ICONIC FILIPINO FILMS – A few years back, Mario A. Hernando named for Highspeed the greatest Filipino actors and actresses, topped by Fernando Poe, Jr. and Nora Aunor. Needless to say, Mario H is a cinema authority – member and former chairman of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, member of the Movie & Television Review & Classification Board, “Star” writer.
Recently Mario H listed 30 iconic films for “Star,” explaining, they are not necessarily the best Filipino films of all time but “widely-known symbols” or images.
Highspeed takes the liberty of using it primarily for the benefit of millenials who may have no idea of those iconic films and their stars.
Let’s start with 15 first and the other 15 in a succeeding column.
‘DARNA’ (all versions, from Rosa del Rosario to Vilma Santos).
‘DYESEBEL’ (Edna Luna and Vilma Santos versions).
‘ROBERTA’ (Tessie Agana).
‘JUAN TAMAD’ series (Manuel Conde).
‘ANAK DALITA’ (Rosa Rosal, Tony Santos).
‘WARAY-WARAY’ (Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa).
‘EL FELIBUSTERISMO’ (Pancho Magalona).
‘BONDYING’ (Fred Montilla).
‘ASIONG SALONGA’ (Joseph Estrada).
‘NARDONG PUTIK’ (Ramon Revilla).
‘BITAYIN SI BABY AMA’ (Rudy Fernandez, Alma Moreno).
‘MARUJA’ (Susan Roces, Romeo Vasquez).
‘ANG PROBINSYANO’ (Fernando Poe, Jr.).
‘ANG PANDAY’ (Fernando Poe, Jr.).
‘FACIFICA FALAFAY’ or ‘FEFITA FOFONGGAY’ (Dolphy).
Some might ask why Dolphy and Nida Blanca’s hugely popular “John en Marsha” isn’t on the iconic list. Mario H explains it is more of television than big screen’s byword.
(Next: 15 more iconic Filipino films).