More Camay Girls of the '50s

The gallery of Camay Girls of the ’50s published in this corner last Aug. 6 brought back fond memories. Celso de Guzman Caparas, Funfare’s “other beauty expert” who painstakingly prepared the material, said that he got enthusiastic response from his Facebook friends and other people including 1964 Miss International Gemma Cruz-Araneta who wanted to know where or how the iconic beauty soap got its name. “My grandma used Camay,” said Gemma.

Celso said that according to Procter & Gamble, maker/distributor of the product, Camay was coined from the French word “camee” which means “cameo, the jewel.”

“Camay’s original wrapper,” explained Celso, “featured a cameo of an elegant lady, with her profile in silhouette.”

Las Vegas-based Joena Padilla Brown, youngest daughter of Arsenia Francisco (one of the Camay Girls featured in the article) and Jose “Pempe” Padilla Jr., told Celso, “Mom never mentioned to us kids that she was a print ad model of Camay, the most popular soap back then when I was growing up. Thank you, Celso, for finding this in your research and sharing it with my family and others. It’s priceless. On behalf of the Francisco/Padilla family, we are all grateful to you.”

Yes, that “gallery” was a hit. Even fashion designer Blas Aligno was delighted to learn that Bella Flores was Camay Girl.

“What a FIND!” he told Celso. “Kudos, Celso!”

Because it was so good, as the beer commercial goes, ayos na ang kasunod!

Here’s more Camay Girls of the ’50s, again courtesy of Celso, including pre-war and post-war film actresses with their beauty tips and personal anecdotes. One of them is Red Cross heroine Rosa Rosal whose daughter, Toni Rose Gayda, also became a Camay Girl (“Ang kutis porselana”).

1. Alicia Vergel — “My favorite fragrance! Camay’s new perfume lasts longer. Keeps me so much lovelier.”

2. Amparo Karagdag — “Actresses must have lovely, soft complexion so I depend on Camay.”

3. Amelia Amante — “Using Camay soap regularly keeps my complexion always soft…always alluring.”

4. Anita Linda — “It’s your complexion that counts! So if beauty is your goal and romance your objective, begin with a lovely, smooth Camay complexion.” (She was also Miss Luzon to 1936 Miss Philippines Mercedes Montilla.)

5. Carmencita Palma — “The easiest, surest way to delightful loveliness and soft, velvety complexion.”

6. Charito Solis — “Every woman who cares about beauty will be delighted using Camay.”

7. Cristina Aragon — “Ang ma-romansang malapitang pagkuha ng kamera ay mangangailangan ng kagandahan. Kailanman ay hindi ako nangamba. Salamat sa aking kutis Camay.”

8. Evelyn Villar — “When I had to find a better beauty care, I tried Camay. Camay’s rich, creamy lather does wonders for my complexion.”

9. Lila Luna — “I’m devoted to Camay. I depend upon Camay to keep my complexion soft and smooth…it’s so important to my career.”

10. Lilia Dizon — “Camay keeps me feminine and dainty. The exciting fragrance lingers for the day…subtle fragrance so attractive to men.”

11. Lilian Leonardo — “Being beautiful is my job, so I use Camay.”

12. Linda Estrella — “Camay keeps my complexion smooth for camera close-ups. A woman’s beauty begins with an alluring skin, a ravishing complexion all men admire.”

13. Lita Rio — “It’s Camay that keeps my radiant complexion soft, smooth…younger looking!”

14. Luningning — “Beautiful women always have lovely, picture-pretty complexions. I keep my skin smoother with Camay.”

15. Milagros Naval — “Cameras demand perfect complexion, so I use Camay. It keeps my delicate complexion radiant, smooth and always refreshed.”

16. Mona Lisa — “Screen stars know that beauty begins with a soft, smooth complexion. Start daily, regular cleansing with Camay.”

17. Norma Vales — “I picked a winner in my first Camay soap. At first, outdoor scenes gave me complexion worries. But when I tried Camay, the gentle, creamy lather washed my worries away…left my complexion softer, smoother than ever.”

18. Paraluman — “Camay simply swept off my feet. I never imagined Camay could do so much for my complexion. Even people in the studio notice my smoother complexion since I used Camay.”

19. Rebecca Gonzales — “Early in my movie career, I found out the importance of proper beauty care, that’s why I depend on Camay to keep my complexion truly lovely.”

20. Rita Amor — “Because of my favorite Camay soap, men always admire my picture-pretty enchanting complexion. Camay awakens dull complexions. It’s rich, fragrant lather gives a refreshingly dainty and alluring complexion.”

21. Rosa Rosal — “I felt like Cinderella with my first Camay soap. It’s simply amazing. A radiant, new complexion was mine…softer, smoother to touch…younger, fresher to see.”

22. Rosita Noble — “Lagi akong gumagamit ng Camay. Walang nakakahiyang sandali para sa akin sa malapitang pagkuha ng kamera. Ang suwabe at malapot na bula ng Camay ay nagdudulot sa aking kutis ngayon ng kagandahan at karangyaang na-isasalarawang napakaganda.”

23. Virginia Montes — “Yes, this gentle Camay soap is wonderfully kind to my skin. I owe so much to Camay beauty care. Cameramen say that my skin has a fresh, youthful loveliness that photographs beautifully.”

24. Zony Quizon — “I never knew how fresh, how smooth my complexion could be until I discovered Camay beauty care. I marveled at Camay’s remarkable beauty effects. I simply can’t afford without it.”

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)