Celebrities Photo Gallery: 2008

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Monday, November 10, 2008

PATRICK GARCIA

PATRICK GARCIA

BIOGRAPHY OF PATRICK GARCIA

BIOGRPAHY OF PATRICK GARCIA

ARNOLD GAMBOA

ARNOLD GAMBOA

BIOGRAPHY OF ARNOLD GAMBOA

Arnold Gamboa: "Isa sa Apat na Sikat”

BALIKTANAW by Romy Protacio | SAN DIEGO, 7/25/2011 -- After my recent elbow rubbing with the cast of “Aawitan Kita sa Amerika”, where I met Lirio Vital, I tried to stay in touch with Lirio through the internet (Facebook, specifically). It was on her Facebook wall that I stumbled on the name of Arnold Gamboa, and that day will be a day etched on my memory. In fact I suddenly muttered, “OMG!” (Oh my gosh!) when I saw his name. It was as if I discovered a hidden treasure, and I knew that I have to connect with Arnold and write his story, as well.

I can no longer hold my excitement, so I immediately sent Arnold an FB message that says, “You don’t know me but I know you. Please add me as a friend. I know you very well as a movie star.” Arnold immediately accepted me as a friend. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship that led me writing about Arnold’s life and career.

Arnold Gamboa was once a charming youngster who was one of the “Apat Na Sikat”, a group who reigned supreme during the 70’s with their TV primetime show. Together with Winnie Santos, Lala Aunor and Dondon Nakar, the foursome made quite a mark in the entertainment world. Although the success of “Apat na Sikat” was short lived, Arnold’s name still rings a bell to many.

Arnold Gamboa is Arnold Ariel Tiangco Gamboa in real life. His father, Antonio Gamboa, is from Jaro, Iloilo City while his mother, Leonisa Tiangco, is a native of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija. He was born and raised in Manila. He is the second son, Gilbert being the eldest and he has 3 sisters - Diana, Maria Antoinette, and Mylene.

He completed his elementary studies at the Ateneo University. He is an alumnus of the Far Eastern University, where he acquired his high school diploma, as well as his college degree leading to the Bachelor of Arts, major in Economics.

His Showbiz Career

It was not really a surprise that Arnold entered showbiz, because his father was once a movie actor who appeared in the movie “Sutlang Bakal”. His father’s dream to be a movie actor was cut short when he got married and his wife asked that he end his movie career. Arnold’s dad was as good looking as he is, so a continued showbiz career was probably posing a threat to their marriage. His father should have been in the cast of “Lo Waist Gang” but as fate had it, he decided to bow out of showbiz and pursue other career options.

While studying in Ateneo, Arnold was an active member of the Ateneo Children’s Theater (ACT). Even as a grade schooler, he was given the Silver medal for elocution by the school when he delivered the piece, “Liberty”, written by Lamberto Avellana. These were clear signs of his interest and talent in acting.

Eddie Rodriguez, a famed actor and director once visited the school and told the Head Master that he is looking for a boy who can join the cast of his movie, “Gumuho Man Ang Langit.” At his early age of seven years old, Arnold caught the eye of Eddie, and in a few days, Arnold’s parents received a letter from Virgo Production (the movie outfit owned by Eddie Rodriguez) asking them to send Arnold to the studio for an audition. Accompanied by his mother, Arnold got his first audition where he was made to sing, cry, dance and act. It was quite an experience for a little boy, which was well worth it, as he landed a role in the movie, “Gumuho Man ang Langit”. Arnold played the son of Barbara Perez and Eddie Rodriguez and that was the start of his movie career.

Shortly after, he was informed that Lea Production, owned by Emilia Blas, was looking for a child star to appear in the movie, “Wanted: Perfect Mother,” together with famous actors Boots Anson-Roa, Dante Rivero and Liza Lorena. Arnold was well recommended by Eddie Rodriguez who was a good friend of Emilia Blas and he got the role. It was Arnold’s quick ticket to fame as it garnered the Best Picture Award in the Manila Film Festival. He had the chance to work with the iconic movie director, Lino Brocka as well as fellow other actors like Gina Alajar and Snooky, who would also make their names in the industry.

