Ate Barbara: Audrey Hepburn of the Philippines

There seems to be renewed interest on Barbara Perez among The Philippine STAR readers these days. This all started when Ricky Lo’s Funfare began a series of Pinoy sightings in Hollywood – with Barbara Perez as one of our more successful exports there.

Fortunately, today’s generation is more or less still familiar with Barbara Perez because she still comes out on television from time to time. In fact, she had a soap opera on GMA 7 just last year – Hanggang Kailan with Christopher de Leon and Richard Gomez.

But for the younger set not exactly familiar with her background, allow me to tell you that she was a second year Journalism student at the University of Santo Tomas when she joined the movies. (A picture of hers taken by a popular photo studio was enlarged and put on the display window and this was spotted by a talent scout who in turn showed it to Dr. Jose Perez of Sampaguita Pictures).

Often referred to as the Audrey Hepburn of the Philippines, her first movie was Chabacano in 1956. However, she will always be remembered for playing the title role in Ate Barbara (1957).

The other films she did for Sampaguita were Senorita de Campanilla, Dewey Boulevard, Gumuhong Bantayog, Pitong Pagsisisi, Harangan Man ng Sibat, Limang Yugto ng Buhay and Historia de un Amor (the first directorial job of Eddie Garcia).

In between movie assignments, she also walked the ramp here and in fashion shows staged by Filipino couturiers abroad.

1961 was the year she did the Hollywood film No Man is an Island with Jeffrey Hunter. She was to do other Hollywood flicks, but passed up on these opportunities for two reasons (not necessarily in this order): 1) One film she was supposed to do (this was Halo for a Dime) was set in honky-tonks, which would require her to act sleazy on screen and her conservative upbringing was not comfortable with that. 2) She and then boyfriend Robert Arevalo were very much in love and they couldn’t stand to be away from each other that long. In fact, as soon as she got back from her Hollywood stint, Robert immediately offered to marry her – maybe before Hollywood could snatch her back again from him. They were married in Baguio – in the same church where Aga Muhlach and Charlene were wed in 2001.

After they got married, Barbara continued to appear in films, but became very selective with her movie assignments. One offer she could not refuse was this wonderful opportunity to co-star with Robert and to be directed by the great Gerry de Leon in Ang Daigdig ng mga Api, which won for her and Robert the FAMAS Best Actress and Actor trophies. The film also won Best Picture and attached with it the prizes for Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Leni Alano) and Best Child Performer (Ana Trinidad).

That FAMAS win was important for Barbara because that established her as a respected actress in local movies. She may have given up on Hollywood, but at least, on home ground people look up to her as an award-winning actress (an honor she achieved when awards were not yet dime a dozen like today).

Had she gone to Hollywood, her being Oriental would have been a hindrance when it came to getting the top roles in the movies there. Look at what happened to Nancy Kwan.

I think what happened was all for the best. Knowing Barbara personally, all that Hollywood fuss and glamour would have been too much for her. She probably wouldn’t have enjoyed the dizzying Hollywood life because she is one of the most simple and down-to-earth movie stars I have known in my years of covering the entertainment scene.

When we were with the Film Academy Classification Board more than a decade ago, I remember she would hitch a ride with us in a rickety and rusty Fiera provided by the office. That vehicle was open on both sides and Barbara didn’t mind the dust, the heat and even the stares of other people who probably were wondering why a glamorous actress like her was riding a Fiera.

As the wife of Robert Arevalo, she seems to be happy and content living in the Ylagan compound in Mandaluyong (in the same place where Janno Gibbs was raised) and making home for her husband and their two wonderful daughters, Anna and Gina. And what a champion homemaker she is. (She bakes the best German fruitcake and lemon pie merengue.) Now, a grandmother, she has her hands full looking after her grandkids – making sure that they are well nourished. (She doesn’t allow them to drink soda and patiently makes juices for them extracted from fresh fruits).

Obviously, there is a life (and a good and happy one) away from Hollywood – as exemplified by Barbara Perez.