MANILA, Philippines?As Joan Page and I were joyfully recalling Manila?s entertainment scene in the early ?50s recently, we rummaged through her clippings of her stay in the Philippines from 1948 to 1953. Each triggered interrelated memories. ?Gee, there were more mementos to be found among her things!

One such item was an autograph book handed out by Sampaguita Pictures as a gift to fans: On the cover were a young Gloria Romero and a suave Ramon Revilla, who must have been packaged as a love team, prior to Luis Gonzales and Juancho Gutierrez.

Love teams

Inside the booklet were glamorous photos of Sampaguita?s contract stars taken by Tropicana and Veluzar. Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran were the first pair?they topped the box office then. Then came Fred Montilla and Linda Estrella, followed by Alicia Vergel and Cesar Ramirez, child star Tessie Agana, and Carmen Rosales. Then came the new love team of Gloria and Ramon. This reflected the hierarchy at the Gilmore studio at the time.

The rest was composed of Sampaguita?s bevy of beautiful starlets, who were about to be launched to full stardom?including Myrna Delgado, Norma Vales and Rita Gomez, followed by child actor Boy Alano and Ric Rodrigo. Then came vaudeville luminaries, Katy dela Cruz, Bayani Casimiro and hefty comedian, Gregorio Ticman.

Dramatic actor, Van de Leon, followed?along with matinee idols, Oscar Moreno and Rudy Francisco, comedian Tolindoy, ?Ang Asawa Kong Amerikana?s? Joan Page, Dolphey (note the spelling of the comedian?s name then), and stage show veteran, Aruray. The book has a page dedicated to guest actors from LVN and Premiere: Rogelio dela Rosa, Jose Padilla Jr., Nena Cardenas and Patria Plata.

Legitimate stage

What I found most interesting were the pages allotted to ?starlets??including Tita Muñoz, Lolita Rodriquez and Eddie Garcia. Thereafter, Tita would make a name for herself on Philippine radio and TV and the legitimate stage. And reticent Lolita would emerge as one of the most admired dramatic actresses in the country.

Eddie Garcia was a busy supporting actor throughout the ?60s and early ?70s, and later became one of our most reliable and durable actors?a reputation he continues to enjoy to this day!

As I went over their photos, I glanced at Joan?she was smiling, still caught up in those happy days when stars were true luminaries, and eager fans sought their glamorous photographs and autographs. Ah, memories!