“Wanted: Perfect Mother” was also a landmark movie production for Lino Brocka. He was awarded the Best Director Award in this movie, which catapulted him to popularity and this was the first movie where the public took notice of his unique artistry in film making.

What followed next was a series of movies that Arnold did for Lea Productions. He did “Cadena de Amor” directed by Lino Brocka where he was nominated for Best Child Actor in the CCMM Awards (yesteryear’s counterpart of the Catholic Mass Media Awards) and “Lumuha Pati Mga Angel” starring Gloria Romero, Marissa Delgado, and Eddie Garcia. He appeared in the title role with Lorna Tolentino in the movie, “Lumuha Pati Mga Angel”. This movie was the highlight of Arnold’s career, as it gained him the Famas Best Child Actor Award in 1972. Lorna Tolentino was also recognized for her acting ability in this movie, where she won the Famas Best Child Actress Award.

Having established his name in the industry, Arnold’s movie offers came one after another. At one point, Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions, owned by Atty. Esperidion Laxa had plans to build up an Arnold-Snooky love team, which would have required Arnold to do movies exclusively with the film producers. However, Arnold was still studying during this time, and his parents were reluctant to allow him to pursue his movie career full time and give up on his studies. The offer from Ilang-Ilang Productions was declined, but Arnold still made several movies under the movie outfit, although not under an exclusive contract.

About this time, the big three movie outfits that glorified the screens during the 50s and the 60s (Sampaguita, LVN and Premier) were starting to fade out of the industry. They were being replaced by new outfits – Regal Films, Lea Productions and Tagalog Ilang-Ilang. Arnold made movies with these three burgeoning film productions, although he can not really remember all the titles of the movies he made.

In the early 70s, the local entertainment industry was dominated by the love teams of Nora Aunor-Tirso Cruz and Vilma Santos-Edgar Mortiz. Arnold was a young teenager by the mid 70’s. Ike Lozada, a famous radio and TV host (known for his radio program, “Dambuhalang DJ”) and part-time talent manager conceptualized a junior love team that would target the younger audience and would follow the footsteps of the Nora-Tirso and Vi-Bubot love teams. The young love teams will be introduced in a new TV show which was planned to compete with the Channel 7 show, “Eto Na Kami”, another TV show quite popular with the young generation back then. Ike gathered the team of Arnold and Maribel “Lala” Aunor, Winnie Santos and Dondon Nakar that gave birth to the “Apat na Sikat” in Channel 9. The show was an instant hit not just with teen-agers, but also for older audiences and it quickly acquired a high rating among viewers. It was aired during prime time, and lasted for five years. People who grew up watching “Apat na Sikat” often associate Arnold’s name to the TV show, as it made television history during its prime.

The “Apat na Sikat”

“Apat na Sikat” in the 70s was borne out of the imagination of the late Ike Lozada. Ike made quite a name for himself on his TV show “Big Ike’s Happening” and his AM radio program, “Dambuhalang DJ”. Like his colleague, Kuya Germs, Ike was also instrumental in launching the careers of young stars.

The four young stars were easily brought to fame, because the two ladies were related to the star of the season. Winnie Santos is the younger sister of Vilma Santos, while Lala Aunor is the first cousin of Nora Aunor.

While doing my research on the internet, I chanced upon the Ukay-Ukay blog written by Guillermo “Ige” Ramos. He provided a vivid, though quite amusing takes on the “Apat na Sikat.” Nilampaso nya ang Apat na Sikat. Gigil na gigil si Ige sa kanyang characterization of Winnie Santos, and Lala Aunor. Ige, however, had kinder words for Dondon and Arnold.

“Winnie tried to be her sister’s clone: she did a TV version of Vilma’s hit Trudis Liit, and she sang the Ate VI anthems, “Paper Roses” and “My Boy Lollipop”. Unlike her sister, who is still a terpsichorean wonder, Winnie could only dance the Lady Bump. The more she copied her sister, the more she receded into oblivion.

Lala Aunor achieved stardom through cloning. Her famous relative was her “sister,” none another than Vilma’s arch-nemesis, Nora Aunor. Later, it was revealed that Lala was not Nora’s sister, but her cousin! It didn’t matter because she was a carbon copy of the Superstar—if the carbon had been used 1,000 times previously. Lala sounded so much like Nora, it was as if she had been lip-synching to Nora’s records. The memory of Lala Aunor in a Minnehaha Indian costume by way of Disneyland, singing Karen Carpenter’s Top of the World, can only be erased by years of psychiatric therapy.

