Carmen Rosales
Carmen Rosales | |
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Born | Januaria Constantino Keller March 3, 1917 |
Died | December 11, 1991 Mandaluyong, Philippines | (aged 74)
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1938–1965 |
Januaria Constantino Keller[1] (March 3, 1917 – December 11, 1991), better known by her stage name Carmen Rosales and by her nickname Mameng, was a noted Filipina actress and World War II guerilla fighter.[2][3]
Her acting career spanned the decades immediately before, during, and after World War II. Her tremendous commercial success and wide fan base before the war led to her being considered the original superstar of Philippine movies.[4] Her stage name, Carmen Rosales, was taken from her hometown of Carmen, Rosales, Philippines.
Early life[]
Januaria Constantino Keller was born in Carmen, Rosales, Pangasinan, Insular Government of the Philippine Islands of the US to Pantaleón Keller Rosles, her father who was of Swedish ethnicity and Filipina mother, Pilar Constantino y de la Cruz. Pilar Constantino y de la Cruz was born April 13, 1872, in Quingua, Bulacan, Captaincy General of the Philippines, Spanish East Indies of the Spanish Empire. She was married to Jose “Peping” Puyat from the wealthy Puyat Clan with whom she has one child named Cesar Rosales Puyat.
Acting career[]
Rosales' film debut was in the 1938 movie Mahiwagang Binibini, based on the Zarsuela play of Atang dela Rama, Ang Kiri. When her friend brought her to , he rejected the young woman for not having the bearing of an actress.[5][citation needed]
Nonetheless, Rosales became one of the most famous Filipina actresses in the 1940s and 1950s, rivalling Rosa del Rosario at the box-office. She is famous for her sweet voice and numerous recordings. Rosales made her debut in (The Flirt) produced by . She starred in her first leading role opposite Jose Padilla Jr in Arimunding-Munding (1939).
She became the most bankable star in Sampaguita Pictures. In 1949, she became the highest-paid movie star when LVN Pictures offered her the unprecedented sum of P45,000 to team up again with Rogelio dela Rosa in Kampanang Ginto, followed by Camelia, then Sipag at Yaman with Jose Padilla, Jr. and Batalyon Trece with Jaime dela Rosa. Among her unforgettable roles included the spurned lover of Rogelio dela Rosa in Maalaala Mo Kaya (1954) and a club-singer in Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig.
She received her first Famas Award in 1954 for her role in Inspirasyon opposite Van de Leon. She was similarly awarded in 1960 for playing a strict matron in Estela Mondragon.
She garnered fame playing a hacendera in Pablo Gomez's version of MN. Her last public appearance was in Inday Badiday's Eye to Eye.
World War II guerrilla activities[]
Rosales' husband Ramon was killed by Japanese forces early in the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines during World War II. As a result, she decided to join a guerrilla group and fight the Japanese. She joined the Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon forces, and became a sharpshooter. She was known for wearing a false mustache during guerrilla raids, in an effort to disguise herself.[3]
The original "queen of Philippine movies"[]
Arguably, she was the "queen of Philippine movies" in the 1940s pinoy tambayan. The films in which she was top-billed aided in the popularity of emerging actresses like Gloria Romero, Amalia Fuentes and Susan Roces, who all became movie queens themselves decades later.
Death[]
She died on December 11, 1991 of kidney malfunction in Mandaluyong, Philippines.[citation needed] She is interred at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina.
Legacy[]
A barrio in Rosales, Pangasinan was named after her. It is now currently divided into two barangays, Carmen East and Carmen West.
Filmography[]
- 1939 -
- 1939 -Arimunding-Arimunding
- 1939 -
- 1940 -
- 1940 - Lambingan
- 1940 -
- 1940 -
- 1941 - Carmen
- 1941 -
- 1941 -
- 1941 - Tampuhan
- 1941 -
- 1941 -
- 1944 -
- 1946 -
- 1946 -
- 1947 -
- 1947 -
- 1947 -
- 1947 - Ang Kamay ng Diyos
- 1947 -
- 1947 -
- 1948 -
- 1948 -
- 1949 -
- 1949 -
- 1949 -
- 1949 -
- 1949 -
- 1949 -
- 1950 -
- 1950 -
- 1951 -
- 1951 -
- 1951 -
- 1951 -
- 1951 -
- 1953 -
- 1953 -
- 1953 - Inspirasyon (Famas Best Actress)
- 1954 -
- 1954 -
- 1954 - MN
- 1954 -
- 1955 -
- 1955 -
- 1955 - R.O.T.C.
- 1955 -
References[]
- ^ "RP showbiz aglow with 'Tisoy,' 'Tisay'". Manila Bulletin. 2010-04-26. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ Acosta, Zofiya; Bulan, Amirielle Anne (2019-03-08). "Women in Philippine history you should know about". NOLISOLI. Hinge Inquirer Group. Archived from the original on 2019-10-02. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Maceda, Marichu (March 6, 2005). "Carmen Rosales: The Genuine Superstar". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 2018-12-13. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
- ^ Llanes, Rommel R (September 4, 2009). "The Originals in Philippine movies". Philippine Entertainment Portal.
- ^ "Film # 007773053 Image Film # 007773053; ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSMN-8GDB — FamilySearch.org". Retrieved April 24, 2016.
External links[]
- 1917 births
- 1991 deaths
- Filipino film actresses
- Actresses from Pangasinan
- Filipino people of American descent
- Filipino people of Swedish descent
- 20th-century Filipino actresses
- Ilocano people