GLORIA ROMERO, at the peak of her career, with a copy of her Camay Print Ad, 1955. |
One of the busiest commercial models in the early to mid
1950s was the beautiful GLORIA ROMERO (born Gloria Galla. 16 Dec. 1933, in
Denver, Colorado to Filipino Pedro Galla and American Mary Borrego). She was
only four when she returned to the Philippines, settling in Mabini,Pangasinan—her
father’s hometown. The war caught up with the family, so the Gallas decided to
stay here.
GLORIA ROMERO, for CAMAY BEAUTY SOAP, 1955 |
She tried her luck in showbiz in 1950 playing bit roles for
several production outfits, but it was Sampaguita Pictures that noticed her and
who gave her the screen name ‘Gloria Romero’ (after Eddie Romero, who directed
her in her early 1951 movie,”Kasintahan sa Pangarap”.
Romero was cast in
Monghita (1952), her first lead role, but it was her appearance in Dalagang
Ilocana (1954) that gave her a FAMAS Best Actress—and a place in the top list
of Philippine film superstars.
The young ingénue was not only kept occupied filming
pictures, but also had her hands full doing pictorial for a variety of
products. She was the perfect endorser as she had a spotless image (she even
won the role of the Virgin Mary in ‘Martir sa Golgotha”, a 1954 Lenten movie),
her deportment and work ethics, of the highest standards. After all, Romero was
trained by the Sampaguita bosses themselves—taking her on trips abroad, providing
her wardrobe and giving her lessons in social etiquette.
Her early endorsements include leading beauty and personal
products as well as consumer goods. Most of her output were Print Ads, as
Television was still at its infancy stage at that time. Romero was especially known for being a Camay Girl and a Coca Cola presenter.
In the 70s, she was cast in “King and I” TVC commercial for
Superwheel, a popular ad series based on parodies of historical characters. At
the 1988 Creative Guild Ad of the Year Awards, she romped off with the Best
Actress trophy for her “Manang Biday” Superwheel TV Commercial.
Romero’s career spans over 60 years and she continues to be
active in movies and TV today. She has appeared in sitcoms like Palibhasa
Lalaki, "Richard Loves Lucy"
and in countless drama anthologies for GMA 7.Currently, Romero appears in “Juan
Happy Love Story”.
For her achievements, she received the first 2009 Lifetime
Achievement Award from MTRCB (Movies and Television Review and Classification
Board) Award, Huwarang Bituin Award from the 57th FAMAS Awards, and
named as one of the 13 "Movie Icons of Our Time".
Tita Minerva (Gloria Romero) was also part of the Superwheel laundry bar soap series of sing and dance TVCs. In fact, one of her TV ad, had the catchy tag, "basit nagelgel".
ReplyDeleteGloria Romero (b.1934 Denver Colorado USA) Filipina actress.
DeleteDubbed as the “Kurdapya” by the international media in the Philippines.
DeleteMiss Gloria Romero she turns 90 years old & still acting in TV films & media in the Philippines.
Delete