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Friday, March 29, 2024

Remembering Lolita Rodriguez

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Stars never die, they just fade away. 

The country mourned the passing of Lolita Rodriguez, one of Philippine cinema’s legendary actresses, who died at the age of 81 in Hemet, California where she and family migrated in 1977.

Born in Majayjay, Laguna to an American father and Filipino mother, Lolita made her movie debut at the age of 18 in Sampaguita Pictures Ating Pag-ibig in 1953, which starred Tita Duran and Pancho Magalona. She made her first starring role in Sabungera in 1953 and co-starred with Dolphy in the now classic Jack and Jill in 1954.

Lolita Rodriguez or Dolores Maiquez Clark in real life was a multi-awarded actress, she starred in more than 80 films
between 1953 and 1992

Lolita made a mark in “love-triangle’ movies in the 60’s with Eddie Rodriguez and Marlene Dauden, like Sapagkat Kami’y Tao Lamang (1963), Kapag Puso’y Sinugatan (1967) and Kasalanan Kaya? (1968). 

Her most memorable role was the town’s outcast Kuala in the landmark 1974 film Tinimbang ka Ngunit Kulang by Lino Brocka, part of the 70’s golden harvests in Philippine cinema.  Rodriguez won her second Famas Best Actress award for this film, 18 years after her first in Gilda in 1956.

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Lolita was incomparable in her team-up with the great Brocka in Stardoom (1971), Tubog sa Ginto (1971), Lunes, Martes, Miyerkules, Huwebes, Biyernes, Sabado, Linggo (1976) and Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa (Bukas, Madilim, Bukas) (1974)’

In 1979, Lolita made two Brocka films considered as “acting coup team-up.” First was Ina, Kapatid, Anak, which pitted her for the first time against Charito Solis, with one of the most dramatic confrontational scenes ever in local film. This was followed by the Manila Film Festival entry Ina ka Ng Anak Mo in which Lolita won best actress in a tie with co-star Nora Aunor

Indeed, if there is one local actress that can match Rodriguez’s quiet intensity and depth in style, it is Aunor who got the rare chance to appear with her in the Brocka opus.  Aunor was said to have gotten more enamored and awed with the veteran actress whom the Superstar considered her biggest idol because of her unselfish behavior on the set.

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