Things you might not know about Rebecca del Rio

Things you might not know about Rebecca del Rio

Wake-uppers:

• From US-based socialite Mikey Gatal: Hi Leo, How's everything? I really wanted to visit Bohol this year because it's been a while that I haven't participated in the famous Sandugo activities but I decided not to because I have a very hectic schedule here in California. Incidentally, it's the 4th year anniversary of www.mikeygatal.com this month and we are doing some important activities here and the Bohol chapter as well on July 15-16, 2011 at the Kalipayan Beach Resort, everyone's invited by the way. Thanks and more power to you.

• From Helen Jala (no address given):

Hello Leo! How are you? I migrated to New York in 1960. I enjoy reading your column about the new breed of Boholana beauty queens but I’m sorry to say that I don’t know much about them. I’m more interested in the older beauty queens.

Can you tell me where the following beauty queens are now: Paula Raagas, Delia Canda, Olivia Solis, etc.

Do you know how much I miss Bohol? I wish to come home next year. More power!

(Note: Since it started in 1950s (with different names like Miss Bohol, Miss Young Bohol and Miss Bohol Sandugo in 1989), the Miss Bohol has registered hundreds of contestants. The Miss Bohol winners in ‘50s were Paula Raagas Valles (who became a mayor in Maribojoc), Delia Canda (who became Miss Visayas and she is now faithfully serving God as lay minister at St. Joseph Cathedral), Theoprolia Clarin (from Sevilla) and Geraldine Galang (from Carmen) and Reza Cabagnot (from Tagbilaran City). Olivia Solis of Panggangan, Calape became Miss Bohol of 1957. She became a very popular lead actress in Visayan films. One of her movies was "Olivia," which the theme song has the lyrics "Dawata na, Olivia" that baby boomers generation can still remember the song. She later became a US resident but she returned to Philippines when her husband became a Cebu City councilor in the late ‘90s.)

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I bumped into fashion mogul Maximiel last week at the Island City Mall. I was there to look for new arrivals at the National Bookstore and to check for new movies at the Screenville Cinema and Maximiel to buy some groceries. He told me he just came from Pilar.

I asked Maximiel if it’s true he is leaving for the US and Maximiel gave a sweet "no" as an answer and a wide, wide smile that seemed to say, "US can wait. I still have projects here." These days, Maximiel is busy in their “hacienda” in Pilar, you know, he is the “la heredera” of almost 22 hectares.

Asked about his aunt, retired actress Rebecca del Rio, Maximiel told Bared (in a sad tone) that Rebecca del Rio passed away last year. I was a bit surprise because it took me a year and so to know the sad news. I enjoyed watching her old movies and her distinguished performances. She’s pure talent.

“I am so proud of my Tita,” said Maximiel. Rebecca was the younger sister of the late Dra. Socorro Buslon-Tallo, Maximiel’s mother.

In 2008, Rebecca attended the wedding of her niece Demia Tallo-Salarda held in Baclayon Church. It was also a reunion of the Buslon family. Then in January 2010, she came home to distribute her vast landholdings. Rebecca owned almost 20 hectares of land in Pilar that she gave it to her relatives and tenants. “She told us that her visit would be the last one,” shared Maximiel.

The who si Rebecca del Rio?

Before Cheri Gil, the famous glamorous kontrabida today, there was Rebecca del Rio. Because she hit her peak in the ’50s, Rebecca del Rio may be a darling to baby boomers but perhaps a bit of a "stranger" to the new generation of movie lovers.

For sure, Rebecca del Rio will have her star in the Bohol Walk of Fame, soon.

Here are some trivia that should serve as introduction to Rebecca whose movies are, I’m sure, became very popular during her time:

•Rebecca del Rio was born Rebecca Buslon on January 31, 1929.

•She was the daughter of Judge Teofilo Buslon, former congressman (of the third district of Bohol 2^nd national assembly, 1938-1941) and Demeteria Buslon, a nurse, who was the first elected woman mayor in the Philippines. She was the sister of the late provincial lawmaker Socorro Buslon-Tallo.

• Friends and family relatives called Rebecca as Nang Nena.

• Rebecca graduated at Holy Spirit School and she went to the Philippine Women’s University in Manila to study. She was discovered by Sampaguita Pictures.

• Rebecca del Rio was the first Boholano to become a star.

• She was typecasted as a glamorous kontrabida (villain) in movies and perhaps the most loved villain.

• Rebecca was the first Filipina to win the 1958 Asian Film Festival best supporting actress in the film Malvarosa. She also won the best supporting actress in FAMAS in 1958.

•She made numerous movies under Sampaguita (touted as the home of glamorous and debonair stars, Sampaguita Pictures, Inc. (SPI) was established in 1937 by then Rep. Pedro Vera and Judge Jose Vera with a circle of friends) and in 1955 she signed a contract to LVN Pictures and made her first movie Dinayang Pagmamahal aka Foolish Love, a Jaime de la Rosa and Charito Solis movie.

• Rebecca starred in some memorable movies such as Tres Muskiteros (1951), Mayamang Balo (1952), Hiram na Mukha (1952), Ang Ating Pag-ibig (1953), Cofradia (1953), Anak ng Espada (1953), Mister Kasintahan (1953), Vod-A-Vil (1953), Musikong Bumbong (1954), Tres Muskiteras (1954), Pilya (1954), Milyonarya at Hampaslupa (1954), Dalagang Ilocana (1954), Sabungera (1954), Bondying (1954), Kurdapya (1954), Lola Sinderella (1955), Bulaklak sa Parang (1955), Mariposa (1955), Dinayang Pagmamahal (1955), Talusaling (1955), Luksang Tagumpay (1956),Laging Ikaw (1956), Cuatro Vidas (1957),Turista (1957), Rebelde (1958),Malvarosa (1958), Mr. Kuripot (1958); and Lollipops and Roses (1971).

•Rebecca married an American Sony executive Mr. Tushinsky and migrated to USA.

• She loved dogs. In the US, she had a dog named Hercules.

• Rebecca Buslon-Tushinsky passed away on March 11, 2010 in Canoga Park, California.

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Email leoudtohan@yahoo.com.