sa harap ng kamera, halos walang malay na gumaganap bilang Little Ronnie Poe, Little Joseph Estrada, Little So and So.
Si Jay Ilagan ay anak ng dating aktres na si Corazon Noble at ang dating aktor na si Angel Esmeralda. Acting runs in his blood. Kaya Jay really had no choice but to follow in the footsteps of his parents and his relatives. There was no escape, wika ngak, he had no other alternatives. His genes dictate that he be in the movies – for better or for worse.
Tulad ng karamihan ng kanyang mga pelikula, makulay ang tunay-na-buhay ni Jay. Marami na siyang mga pagsubok na dinanas both in his life as an actor and as a private person.
Sino ang makakalimot ng kanyang storybook romance with Hilda Koronel, isang pag-iibigan na nagsimula noong wala pa halos sila sa kanilang teen years? Di nga ba contract stars sila pareho ni Hilda
“Every experience in life helps me in playing movie roles,” nasabi
Naging mahirap din ang transition period ni Jay, specially when he reached the age of 14 or 15. Too young to be an adult actor and yet too old to be a child actor, that was the dilemma. Pero Jay survived that period. Habang hinihintay niya ang kanyang paglaki at pagma-mature, nakisali na rin siya sa mga pelikulang kantahan, sayawan at kung anu-ano pang mga wala namang katuturan.
“Jay is a flexible actor,” says a respected director. “Meaning, okey na okey siya bilang Kenkoy; okey na okey rin siya sa drama. Maski aksyon, pupuwede siya.”
CONRADO CONDE
The eldest of the 11 living children of Hermogenes Ilagan, Conrado Conde is now 72 and retired from the movies. He stopped when the bomba craze hit Movietown in the late 60s.
During his heyday, Conrado was invariably assigned to direct serious films by Sampaguita Pictures, his “home studio.” He is noted for his adventure films and although he had been nominated several times, he never got a FAMAS award. No regrets, though. His record and achievements will speak for Conrado.
Among his more memorable films are Gumuhong Bantayog, Taga sa Bato, Harangan Man ng Sibat, Halik sa Lupa, Kamagong (with Leopoldo Salcedo in the title role) and its sequel Anak ni Kamagong (with Pol’s son Edgar in the title role), Gintong Recuerdo, Berdugo, Rosa Rossini, etc.
“Isa sa paborito ko ay ang Iginuhit ng Tadhana,” ayon pa kay Conrado, “because that film helped President Marcos win the elections in 1965. If you remember, that film was banned by the Macapagal administration and the people naturally became curious. The movie was a big hit.”
Iginuhit ng Tadhana was divided into three parts: Marcos as student, Marcos after school and Marcos in his early years in politics. Conrado directed the portion with the President as a young man, during the Nalundasan case, a crucial part in the President’s life. Before he began shooting, according to Conrado, he made his own research and first visited Batac where they shot an important scene.
Conrado took up dentistry but he didn’t finish it. Before he finally drifted to movie-directing, he first formed a band – Rady Ilagan’s Orchestra – which played in several cities around the Pacific and even in Mainland
From LVN he transferred to Sampaguita where he worked until his retirement. He began as a scriptwriter, then as assistant director until he was promoted as full-fledged director in Balisong. In more than 20 years, he completed almost 50 films and helped several actors and actresses win acting awards (Van de Leon, Marlene Dauden, Eddie Garcia, etc.).
Conrado is the director who launched Dolphy on his career as a comedian in his first film, Pedrong Walang Takot, one of the episodes in the five-episode movie Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, made in the mid-50s. His last film was Mga Kamay na Gumagapang. Actually, nag-take-over lang siya kay Tony Cayado who died halfway through the movie.
ESTHER & DOYET ILAGAN
She was known as Tiya Neneng during the time Esther Ilagan was active in radio. Mayroon kasi siyang advice program
“I worked for more than 18 years in radio,” Esther says, “and for a time, nagtrabaho din ako sa telebisyon.”
Esther, now 56, is at present the entertainment coordinator of PANAMIN. Isa sa duties niya ay ang pagko-coordinate ng mga entertainment tours na bumibisita sa mga tribes sa bundok. Once or twice a month, may mga kasama siyang mga combo, novelty acts at iba pang entertainers para aliwin ang mga cultural minorities.
“It’s a gratifying job,” says the wife of Conrado Conde.
Still remember Doyet Ilagan, the little girl who used to dance and sing in Kuya Ike’s and Ate Guy’s TV shows? Malaki na siya ngayon, dalaga na. She is Juliet “Doyet” Ilagan, bunsong kapatid nina Eddie.
Doyet is now a third year advertising arts student at Maryknoll. She’s 18. Every now and then when her schedule permits, Doyet accepts singing engagements in the Nightclub Row (Eduardo’s, Wells Fargo, etc.) but if she can help it, nagko-concentrate na lang siya sa kanyang studies.
“I want to write books someday,” says Doyet who acted once in child roles and who did some 20 recordings for Vicor and Alpha. “Mahilig kasi akong magsulat.”
Doyet calls herself a Born-Again Christian.
EDDIE ILAGAN: THE RADIOMAN
I have been working since I was 8,” says Eddie Ilagan, “and I haven’t stopped working since then.”
Eddie Ilagan is more popularly known to radio listeners and movie fans as “Eddielat:” Isa siya sa anim na anak ng batikang movie direktor na si Conrado Conde, ang panganay sa magkakapatid na Gerry de Leon, Tito Arevalo, Angel Esmeralda at iba pa.
Isa si Eddie sa sikat na announcers ng DWWA at mapapakinggan siya araw-araw magmula alas-5 ng hapon hanggang alas-8:30 ng gabi. Puno ng mga balita (mostly movie news) ang kanyang programa at mahilig siyang magbigay ng komentaryo sa mga current events hindi lamang sa movies kundi pati na rin sa ibang fields.
Nagsimula si Eddie sa Showbiz bilang child actor at karamihan ng mga ginawa niyang pelikula ay sa ilalim ng Sampaguita Pictures. He did some 20 movies as a child actor and his most important role was in his Uncle Gerry’s Noli Me Tangere where he played the role of Basilio.
He also acted in radio shows, a difficult type of acting, according to Eddie, because you portray your character with your voice. “Kaya dapat mahusay ka sa vocal acting para lumabas na malinaw ang role mo,” he says.
One of his memorable radio roles was as the sidekick of Kapitan Kidlat.
Eddie took up several courses in college – Commerce, Computer Programming, etc. – but he never got to finish one. He also did stints on stage and in television but his world is really radio.
“I’ve been a disc jockey since 1967,” Eddie says, “and I enjoy every minute of it.”
Soon, if plans push through, Eddie might host a TV variety show to be called Most Beautiful Show, one feature of which is the Most Beautiful Contest he initiated in his radio program.
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