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A PROFILE: THE GREAT PROFILE
Leopoldo Salcedo is six feet tall not only in person
but also in the motion picture industry.
By TINO R. STA. ROMANA
LEOPOLDO
SALCEDO, Pol to
his legions of fans and admirers, is 6 feet tall, dark and very handsome. A combination of Rodolfo Valentino, Clark
Gable and John Wayne, Pol has earned the tag of Asian Adonis, “The King,” the
“Great Profile” of Philippine movielandia, a man’s man, “the real thing,” or
“The Lady’s Choice” as he is often referred to by movie columnists. While others have faded away, Pol Salcedo is
still making movies, radio and television shows.
Salcedo was born in Cavite, center and cradle of the first successful
Philippine Revolution against tyranny and oppression. His father, a Spanish mestizo, used to work
as foreman with the US Navy Yard at Sangley Point, Cavite. His mother from whom he took his dark
complexion, is a Filipina with imposing carriage and elegant manners.
Pol,
second boy in a family of six, had a sister who is a nun, the Mother Superior
of a prestigious and exclusive catholic school.
As a
student, Salcedo, who had in poor health as a child, was good in athletics as
well as in drama. Oratory and
declamation contests were his forte.
The
highlight of Pol’s life came when a friend, without his knowledge and consent,
published his picture in one of the national magazines. Director Jose Nepomuceno of Malayan Pictures
often called father of Philippine movies, had him called and right then and
there Salcedo was offered the leading role in Sainted Devil, with glamorous
Purita Sta. Maria, as her leading lady.
Since then, Salcedo has starred in more than 500 pictures. He has worked and co-starred with Van Heflin,
Rita Gomez, Vera Miles, Dennis Weaver, Rita Moreno, James MacArthur, Michael
Rennie, Diyan Jergen, Barbara Bouchet, to name only a few international
stars. He has worked practically with
all Philippine movie people. He has been
directed by Ted Post, Gerry de Leon, Art Wayne, Bert Avellana, and other
directors.
Cool Million Yearly
He
is one of the highest paid actors. There
was a time when he used to earn more than a million dollars a year. Financial success, however, could not prevent
his greatest disappointment in life to see his mother die early during his
rising movie career.
In
the second World War, when the Japanese invaded the Philippines, Salcedo was
active in the guerrilla movement. He
rose to the rank of captain in the Marking’s Guerrilla outfit, where he was
supply officer. He was most active in
intelligence work about the enemy placement of troops, supplies, installations
and ships.
On
November 30, 1944, when the American Forces made their historic landing in
Leyte, he and eleven of his men were caught doing espionage and sabotage work
in the heart of Manila. Imprisoned at
Fort Santiago – consigned to one of its death dungeons where they were brutalized
and given the works prior to execution – he was luckily able to escape with
four of his men. The seven left were
executed.
Pol
never claimed backpay. He considered it
a rare privilege and the duty of every citizen to protect and serve his country
from foreign aggressors.
Liberation made Pol again very much in demand in the movies. He has visited and toured the United States
four times on business or pleasure trips or personal appearances, and toured
around the world for a rest. In Hawaii
and California, he counts with a big following in the Filipino and Asian
communities.
Very
active in social services, Pol is with the Red Cross, the Boy Scouts and other
volunteer groups that help the needy – and the hopeless – rendering his
services free. During the Korean War, he
led a troupe that entertained Filipino and American troops to boost their
morale and fighting spirit. He visited
camps and hospitals to cheer the sick and the wounded.
Salcedo is best responsible for his postwar Philippine Movie Artists
Guild. Conceived to protect the
entertainment community against the unscrupulous exploitation of their talents
by foreign or local groups, the Guild has had Salcedo as president.
A
sense of social indignation and commitment, a sympathy for the downtrodden
farmers, workers, helpless legitimate studentry, whether as picketeers or
activists being bullied, harassed or mowed down – Pol joins them in their
marches, demonstrations and speeches. At
one time he challenged a garrulous Manila mayor to a boxing bout or a duel when
the city executive, while tipsy at one of the plush motels along Dewey
Boulevard, started to bully waiters.
Close To All Presidents
Pol
has been close to all the Philippine Presidents, starting with Emilio
Aguinaldo, the statesman Osmena, the dynamic Roxas, the fiery Quezon, the
charismatic Magsaysay, the humble Garcia, the popular Macapagal and the
incumbent Marcos. Pol was among the
first diehard lieutenants that plotted Marcos’ first victory but principles and
idealism have caused a parting of ways although they may be still the best of
friends.
He
has turned a deaf ear on this impurtunings of many to make him run for Senator
or for the governorship of his province Cavite.
There is again a clamor for him today to run for the Senate or as vice
mayor of Manila under the Liberal Party headed by Senator Gerry Roxas.
Whether facing the camera or not, he is the epitome of hard work,
dignity and total professionalism. He
has a passion for perfection. He comes
to work on the dot – studies and reads his lines with utmost concentration.
Salcedo speaks Spanish, Tagalog and English fluently. It is habitual for Pol to read books,
periodicals, newspapers and magazines before retiring. His extensive collection of books ranges from
classics to biographies, books on economics, the sciences and the humanities.
To
maintain his fighting weight, he plays golf, fishes, swims and practices
dynamic tension. This fastidious dresser
wears suits of the best selected materials.
At present, Pol is consumed by the desire to
serve his country by bringing the goodwill of the Philippines to its Asian
neighbors by means of a cultural project.
“The
King,” has cut quite a swath among the most beautiful stars, society girls,
matrons, and international beauties. He
has been married five times to the most glamorous women. Friends jokingly call him the “male”
Elizabeth Taylor. His motto? “Life
without love is like a barren desert.”
Source: The Weekly Nation, August 30, 1971
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