Cesar Ramirez: Masked avenger atop church belfry

When Sampaguita star Cesar Ramirez freelanced in the late ’50s and early ’60s, he topbilled several action and drama movies for Premiere. One of them is Batingaw, where he played a masked avenger (shades of Zorro).

Batingaw’s climax showed the masked avenger stalking his quarry atop the town church belfry.

Ramirez’s leading lady in Batingaw is Leonor Vergara, then one of Premiere’s prized actresses, paired with the likes of Fernando Poe Jr. and Zaldy Zshornack. Leonor married director Danny Zialcita.

Ace and Beverly Vergel are Ramirez’s children by Alicia Vergel, action queen in the ’50s, but also a great drama actress, winning the first FAMAS Best Actress award for Basahang Ginto. — RKC