The legacy of Elsa Oria

MANILA, Philippines - Realist painter of Filipino women and pastoral life Atanacio Austria, better known as Tam Austria, has long been in the art scene for decades and his legacy aside from his individual aesthetics is a shared artistry with his kin.

Apart from the many Austrias, young artists and veterans alike, who are known and have made an indelible mark in the field of visual arts, Tam has an awe-inspiring connection with pop stars of yesteryear from his other half.

The noted Elsa Oria, a box-office musical star during the pre-war era, was his aunt-in-law and her sister Aileen Oria, an accomplished soprano, was his mother-in-law. Both were talented singers in their own right before the Pacific War. 

The artist’s wife, Maria Divina Sagaray Austria, although who has given up singing a long time ago in favor of her burgeoning real estate business, musical genes continue to run in her blood. “I was a big fan of my aunt Elsa and my mom in music,” recounted Maria Divina or simply Mary Divine.  

In his book Motion Pictures in the Philippines authored and published in 1952 by Vicente Salumbides, Elsa was dubbed as the Singing Sweetheart of the Philippines because her voice was like that of a nightingale. 

Elsa was a box-office musical star during the pre-war era

Elsa was very close to Divina but their physical closeness sadly came to an end when the movie star migrated to the US. Right after her stint in local showbiz, Elsa moved to America and married a certain Elwood Kelly Eastman who died in 1985. Life went on for Elsa, though, and she settled in the Big Apple where she died in Los Angeles, California in Dec. 28, 1995.

Elsa was a big star who teamed up with the matinee idols of her time like Rogelio de la Rosa and Ely Ramos in Bituing Marikit; Jose Padilla Jr. in Ulilang Watawat; Angel Esmeralda in Nasaan Ka, Irog?; and Rudy Concepcion in Ikaw Rin.

Film archivist Edgar Ebro posted on YouTube Elsa singing in her coloratura voice Ibong Sawi, a kundiman, in 1941.

Meanwhile, Elsa’s great-niece Sistene Anne Sagaray Austria has inherited her mom, grandma and great aunt’s musical genius on top of her penchant for painting she professionally honed at the UP College of Fine Arts. “But I only take singing and painting as hobbies because I help mom in her construction business,” shared Sistene Anne, who was named by her artist parents after the Sistene Chapel, a Renaissance architecture.

On July 16, when her mother celebrates her nth birthday at the Manila Polo Club, she has a musical surprise for her. 

On the other hand, Sistene’s brother Michael Angelo, still a name art inspired by the classical artist, is an actor known as Mike Austria. Mike was formerly a member of Friends and Spies Band. After his stint in acting and with the musical group, he joined the property development enterprise of his mom.