Veteran actress Mila del Sol, one of the queens of the golden age of the Philippine cinema, has passed on. She was 97.
The film icon's grandson, former Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, confirmed the demise of Del Sol on Tuesday morning via a social media post.
"It is with a heavy heart that I share that my beloved grandmother, Ms. Mila del Sol, our Lulay, ang Reyna ng Pinilakang-Tabing, passed away this morning at 1:10 am. She passed away in the home of her eldest son and my father, Sonny Tambunting," the former lawmaker said.
“Though we mourn her passing, we are comforted in knowing that the one who called her from this life, our Lord, loves her more than we could ever love her. She has returned home,” his Facebook post added.
Born Clarita Villarba Rivera on May 12, 1923 in Tondo, Manila, she was discovered by LVN Pictures president Doña Sisang de Leon. She gained fame in her very first lead role in the 1939 film Giliw Ko.
When film production was restored in 1945 after the Japanese occupation, Del Sol returned to LVN and starred in its production of Manuel Conde’s Orasang Ginto, the first post-war Filipino film.
Her most notable films include the 1949 film Ibong Adarna, Villa Hermosa, and the 1950s dramas Pakipot and Tatlong Magdalena.
In December 2014, the Congress of the Philippines passed Resolution No. 165, honoring Del Sol for her contributions to the movie industry and for unwavering commitment to contribute to the improvement of Philippine society.
Del Sol is survived by her four children, Sonny Tambunting, former TV host Jeanne Young, Ancel Romero and Leo Romero, 17 grandchildren including musician Ira Cruz and former actor Onemig Bondoc, and more than 30 great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.