Hilda then & now

Hilda Koronel is back in the spotlight. She has a new movie The Mistress under Star Cinema together with Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz and Ronaldo Valdez. The movie is directed by Olivia Lamasan. It is her “comeback” movie after six years of absence. Hilda is based in the US with husband Ralph Moore. What made her decide to accept the project were the script and the idea of working with Bea and John Lloyd. Hilda worked with them in Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin. It took more than a year for the production to convince Hilda to take on the role of the wife of a philandering husband played by Ronaldo, but direk Olive only had her in mind.

Hilda (Susan Reid in real life) is one of the country’s most brilliant dramatic actresses. She was born in Angeles City, Pampanga from a Filipina mother and American father who was a serviceman in Clark Air Base.

One of the best memories I have of Hilda was when she played Insiang, a young girl who lives in the slums of Manila with her mother Tonia (played by Mona Lisa). She was sexually abused by her mother’s lover (Ruel Vernal) in her own home. However, her mother refused to believe her which led Insiang to seek revenge.

Hilda has starred in more than 40 films, many of which have earned her critical acclaims from several award-giving bodies like FAMAS and Gawad Urian.

She was only 12 years old when she won her FAMAS Best Supporting Actress award in 1970 for the film Santiago. According to the website IMDB, Hilda is the youngest winner of the Best Supporting Actress award and she is followed by the late Nida Blanca and Alessandra de Rossi who won when they were 16 years old for the movies Korea (1952) and Azucena (2000), respectively.

Aside from Santiago, Hilda has several movies tucked under her belt including Tubog sa Ginto, Cadena de Amor, Stardom, Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang, Ibigay Mo sa Akin ang Langit, Sakada, Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising, Angela Markado, PX, Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan, Palabra de Honor, Kung Mahawi Man ang Ulap, Working Girls, Kapag Puso’y Sinugatan, Beloved, Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita, Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita, Nagsimula sa Puso and Crying Ladies, among others.

In 1975 and 1976, she starred in the Lino Brocka classics Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag which won six FAMAS awards in 1976 and Insiang which received FAMAS and Gawad Urian awards in 1977. It was Lino who turned her into a high-caliber actress with movies like Santiago, Tubog sa Ginto, Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, Tatlo Dalawa Isa, Init, Insiang, etc. Insiang is the first Filipino film to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 1978 where both Lino and Hilda earned rave reviews from the international film community.

Her illustrious career was highlighted with her winning the Best Supporting Actress awards from the FAP, Gawad Urian and Maria Clara for Nasaan Ka Man (2006); Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role from the Young Critics Circle for Tanging Yaman (2001); and Best Actress from the MMFF for Insiang (1976).

These days when she’s not busy with her showbiz commitments, Hilda plays a doting mother to her kids. She is happy and at peace with her life. And that’s what matters most.

The Mistress is showing in theaters next month.