CHARITO SOLIS: 1967 ASIA'S BEST ACTRESS (Asia Film Festival - Tokyo, Japan)

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COMING HOME VICTORIOUS IN THE ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL, SHE GETS ROYAL WELCOME 

by Jose V. Liza, Jr.

AND out came the decision.  Charito Solis, that lustrous star, has won the best actress award in the Asian Film Festival recently held in Tokyo, Japan.

Her triumph was not unexpected.  Her dramatic performance in Nepomuceno Productions' Dahil Sa Isang Bulaklak, opposite Ric Rodrigo, was really highly commendable.  Out of the possible 10 points Charito garnered 9.3 points when the board of judges made their selection for the best actress award in the Tokyo festival.  Her closest rival was very much behind in the ratings.

The news of her victory was received with great pride and rejoicing by the Philippine movie industry and the public.  Hence a glowing welcome was prepared for her on her homecoming.

Charito was met at the airport not only by her movie colleagues but also by Atty. Ricardo Balatbat, president of the Philippine Motion Picture Producers Association, and throngs of fans.

After an interview session at the VIP room of the airport she was ushered to a waiting topdown Thunderbird which led a motorcade along the Nichols route, out to Taft avenue, straight to the Escolta and ending at the city hall where she received a plaque of appreciation from Mayor Villegas and a reception was held in her honor.

Her Trip To Japan

Charito departed for the land of the cherry blossoms last Sept. 20 with Conching Morato, her hairdresser.  Although it was predicted she would be nominated for the best actress award, Charito was not expecting much.

"Who will not wish to win such an honor?" she said when interviewed at the airport before her departure.  "But I'm attending the festival as a representative of the Filipino artists, movie artists I mean.  And while there, during cocktail parties or important gatherings, I'm sure I'll be meeting new friends whether connected with the moview or not.  If I win, so much the better.  If I lose, it will not be hurting at all because I am not expecting too much."

To project the true image of a Filipina Charito brought with her her exquisite ternos.

"I know they will admire them," she said, "like the Americans did when we attended the Oscar Awards in Hollywood."

Another subject which Charito was able to talk about though briefly before she boarded the ramp of her plane was Langit Sa Lupa, her second picture for Nepomuceno Productions.  

"Charito, is it true that Langit is more highly dramatic than Dahil?", someone asked.

"Yes, doubly so, I think."

Questions were made about a published item concerning her and a scene in Langit which had to be re-taken.

With the thought that she was not able to give her best, Charito felt extremely disappointed.  In an outburst of dismay she pulled at her hair and bet her legs.  Spectators present on the set were caught speechless.  But those who understood the situation -- the cast and the crew -- they knew that it was a perfectionist's way of expressing her frustration.  Charito really gets upset whenever any highly dramatic scene has to be repeated before the cameras.

But once she gets any difficult scene in one take you can be sure it's perfect.  In fact you cna be moved to tears by it.

Her Achievements

Charito's accomplishments in Philippine movies are hard to equal.  She has three FAMAS statuettes to her credit and she is considered an international star by virtue of her having appeared in Buddha and The Princess And I for Japan's Daiel Motion Pictures, as well as in a Thai movie, Adventures of Captain Yuth.

Charito was also the first Filipino star to attend the Oscar Awards in Hollywood as a guest of the Academy.

She is expected to star in at least one Hollywood picture by next year.

Charito started her movie career very young and has appeared in more than 40 pictures.  Born Rosario Solis in Manila she came from a well-known family.  Her father was an editor of the Spanish-language Vox de Manila and once candidate for governor.

Her classic profile features and peach complexion first captured the public imagination in LVN's Nina Bonita, a picture directed by her uncle.

Last year after being away from the cameras for two and a half years she made seven pictures in a period of six months, all of them boxoffice hits.  She is extremely enthusiastic about being a part of a movie toward the upliftment of the Filipino movie industry.  She signed an exclusive contract with the Nepomuceno Productions for an undisclosed amount reaching seven figures.

In the next Asian Film Festival, Charito expects to have three pictures of her entered, Ang Langit Sa Lupa, Bathala and Igorota.

Ref.:  The Weekly Nation Magazine

          October 30, 1967

          Article written by Jose V. Liza, Jr.

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