They are all retired actresses?
Guess again.
"They have all joined the Miss Press Photography of the Philippines contest," said Funfare’s "other beauty expert" Celso de Guzman Caparas. "The Miss PPP stopped the search in the late ’60s. It was a rich source of showbiz stars. Somebody should revive the search, don’t you think?"
Here are Celso’s thumbnail sketches of these PPP-beauties-turned-actresses:
• Edita Vital, who won in 1960, was named Miss Philippines (representing the country in the Miss International contest) that same year. She appeared in El Filibusterismo, among other films.
• Cynthia Ugalde, won in 1961 and was chosen Miss Philippines (also for the Miss International contest) in 1962. She appeared in Sampaguita movies, one of them Birds of Paradise with Josephine Estrada, herself a Miss Philippines (for the Miss Universe contest).
• Helen Gamboa finished first runner-up in 1961. Introduced in Larry Santiago Productions’ Gorio and His Jeepney (with the late Chiquito in the title role), Helen became Queen of Musical/Pop Songs who introduced every new dance step in her movies. She has been happily married to former Sen. Tito Sotto for 35 years.
• Mila Ocampo (real name: Milagros Rodriguez Sumayao) was a 1959 winner. She was 16 when discovered a year earlier by LVN Pictures via a photo sent by her friend from her native Iriga, Camarines Sur, to LVN Pictures lady boss Doña Sisang. Mila is the widow of actor Von Serna and mother of Snooky "Kate" Serna.
• Lily Marquez (real name: Jean Rogers) won a "consolation prize" in 1958. She was discovered two years earlier by the late director Artemio Marquez for Premiere Productions where she was built up as a kontrabida.
• Miriam Jurado (real name: Miriam Jurado Eisenman) competed in 1958. She started at age seven in amateur singing contests and, later, was a consistent champion in Student Canteen until she lost to a group called The Crazy Presidents led by Jose Mari (who later became a Sampaguita actor). She did several movies for Premiere Productions and People’s Pictures before she migrated to the US.
• Adorable Liwanag, a candidate in 1961, was introduced twice as actress, first in 1959 as Liwayway Liwanag in Seksing-Seksi (with Aura Aurea in the title role) and as Adorable Liwanag in Juan Tamad Goes to Society (starring Manuel Conde). She was a Premiere contract star and was nominated as Famas Best Supporting Actress for Ako ang Katarungan (topbilled by FPJ).
• Elvie Gonzalez (real name: Elvie Pamintuan Gonzales), the 1965 winner, was introduced in the 1967 musical-romance Together Again starring Dolphy, Nida Blanca, Jean Lopez and Romano Castellvi. Before Miss PPP, Elvie was 1963 Queen of Dance-O-Rama (month of August), Bb. Ilang-Ilang at the 1964 Bb. Pilipinas Pageant and fourth runner-up also in the Bb. Pilipinas in 1965. She’s the mother of Charlene Gonzalez (Mrs. Aga Muhlach), 1994 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe and a finalist (one of Top Five) in that year’s Miss Universe Pageant.
• Vilma Valera (real name: Vilma Johnson), 1961 second runner-up, was introduced in LVN Pictures’ Bakit Ka Nagtampo (starring Nida Blanca and Nestor de Villa) and later became a sexy-drama actress (in Salambao which earned her a FAMAS Best Actress nomination) and a recording artist (one of her top hits was It Must Be Him). Like Miriam Jurado, her best friend, Vilma quit showbiz and migrated to the US.
• Sylvia Gumabao, 1963 winner, joined the 1962 and 1963 Miss Philippines search won by Cynthia Ugalde and Monina Yllana respectively. Her movie debut was in Birds of Paradise (mentioned earlier) which drew an SRO crowd when it was shown at the family-owned first-class theater named after her in Cabatuan, Isabela.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)