What’s in a name?

SCREEN NAME THEN – Several friends, among them Danny Dolor, miss the poetic and unusual screen names then… prewar and post war. They say that now screen names – and even titles of movies and TV soaps – are in English. A few in Italian and Spanish. Think “Dolce Amore” and “Pasion de Amor.” As to the English titles, they are too many to enumerate.

Let’s talk of screen names then, using Danny’s book “The Golden Years” as reference.

Rosa del Rosario, the original “Darna” and Rosa Rosal, only actor to date to receive the Magsaysay Award, said to be the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize.

Or Rosita – Noble, Aguirre, de la Vega.

How about Paraluman, Luningning, Españita, Luz-V-Minda?

Consider Mila del Sol, Flor de Jasmin, Norma Blancaflor, Celia Flor, Lirio Laquindanum, Linda Estrella, Mona Lisa, Amor la Vida, Mario Montenegro, Eddie del Mar, Bella Flores, Angel Esmeralda, Vida Florante, Patria Plata, Domingo Principe, Ester Buenaobra.

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SCREEN NAMES NOW – Paolo is in vogue. As in Paolo – Bediones, Contis, Araneta, Ballesteros.

Or Paulo – Avelino, Serrano.

How about Piolo Pascual or Polo Ravales?

Gerald – Madrid, Ejercito, Anderson.

Robin – da Roza, Nievera, Padilla.

Dingdong – Avanzado, Dantes.

Joey – Marquez, de Leon, Romero.

Sunshine – Cruz, Dizon.

Gary – Estrada, Valenciano.

Rosanna – Marquez, Ortiz, Roces.

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MOVIE TITLES – As earlier noted movie titles these days are mostly in English.

Consider the movie titles from way back when… as published in Danny’s “The Golden Years.”

“Apoy na Ginatungan,” “Tubig na Hinugasan,” “Alamat ng Perlas na Itim,” “Siyudad sa Ilalim ng Lupa,” “Himala ng Birhen sa Antipolo,” “Ginoong Patay Gutom,” “Alias Sakim,” “Binatang Taring,” “Hamak na Dukha,” “Puting Bantayog,” “Huling Dalangin,” “Tayug (Ang Bayang Api),” “Ang Kapilya sa Daang Bakal,” “Singsing na Sinulid,” “Ang Sawa sa Lumang Simboyo,” “Ang Biyanang Hindi Tumatawa,” “Dakilang Pagpapakasakit,” “Labis na Pagtitipod.”

The list is by no means complete.

Ah, last year there was the Aljur Abrenica starrer, “Ang Hapis at Himagsik ni Hermano Puli.” But that’s a rare, rare exception.

Well, what’s in a name? A rose will smell just as sweet by any other name.