The 'seashell' girl graduates from Letran

Guess who paid us a surprise visit a few days ago, with a box of chocolate cake from Red Ribbon — yes, Rebecca Lusterio, the girl who used to sell seashells at a beach in Panglao, Bohol, where she was discovered by her fellow Boholano Cesar Montano (running for governor in the same province) who cast her in three films, Muro-Ami (directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya), Panaghoy sa Suba and Ligalig, the last two produced and directed by Cesar who also starred in them.

Rebecca was only nine years old when she played a diver in Muro-Ami for which she won Best Child Performer in the Metro Manila Filmfest and the FAMAS, and New Movie Child Actress of the Year and New Movie Child Performer of the Year, both from the Star Awards of the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC). For Panaghoy, Rebecca was named Best Supporting Actress by both the Metro Filmfest and Gawad Tanglaw.

Then, Rebecca simply disappeared from the showbiz scene. It turned out that she continued her high school studies in Bohol until she graduated. That’s when her problem cropped up. Due to lack of funds, she couldn’t go to college. Funfare wrote about it. The management of Colegio de San Juan de Letran read the story and offered her a scholarship.

That was four years ago.

Rebecca graduated last month.

She came to The STAR to give thanks before she flew home to Bohol. Yesterday, Rebecca e-mailed me the following letter:

Dear Sir Ricky,

It has been four years since I took the chance of going to Manila to pursue my college studies. It has been four years since you opened the door for me to study in Colegio de San Juan de Letran.

According to Pres. John F. Kennedy, “Remember that our nation’s first great leaders were also our first great scholars.” It was a humbling experience to attain my college degree as a scholar of one of the best schools in the Philippines, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. I received my AB Communication Arts diploma last March 27 at SMX Mall of Asia.

From the bottom of my heart, I want to express my deepest thanks to you and to my alma mater, Colegio de San Juan de Letran. I would say that I was very lucky enough to have met good Samaritans like Fr. Edwin Lao O.P., former Rector and president of Letran; to Fr. Tamerlane Lana O.P., the present Rector of Letran Manila for letting me continue my scholarship.

My stay in Letran wouldn’t have been easy without the guidance of Ma’am Jhenny Villar who was in charge of monitoring my performance in school. I had to maintain good grades as agreed upon in the contract. Now I am ready to face challenges of the “real world” and that I also have my professors to thank for it. 

And, of course, my college life wouldn’t have been complete without my friends. There’s also my fellow Boholano and bosom buddy, Kuya Leo Udtohan, who informed me about the scholarship grant. He has been acting as my “PRO” since then.

College life was like a roller coaster ride; there were lots of twists and turns, ups and downs, along the way. But with the guidance and wisdom of my parents, Helen Lusterio and Verano Lusterio, family and relatives, my fellow Boholanos, my mentors especially Letran Institute of Communication family, Letran staff, classmates and friends, I was able to fulfill my long-time dream.

I also want to thank director Marilou Diaz-Abaya and Tito Cesar Montano for discovering my talent in acting which led me to a brighter future.

It was a real pleasure knowing leaders who are helping people like me to realize their dreams.

From being an island girl to a proud degree-holder has been an unforgettable experience for me. Thank you, Lord, for sending me your angels in disguise.

More power, thank you and God bless.

—Sincerely yours,

REBECCA LUSTERIO

* * *

Setting the record straight

From Celso de Guzman Caparas, Funfare’s “other beauty expert,” this letter:

Dear Ricky,

This is reference to an item that came out in Funfare’s Readers’ Reactions portion, which read:

“From Susie Nepomuceno-Pineda: I want you to know that my mom, Teresita Villa-real Nepomuceno, was 1951 Miss Philippines. She was crowned by Armi Kuusela, the first Miss Universe (1952). According to my mom, it was Armi who paved the way for the Philippines to be invited to join the Miss Universe pageant and the country did send a representative the next year. One of my siblings is Paeng Nepomuceno, the world bowling champion. (Funfare, March 23, 2010).”

It is impossible for Armi Kuusela to have crowned Teresita “Baby” Villareal.

For the benefit of students who are doing thesis on beauty pageants (both local and international), pageant enthusiasts and loyal Funfare readers, here are some facts on the subject:

Teresita was crowned (see photo at left) Miss Philippines 1951 by Mrs. Consuelo Salazar-Perez (wife of Eugenio Perez, then Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines) on Dec. 22, 1951 at the Boys’ Town Carnival Auditorium.

Some 187 days after Baby was crowned, Armi won the first Miss Universe title on June 28, 1952. Her first ever visit to our country was on March 9, 1953 when the Philippine International Fair Committee invited her to crown that year’s Miss Philippines, Cristina de Leon Galang. Coronation night was held on March 20, 1953. (published in Funfare on June 28, 2006).

Our first delegate and Armi’s co-candidate to the Miss Universe pageant in 1952 was Baby’s namesake, Teresita Torralba Sanchez.

—Yours in pageantry,

Celso de Guzman Caparas

(E-mail reactions at [email protected] or at [email protected])