Dondon Nakar had the most musical talent, which is to say that he could play the guitar and carry a tune. He was also the sexiest, and there was an edge to him. With his smiling almond eyes and his moreno looks, Dondon was an early Richard Gomez prototype. Too bad he never achieved Richard Gomez’ status.

I could compare Arnold Gamboa’s career to that of Mark Lester and Pepito Rodriguez. Arnold started out as a child star, and certainly was cute and innocent looking. On Apat Na Sikat, he was the resident mestizo.”

It was quite unfortunate that Apat Na Sikat’s demise became a product of its own popularity. Due to the star status of the show, a feud between Ike Lozada who conceptualized the show and Channel 9 erupted. This happened when the Channel 9 management decided to turn the show into a network production in order to control the format of the show. However, Ike did not allow this to happen. After five years of being in the air, the show finally folded up. Despite its popularity, the show died a natural death and its main stars went their separate ways.

Eventually, Winnie Santos got married and migrated to the States while Lala Aunor also accepted offers abroad and tried to establish a new career overseas. Arnold, on the other hand, continued to make movies . After spending 15 years in the industry, he decided to leave showbiz and concentrate on another field.

A New Career Unfolds

When Arnold started his college education, his parents encouraged him to give up his showbiz career and concentrate his studies. Arnold felt it was the right thing to do because he was having a hard time balancing his showbiz activities with his studies. “Hindi ko na kayang pagsabayin ang aral at movie making, unlike when I was in high school,” Arnold said. He remembers doing “High School Circa” directed by Mario de los Reyes in 1979 when Arnold was almost graduating from high school. At 17, Arnold did the movie “Dormitoryo,” starring Lorna Tolentino, Mark Gil, and Alfie Anido. “Dormitoryo” was the last movie of Alfie Anido before he passed away. It was also Arnold’s last movie after which he concentrated on his studies.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

JOSE PADILLA, JR

Jose Padilla Jr Photo Gallery

BIOGRAPHY OF JOSE PADILLA, JR.

Jose Padilla Jr. with Rebecca Gonzales

Jose Padilla with Norma Blancaflor

Jose Padilla with Anita Linda receiving the Maria Clara Awards

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

PARALUMAN

PARALUMAN

BIOGRAPHY OF PARALUMAN

Paraluman Photo Gallery

Paraluman was born in Tayabas, Quezon, of a German father and a Filipino mother.
The young Paraluman was a movie fan. She loved reading magazines about her favorite celebrities. Her interest in showbiz increased when she learned that their next-door neighbor was the big movie star, Corazón Noble. She would often climb over the fence to catch glimpse of the actress.Her curiosity yielded positive results because Noble's younger sister, Lily, noticed her and soon, they became friends.

Because of her extraordinary beauty, Paraluman was recommended by another sister of Corazón Noble, Norma, to film producer, Luis Nolasco. She was only 17 at that time. Her first movie was Flores de Mayo (1940). She first used the screen name Mina de Gracia. It was later changed to Paraluman by Fernando Poe Sr., who signed her as a full-fledged star in X’otic Films' Paraluman (1941). This was followed by the actresses' roles in the films Bayani ng Bayan and Puting Dambana.
After World War II, she came back to cinema as a contract star of Sampaguita Pictures. She then became a famous leading lady in romantic movies, but when she made a comeback, her image was repackaged by Sampaguita Pictures owner Dr José “Doc” Pérez. She was given character roles, playing nemesis to Gloria Romero in Hongkong Holiday, then a lame woman in Tanikalang Apoy (1959). She won a FAMAS Best Actress Award for her role in Sino ang maysala?.
Paraluman was also nominated four times in FAMAS: twice in 1959 for Best Actress for the movies Bobby and Anino ni Bathala, in 1972 as Best Supporting Actress for Lilet, and in 1976 as Best Supporting Actress for Mister Mo, Lover Boy Ko. Her last film was Kailan Sasabihing Mahal Kita (1985).

source: wikipedia