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| AMALIA FUENTES AS LUX LADY, 1969 |
Along with Susan Roces, Amalia Fuentes (b. 27 Aug. 1940) was
one of the first true superstars of the
Philippine silver screen of the 60s decade. Naga-born Fuentes was the daughter
of Alvaro Muhlach Sr., a Filipino of German-Spanish blood, and Concepcion
Amador. Her father had died during the war, so when she came of age, Fuentes
decided to find work to support the family.
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| MR. & MISS NO. 1: Juancho and Amalia |
She topped the contest, along with male winner, Juancho Gutierrez, and their careers were launched via their debut film, “Movie Fan”.
It was an instant success and she went on to make more blockbuster hits with Juancho like “Sonata” (1957) and “Pakiusap” (1959). Eventually, she was paired with Romeo Vasquez (“Pretty Boy”, “Ako ang May Sala”), who would become her husband, and father of their daughter Liezl.
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| AMALIA FUENTES for Mantrade's Fairlane |
But it was in the 1960s that her star shone the
brightest, beginning with the “Ako ang May Sala” (1960), and the 1963 romantic
comedy “Ang Senyorito at ang Atsay”. Her intense screen rivalry with Susan Roces
further heightened her fame. They had appeared together in “Amy, Susie, Tessie”
(1960). When Roces did the popular “Susanang Daldal”, Fuentes countered with “Amaliang
Mali-Mali”, and the competition was on.
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| SLIM, SLEEK AND BEAUTIFUL AS THE CAR, Mantrade Ad, 1965 |
As a an actress of superstar status, Fuentes was squired
by many companies to endorse their products. The largest Ford dealer in the
country, manila Trading & Supply Co. or MANTRADE, signed her up in 1965 to appear in print ads for their
latest car model—Fairlane 500.
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| FUENTES IN REVE D'OR Ads. 1965 |
She also became an endorser of REVE D’OR, a premium line of
cosmetics (Lotion, Face Powder, Perfume) distributed by Oceanic Commercial Inc. in
1965.
Fuentes became the face of LUX Beauty Soap in 1969, a casting coup for the brand which had
signed up Susan Roces earlier as one of their Lux ladies. She did a TV commercial that showed her at
her most beautiful.
She supported her daughter with Vasquez, Liezl Sumilang,
when she,too, became a child star and a commercial model, most notably for
SCOTT’S EMULSION in 1974.
The checkered career of Fuentes included not just acting,
but she also forayed into movie producing, screenplay writing and directing.
But no doubt, it was the pulling power of her beauty that she will be
remembered for, earning admiration from three generations of fans who have
dubbed her as the Philippine answer to Elizabeth Taylor.