WANTED : PERFECT MOTHER

Video 48: THE SEVENTIES # 87: DANTE RIVERO, BOOTS ANSON-ROA ...: "Wanted: Perfect Mother" (1970) Lea Productions Manila Film Festival Entry Release Date June 14, 1970/ Ideal Serialized in...

I remember watching this movie with my two elder sisters, Ate Mer and Malou, and a cousin,
Ate Luning at Life Theater sometime in 1970.  We still live in P. Guevarra , Blumentritt area,
and though I did not like the movie that much I enjoy going to the movies. That was one bit of
luck of being the first boy in the family, I get to be picked up each time some elder sisters or
cousins want to watch a movie.

We got the chance to see Mila Ocampo and Snooky, who was about 4 years old that time, when
they made a personal appearance in Life Theater. That was the first time I got  the chance to see
actors from the movies in person. Mila Ocampo, the mother was a real beauty  and Snooky was
a milky white baby. They were mere mortals but you get the bragging right when you tell others
about the experience.

Life in Blumentritt was very different from the life we had in Guadalupe. We had a lot of cousins
to blend with.  Unlike my sisters, I spend most of the time at home watching TV. Ate Norma has
a lot of cousin-friends and was a bit popular with the boys. Her closest friend was a cousin, Ate
Osie and Ate Luning, also a cousin who live with us. Ate Mer was recovering from an illness
while Malou was a bit tomboyish having boys his age as playmates.

There was a Juke Box just across the street, inside Kuya Tony and Ate Mely's apartment, where
the bachelors gather around after lunchtime. They got to play songs, mostly love songs, hoping
to catch glimpses from the windows of the girls they are dedicating the songs to. Sometimes they
shout the names to catch attention and joke around as if serenading. Ate Norms was closely
guarded by our mother, so she opted to go "intern" in Family Clinic School Of Nursing to get a
some form of independence.

Ate Mer and Malou were both studying in Jose Abad Santos High School wearing white and gray.
I was studying in Cecilio Apostol Elementary School, morning class. After school, I had to accompany my 2 younger brothers, Fred and Fernando, attend a house-school pre-school class at Felix Huertas St., two blocks from our apartment. I am not sure if they still remember  it, but that
was where they learned how to do the ABC and write their names and address.

The only other time that I get to go out is when I am sent on an errand to buy something. I never
got to play on the streets when I was still a kid so the only time that I came  to have playmates
was when I entered my first grade. Life at school was fun, and I usually had twenty centavo
allowance which could buy a lot during those days. Sago drink was only 5 centavos and you get
5 fishballs for another five. Imagine one pack of  raisins for only 10 cents. Jeepney ride was 10
centavos but I made friend with Kuya Tony's son, Junior, and we just walked home after class.

I enjoyed elementary school years so much that even until now, I could still name all the teachers
I had from grade one to grade six. I also remember most of my classmates by name and would
probably be able to recognize them if ever I got a chance to see them again. I was in section 7
in grade one under Mrs. Quirante but got transferred to section one, under Mrs. Borja, when I
reached grade two. Grade 3 was with Mrs. Jimenez, and grade 4 was under Mrs. Sim and Miss
Indiongco.  Some other teachers I remember were Mrs. David, (science teacher), Mrs. Guevarra
(English), and Miss Palencia (Work Education).

I could still name at least 30 of my classmates who were practically with the same class from
grade 3.  Everybody will remember the prettiest girl in class, Zenaida Madamba, who was my seatmate for 5 years. Our seating arrangement were always according to alphabetical order, and
we always ended up occupying the same seat perhaps by fate. She was my only crush in my
elementary years but our path never crossed again after graduation.

Funny how things re when you're getting old. The past, the memories of the olden days come
so clearly but you get to forget some simple things. Trying to remember where you left your
pen the other day seem harder than remembering  your childhood years. I need to write these
things lest I forget them again and be buried at the back of my mind.






s

MUHAMMAD ALI TRIBUTE

Teritoryo Ko Ito! 1979 Rudy 'Daboy' Fernandez, Ace Vergel, Bembol Roco ...

One of the biggest hit in 1979, fitting together three of the fastest rising junior action stars, namely.
Rudy "Daboy" Fernandez, Ace Vergel and Bembol Roco. I remember seeing this movie with my two
younger brothers, Fred and Fernando at ABC Tri-Cinema. I kind'a envy the bond between the two for they were the best of friends during those days. They play together and share stories and rarely was I  in the picture. Anyway, I played big brother to both John and Nelson, the youngest ones.

The movie pale in comparison to today's standards but seeing it again after 39 years bring back memories. It was so different then - the star system still work wonders - just seeing your idols on the big screen was enough to make your day. Movie cost only php 2.25 and the theater was just 200 meters away.

Rudy Fernandez, the heir apparent to  " Da King",  died in 2008 due to pancreatic cancer.  He became a star in the movie "Bitayin Si Baby Ama" in 1976. Most of his movies were big hits at the box office and proved himself as an actor winning the FAMAS in 1984 for "Batuigas... Pasukuin si Waway" and in 1988 for "Victor Corpuz".His last movie appearance was in 2002 for "Hula Mo ...Huli Ko".

Ace Vergel was the son of famous movie actor Cesar Ramirez and Alicia Vergel. He was the original
"Bad Boy" of the Philippine movies and became a star in the movie, "Noel San Miguel, Batang City
Jail" in 1978. A friendly rivalry with Rudy Fernandez In "Hari ng Tundo" instantly launched both stars into superstar status. He also won the Gawad Urian Award fo Best Actor for his role in the movie "Anak ng Cabron" in 1989. His last movie appearance was in the movie, "Masamang Ugat" in 2003 and it was downhill from there. He got into trouble with the law and died of heart attack in 2007 at the age of 55.

Bembol Roco is best known for his role as Julio Madriaga in the movie , "Maynila : Sa Kuko ng Liwanag. and "Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos" in 1976. He, however was launched as an action star in 1978 when he played gangster in "Boy Pana". He is still active in the movie world and television.