Tita Duran is 'maestra sa nayon' in Maharlika

In the 1948 movie Maharlika, Tita Duran played a barrio teacher (maestra sa nayon), with Oscar Moreno and Pancho Magalona as leading men. In real life, Tita would later become wife of Pancho, mother to many children, including the multi-talented Francis Magalona.

Maharlika usually refers to a noble man, a blue blood, but in the movie it refers to a dedicated barrio teacher.

Maharlika was directed by Lorenzo Perez Tuells, Spanish mestizo (born in Madrid) who studied filmmaking in the US. His credits include Mabangong Bulaklak, Magbalik Ka, Hirang, Lambingan, Balatkayo (all shown before World War II).

After the war, Tuells directed Maynila, Hele-Hele Bago Quierre, Ang Kampeon, The Spell, among others. His dream project was the film-bio of President Manuel Luis Quezon, from whom he obtained the rights. But the war and Quezon’s death aborted the film.   — RKC