Truly glorious movie queen marks 80-year milestone

ROMERO. Rare combination of beauty, talent and experience.

At about this time of the year a full 12 months ago, the truly glorious and “eternally” lovely Gloria Romero was feted with a “surprise” birthday asalto at the famous Vera Perez Gardens by Manay Ichu Maceda and the unsuspecting festejada’s many adoring friends and admirers.

“But why,” the flustered honoree was heard to wonder as the lights suddenly blazed around her. “I’m turning 80 next year!” “Consider this your dress rehearsal then,” a friend riposted. “We simply couldn’t wait to show you how much we love you!”

—Well, the “rehearsal” is over and “Gloria (Galla) Romero has indeed hit the big 8-0, joining Eddie Garcia as one of the very few still working acting icons we have, with projects like her current teleserye, “Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas,” keeping her busy—and in financial clover.

She plays mother to no less than Cesar Montano in the Laurice Guillen-directed series, and is as stylish and arch as she wants to be.

What keeps Gloria glorious at 80? It helps that her daughter Maritess and grandson Chris obviously dote on her—well, wouldn’t you?

Blessings

For her part, “Glo” is grateful for the blessings, but is pragmatic enough to realize that she’s one of the few exceptions to the desultory rule that former screen queens are of relatively dim wattage to the current generation of movie fans, to be occasionally dusted off and cast in garish cameos as horrifying witches and harridans, or as grandmothers to callow, young stars of the moment who can’t act their way out of a proverbial paper bag!

Truth is, there was a sad time in Gloria’s stellar career when the former screen queen had to accept witch and harridan roles, while our hearts bled for her. We knew why the dastardly deed had to be done, but we were really happy and relieved when the brief, downbeat chapter ended, and she was again given roles challengingly commensurate to her rare combination of beauty, talent and experience.

One of those landmark “rehabilitating” roles was as the Alzheimer’s-afflicted mother in Guillen’s now classic hit, “Tanging Yaman,” in which Gloria’s painfully insightful and felt portrayal blazed brightest of all and broke the hearts of many viewers with its bittersweet brilliance.

It was clear that no other senior actress could have come up with that honest and brave a depiction of a mother’s love about to fade into timeless forgetfulness—and Gloria was justly lauded for the major thespic triumph.

The last time we saw Gloria, she was weeping as she empathetically watched “Katy!” at Meralco Theater—and the other seniors around her “accusingly” wagged their fingers at us for “making Gloria cry!” —But, they were tears of grateful memories, Gloria beamingly assured us later, as the musical’s cast lavished her with an ovation of their own!

After all, Gloria had been an occasional stage show performer in her own right, especially in annual “passion plays” in which she kept getting cast as the virginal Mary.

She knew Katy dela Cruz personally and had even brought a photo of the two of them together—to the cast’s humongous delight. And, our night was made when it was intimated that she would be open to give theater acting a go. —Something to look forward to, indeed! But, that’s for the still rosy and exciting future. Meanwhile, enjoy your 80th year—and glow, Gloria, glow!