Blanca Gomez: 40 years after ‘Stars ’66’

Forty years ago, the late (and original) starmaker Dr. Jose "Doc" Perez, big boss of Sampaguita Pictures, launched 10 new faces packaged as "Stars ’66" at a glittering affair at the sprawling Sampaguita Garden. It was big showbiz news that merited a Philippine Free Press cover, with the story entitled Walastik! Walandyo! written by no less than Quijano de Manila (Nick Joaquin).

The "Stars ’66" were the forerunners of such star batches as Mother Lily’s Regal Babies and the latter-day Star Circles (of ABS-CBN/Star Cinema) and similar wholesale groups.

The "Stars ’66" were composed of (at random) Dindo Fernando, Bert Leroy Jr., Pepito Rodriguez, Ramil Rodriguez, Edgar Salcedo, Rosemarie, Gina Pareño, Loretta Marquez, Shirley Moreno and, last but not the least, Blanca Gomez.

Forty years later, have you ever wondered whatever happened to the "Stars ’66?"

Three of them are gone: Dindo, who became one of the country’s finest drama actors, was found dead in his bathroom a few months after he lost in the elections in 1987; Edgar, son of Leopoldo Salcedo, known as The Great Profile, died of cancer several years ago; and Loretta, launched in Morena Martir and later quit showbiz to become a preacher, died of a weak heart.

Bert is based in the US with his family and so are Rosemarie (who separated from the late Ricky Belmonte and remarried an American) and Shirley (married to actor-turned-PAL-flight-attendant Henry Stevens).

The Rodriguez brothers are around, with Pepito retired from showbiz and Ramil occasionally accepting father roles in TV dramas.

The only one still active in showbiz is Gina.

And what happened to Blanca?

Like Bert, Rosemarie and Shirley, Blanca (younger sister of Daisy Romualdez) has been living in the States (in Montclair, San Bernardino, near Los Angeles) since 1984 with her family (children Bridgette, 34; Christina, 30; Beverly, 27; and Brian, 22). She got married in 1971 to Danny Pecache, a player for Crispa (Redmanizers) from whom she separated after two years (they divorced in 1979), and then to businessman Richard Yang (owner of Kobe Chicken Restaurant which has since gone out of business). Danny never remarried.

Now 58, Blanca came home during the Christmas season and, who knows, might stay for long, if not for good. Over lunch at Taste of L.A., Blanca recalled "those years" when Sampaguita was in its heyday.

All she wanted to be was a teacher.

"I used to live with my aunt on Don Quixote St. in Sampaloc, Manila. I was then a high school freshman at UST. Kasama namin si Madia-as Digdigan Buenaflor, a scriptwriter. When she learned that I was the sister of Ate Daisy, who was then already a Sampaguita contract star, she brought me to Sampaguita."

She was only 15 at that time. Blanca was introduced in Mga Anak sa Pagkakasala (1962), Eddie Garcia’s first directorial job.

"Those were different times, ibang-iba noon. We were very disciplined. Doc (Perez) saw to it. We were taught good manners and the social graces; we were dressed properly when we were in public. May curfew pa kami noon. After 12 midnight, bawal na lumabas."

One time, Blanca recalled, she and company sneaked out of the studio on the last shooting day of one of her movies and ventured into a nightclub at the Roxas Boulevard – you know, for a look-see out of curiosity.

"I was with Gina, Rosemarie, and (directors) Maning Borlaza and Chaning Carlos. We told Maning, ‘Ipasyal mo naman kami; hindi pa namin nakikita ang Roxas Boulevard. Aba, guess what happened the next day – we got a call slip from Doc and he gave us a lecture. Up to now, I don’t have any idea who told him about our (mis)adventure."

After Mga Anak, Blanca did more than two dozen movies, including the Mga Batang series (Mga Batang Eskwater, Mga Batang Turista, Mga Bata ng Lagim, etc.). Her two-year contract with Sampaguita was extended by four years until 1968 when she went freelancing, doing only two movies with other companies (one with Dante Rivero in a LEA Productions drama and another with Eddie Rodriguez under his own Virgo Productions).

Asked what other movies did she make, Blanca was clueless.

"I can’t remember," she apologized. "My children nga have been asking me what movies I’ve done, because they want to watch them, but I told them I don’t have any idea."

Her showbiz career was rudely interrupted in 1971 by her first marriage which didn’t last. Then, she entered a second marriage.

"I concentrated on our Kobe Chicken business. When we moved to the States (first in Missouri and then in L.A.) in the early ’80s, we closed our business here and put up (the same) in the States. Our Kobe Chicken (restaurant) there lasted for seven years. Our children were growing up and going to school, so we closed the store and I stayed home to take care of the children."

She now has five grandchildren, ages ranging from 10-years to two-months old.

"Our life in the States is simple. Like everybody else, we don’t have any maid. It’s expensive to have maids."

Now that her children have families of their own, Blanca said she can relax and enjoy herself.

Doesn’t she miss showbiz?

"No, not at all," said the Romblon lass who only wanted to be a teacher, "maybe because I’ve been busy mothering and grandmothering. But I’m up-to-date with what’s happening (in local showbiz)."

What if, just if, she gets an offer to do TV?

"I’ll think about it," she smiled, her face lighting up.

Forty years after the "Stars ’66," the acting itch remains.

As they say, once an actress...

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