BY RONALD CONSTANTINO
Looking back, who were the sex symbols then?
Let’s start with the stars launched by Papa Jesse Ejercito.
Lorna Tolentino, Elizabeth Oropesa, Alma Moreno, Rio Locsin, Chanda Romero, Amy Austria, Beth Bautista, Daria Ramirez.
All of them turned out to be fine actresses.
Come to think of it, Papa Jesse launched to stardom Piolo Pascual and Janna Victoria in “Lagarista.”
More of sex symbols back then.
Glora Diaz, Cristina Gonzalez, Priscilla Almeda, Rossana Roces, Gretchen Barretto, Rita Avila, Claudia Zobel, Ara Mina, Jacklyn Jose, Stella Suarez Jr., Irma Alegre, Carmi Martin, Ina Raymundo, Ynes Veneracion, Rita Magdalena, Via Veloso, Lara Morena.
Joyce Jimenez was the “Pantasya ng Bayan.” Sunshine Cruz was “Materiales Fuertes.” Or was it Patricia Javier?
Maribel Lopez, Tetchie Agbayani.
Much earlier sex symbols were Rossana Ortiz, Divina Valencia, Stella Suarez, Marissa Delgado, Rossana Marquez, Lucita Soriano, Merle Fernandez.
Of course, there were male sex symbols.
As they come to mind:
Vic Vargas, Ricky Belmonte, Ronaldo Valdez, Orestes Ojeda, Al Tantay, Jimi Melendez, Jay Manalo, Anton Bernardo, Leandro Baldemor, Jomari Yllana, Greggy Liwag, Rodel Velayo, Allen Dizon, Gerald Madrid, Mark Gil, Michael de Mesa.
Yes, Boyet de Leon was a sex symbol. And so was Phillip Salvador.
Also Richard Gomez – the “Brown Adonis.”
