Gloria Romero: The original movie Queen

“I don’t want to resign,” says veteran actress and original movie queen Ms. Gloria Romero when asked, why at her age of 77, she’s still very much active in the acting game, doing movies and TV shows. The award-winning actress is part of the new GMA TV series titled Munting Heredera which will premiere on Monday, May 9, after Captain Barbell.

The regal lady, who was presented a Movie Icon of Our Time Award by the Golden Screen Awards last April, says by the grace of God, when she reaches her 80th birthday, she plans to slow down a bit somewhat.

“I am very happy doing even small roles kasi gusto ko lang naman na magtrabaho,” says Tita Gloria who still comes to the set an hour before call time, something that she had been doing since she started her career at Sampaguita Pictures more than six decades ago.

“Happy naman ako basta nagtratrabaho ako, even if maliit lang ang role basta may laman, basta importante naman, I accept the role, lalo na if I like the actors and directors na makakatrabaho ko.”

She said GMA 7 had long wanted to get her services for several TV drama projects but for three years she had been doing TV shows for ABS-CBN. She expressed her desire to be given a chance to work at the Kapuso network before she retires. Her ABS-CBN family granted her wish but before letting her go, it gave her a guest role in 100 Days to Heaven.

Aside from doing Munting Heredera for GMA 7, Tita Gloria is also in the cast of the forthcoming sitcom Andres de Saya, starring Cesar Montano and Iza Calzado. This is a weekly series to be aired every Saturday and is also set to premiere this May. “I love comedy. Masaya kasi.”

At the presscon of Munting Heredera last Tuesday night on GMA, Tita Gloria was acknowledged as the Original Movie Queen, an accolade that warmed her heart. In the series, she plays the role of Mark Anthony Fernandez’s grandmother. She is looking for her granddaughter who is the heiress of her vast fortune that she earned from working hard and diligently.

“I play a Donya. Hindi nanan siya naging mayaman kung hindi siya nagsikap. She was also poor once upon a time. But she’s very loving when it comes to kids. Istrikta pero mapagbigay sa charity work because galing siya sa hirap. Hindi lang niya ma-tolerate ang katamaran,” said Tita Gloria of her role in the new series.

This is her reunion project with direk Maryo J. Delos Reyes whom she last worked in the movie Kamoteng Kahoy two years ago.”Gusto ko pang magtrabaho sa ibang network habang kaya ko pang magmemorya,” said Tita Gloria who added that she doesn’t take memory-enhancing drugs to keep her memory sharp.

“Once I take it, I’d rely on it tapos sasabihin ko hindi ako makamemorya because I forgot to take my medicine. I don’t like that feeling. Para sa akin, I read the whole script. I don’t memorize page to page. Siguro four pages muna today then another four the next day. By the time the taping day comes, more or less may idea na ako what to do. And it’s easy pag alam mo ang ginagawa mo. Just put your heart on it. When I get to the set, I am no longer Gloria but the character that I play.”

So far, she hasn’t had any problems with her memory although she admits suffering from vertigo.

She has probably done all kinds of roles in her long years in the business but Tita Gloria says she doesn’t really like playing the role of a donya. While it feels good to look glamorous in her role but Tita Gloria says she enjoys it more when she plays the role of a mahirap, walang make-up.

She also enjoyed herself the first time she played kontrabida in the movie “Condemned” opposite Nora Aunor.

Her most recent kontrabida role was playing Fanny Serrano’s evil grandmother in the critically-acclaimed movie Tarima, for which she won as Best Supporting Actress at the Gawad Tanglaw. It also gave her acting nominations at the Golden Screen Awards and at the PMC Star Awards.

“In our first shooting day, kailangan sampalin ko siya. Sabi ni Fanny, hindi siya maka-react so I really hit hard. Sabi niya sumobra naman daw ako,” she recalled.

What is the challenge in doing the role of Doña Anastacia in Munting Heredera?

“The changes in my moods kasi sometimes I am strict. Sometimes I am mad then kung minsan mabait naman ako,” she said. “But there’s a part in the teleserye that I become poor again because maraming nag-aambisyon sa kayamanan ko,” she said.

How would you assess the young stars who are working with you in this teleserye?

“They are very hard working. Ang una kong tinatanong pag may kasama akong baguhan, gusto mo ba talagang mag-artista? Pag sinabi niyang susubukan ko lang, ay naku sasabihin ko hindi ka tatagal. Kailangan talaga mahalin mo ito. You should be passionate about your work, in any career that you enter, you have to love it whether you are a teacher or a doctor, whatever you are,” said the veteran actress.

Is there anything else that Ms. Gloria Romero wants to achieve?

“I don’t think mayroon pa. I have awards na naman. I won at Gawad Tanglaw but I wasn’t able to go because sinumpong ako ng vertigo. I am happy with the nominations that I got pero kung wala na, tama na iyon. Marami-rami na rin akong award,” she said.

But you still get excited when you win an award?

“Parang it’s always my first time. I won my first award from FAMAS for “Dalagang Ilocana” in 1954. It was the first time an actress won for a comedy role! Hulaan ninyo kung kailan ko natanggap ang next acting award ko. I got it 34 years after, for the movie “Saan Nagtatago ang Pag-ibig.” Kaya nang tinawag ako, ang dami kong sinabi. Huwag ninyo akong pipigilan. I can’t want for another 34 years to come back on stage. “

Well, Tita Gloria didn’t have to wait for another 34 years. She won four acting awards as best actress for “Tanging Yaman” and two best supporting actress trophies for “Magnifico.” Then came this award from Gawad Tanglaw for “Tarima.”

Tita Gloria was given a special citation as Movie Icon of Our Time by the Entertainment Press Society’s Golden Screen Awards last April.

How did you feel about it?

“It was more exciting than some of the awards that I got. It felt good. God has been so good to me na nakaabot ako nang ganoon. It is something that I really displayed in my home. Sa dami ng aking mga awards, I love all of it but it was something special for me,” she said.

How do you feel being referred to as an icon?

“If that’s the way they think about me, then I accept. Kasi I have been here for sixty years. I love acting, it’s my passion. I was only 16 when I started. Now I am already 77. God has been so good. I cannot ask for more.”