For her immeasurable contribution to Visayan movies and the Philippine film industry in general, the late actress, Gloria Sevilla, will be honored by the local government of her home province, Cebu, on July 31.
The Queen of Visayan Movies in the 1960s passed quietly in her sleep on April 16, 2022 in Oakland, California at age 90.
The tribute to Ms. Sevilla will be held at the Wing Atrium of SM Seaside in Cebu City. A highlight of the event is the launch of the Gloria Sevilla Foundation which aims to revive and promote Visayan movies as well as help in poverty alleviation, according to Dandin Ranillo, one of Gloria’s sons and over-all in charge of the celebration.
The tribute is being held in cooperation with the Cebu City government, led by Mayor Michael Rama, and the office of City Councilor James Anthony Cuenco.
LGUs in Cebu---provincial, city, and municipal--- are set to present resolutions recognizing the late dramatic actress’ achievements in the art of acting.
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In her teenage years, Gloria acted in Visayan-language films such as Badlis sa Kinabuhi, which won for her the best actress trophy from the FAMAS, the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences in 1969. In most of her early films, such as Gimingaw Ako, she worked with her first husband, Mat Ranillo II.
Gloria married another actor, Amado Cortez, years after the death of Mat II.
From her early beginnings in Cebu-based Visayan movies, Gloria moved to Manila, where her career as an actress prospered under Premiere Productions. She branched out to TV acting in the 1970s, playing comic roles in a number of sitcoms like “Mommy Ko Si Mayor.”
Several filmmakers are expected to attend the tribute, which shall be open to the public.
One of Gloria’s dreams was to revive the Visayan movie industry, where she reigned as queen in the 1960s.
Born January 31, 1932 in Cebu, several of Gloria’s children, led by Mat Ranillo III, Suzette, Lilibeth and Dandin Ranillo, ventured into acting with equally successful results, just like their parents.
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CHAIRMAN TIRSO: Best wishes to newly proclaimed Film Development Council president Tirso Cruz III, who takes over the post vacated by former Chair Mary Liza Dino. Chairman Cruz was sworn into office on July 5 by Pres. Bongbong Marcos in Malacanang.
What a happy coincidence that within weeks of each other, Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III are making headlines. Nora finally made it as National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts in June. The Nora-Tirso tandem, also known by their pet names, Guy and Pip, remains one of the most loved on-screen partnerships, backed by a rich body of film work that were also box office hits starting from the late 1960s and 1970s.