>> In the upper house, they are identified by their fellow senators as ‘Apat na Sikat’. They are Ramon Revilla Jr., Robin Padilla, Lito Lapid and Jinggoy Estrada. Of late, it is Senator Jinggoy who graced the headlines because of his comments that Korean telenovelas should be banned. Immediately he made clarification saying: ‘My statement stems from the frustration that while we are only too eager and willing to celebrate South Korea’s entertainment industry, we have sadly allowed our own to deteriorate because of lack of support from the movie going public.’.
The critics are saying that the movie producers in the country should come up better quality movies and do away with what Mother Lily producing known then as ‘pito pito‘ flicks. Producing movies in seven days! Wow. The low state of the Philippine movies may have started by that time. The Apat na Sikat have been looking to revive the ailing entertainment industry. It’s already in the sick bed. (Sana kung buhay pa si FPJ). Gone are the days of Sampaguita Picture, LVN and Premiere Productions. Good stories with moral values and wholesome, to say the least. In my younger years growing up in Porac, and on Sunday I will make rounds of theaters in Angeles and I preferred tagalog movies. I cannot forget the swashbuckling Efren Reyes Sr. fencing with the versatile Johnny Monteiro. Jose Padilla Jr. in Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo, Fernando Poe Jr. and buddies in Lo’ Waist Gang. My dream girls were Divina Valencia and Stella Suarez that I will go to the bathroom and fantasize.
Did you know there were many Capampangans in the showbiz industry. Helen Gamboa, Rosa Rosal, Lea Salonga, Amy Austria, Vilma Santos, Hilda Koronel, Nanette Medved, Ruffa Mae Quinto, Maricel Laxa, Melanie Marquez, Maricel Morales, Kris Aquino, Antonette Taus, Sheena Halili, Jean Garcia and many others.
The Lapids, Jose and Jess started as stuntmen of Premiere Production and Jess became a popular action star. Lito Lapid and Rey the cinematographer are sons of Jose. Atty. Espiridion Laxa of Macabebe started Tagalog Ilang Ilang Production and made his brother Tony Ferrer an action star. The following are Capampangans or have roots, the likes of Eddie Del Mar, Rey Ruiz, Bentot, Ben David, Fred Panopio, Ramil and Pepito Rodriguez, Joey Marquez, Dick Israel, Jeric Raval, Aljur Abrenica, Dante Rivero, Roi Vinson and of course Rogelio De La Rosa and brother Jaime.
Rogelio De La Rosa, was the matinee idol of Philippine movies before and after world war 2nd. Below is what I wrote some five years ago, yet still the recognition that he deserves is yet to come. Here’s a snapshot of his life. An article I wrote in Filipino, I want it to be reprinted again because his birthday is forthcoming.
>> Si Rogelio De La Rosa ay isinilang noong Nobyembre 12,1916 sa bayan ng Lubao. At siya'y sumakabilang buhay noong Nobyembre 10,1986. Ang tunay niyang pangalan ay Regidor, at ang Rogelio ay ang kaniyang screen name. Siya'y contract star ng Sampaguita Pictures na pagmamay-ari ng mga Vera-Perezes. Tinagurian siyang 'King of Philippine Movies'.
>> Lumabas siya bilang bida sa mga pelikulang, Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig, Jovita, Higit sa Lahat,Bituing Marikit at marami pang iba na bukod na tumabo ng kita sa takilya ay mga nagkamit ng maraming parangal.
>> Isa pelikulang nilabasan niya na katambal si Lolita Rodriguez ay pelikulang Jack and Jill na nagbigay ng pagkakataon na mapansin ng publiko si Dolphy, na noong bandang huli siya naman ay tinanghal na ' King of Philippine Comedy'.
>> Bago pa pumasok sa pelikula si Rogelio De La Rosa, siya'y nasama rin sa mga zarsuelang Kapampangan na karaniwan na noong naunang panahon ay itinatanghal sa mga pyestang bayan. Papel ng kontrabida ang karaniwang papel na ginampanan niya, at ang papel bida ay ginagampanan ni Diosdado P. Macapagal, na kaniyang bayaw at kababayan.
>> Ang asawa ni Macapagal ay si Purita na kapatid ni Rogelio.( namatay si Purita noong panahon ng gyera at si Macapagal ay nag-asawa muli sa isang taga Pangasinan kay Dra Eva Macaraeg.) At si Lota Delgado na screen partner niya ang kaniyang naging kabiyak ni Rogelio.
>> Si De La Rosa ang siyang kauna-unahang artista ng pinilakang tabing na naging senador. Pagkatapos ng kaniyang paglilingkod sa senado, siya ay naging ambassador sa The Netherlands at Cambodia.
>> Sinubukan niyang muling magbalik sa pulitika noong 1984, at kumandidato bilang assemblyman, subali't siya'y hindi pinalad. Pagkatapos niyaon, hindi na muli pa siyang nakita ng publiko, hanggang siya'y bawian ng buhay.
>> Nararapat lang na siya ay bigyan ng parangal, o nitong parating na Manila Film Festival ang isang taong katulad ni Rogelio De La Rosa na nagbigay ng karangalan sa lalawigan.