Cecilia Rodriguez (born June 21, 1938) is a multi-awarded Filipino actress. She has since been referred to as "The Original Glamorous Movie Star" for her acting prowess and longevity.[1]

Celia Rodriguez
Born
Cecilia Rodriguez

(1938-06-21) June 21, 1938 (age 86)
OccupationActress
Years active1958–present
Awards1971 FAMAS Best Actress

She appeared in more than 130 movies and television shows. She won four FAMAS Awards in the films Kulay Dugo ang Gabi, The Passionate Strangers, Lilet and Magnifico. She also received an award for Best Supporting Actress in the Metro Manila Film Festival for the movie Bulaklak sa City Jail. She is referred to as the industry's "fashion maverick."[2]

Early life

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Cecilia "Celia" Rodriguez was born in Bulan, Sorsogon to a Spanish-Filipino father, Angel Rodriguez, who has roots in Barcelona and a mestiza mother, Perla Obsum. She was raised in their hacienda as the youngest among eight daughters. The sisters attended Colegio de la Milagrosa, a local convent school. After high school, her father sold his abaca and copra business and the family relocated to Legazpi, Albay. Rodriguez graduated at Centro Escolar University in Manila with a secretarial degree. During this time, she resided in the Santa Mesa district.[3]

Career

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Rodriguez's acting skills were discovered by Adela Santiago, the head of Premiere Productions.[1] She subsequently joined the movie industry in the late 1950s, appearing in Sa Ngalan ng Espada (1958) and Shirley, My Darling (1958). She performed in movies such as Lilet, released in 1971, Super Gee (1973), Kampanerang Kuba (1974) and Mrs. Eva Fonda, 16 (1976). Other film credits include Zoom, Zoom Superman (1973), Ang Boyfriend Kong Baduy (1975), Elektrika, Kasi Eh (1976), Star (1979), Katorse (1980), Anak (1981), Angkinin Mo Ako (1983), Ang Boyfriend Kong Kano (1983), Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin (1984), Room 69 (1984) and Bulaklak ng City Jail (1984). She was known as the antagonist Valentina in Darna movies.

Rodriguez went on an acting hiatus twice, first in the 1960s, when she worked as a fashion model in Europe,[4] and in the 1980s and 1990s, when she resettled in the United States and at one point, took on two jobs simultaneously.[5]

In 1999-2001 she starred in an afternoon drama called May Bukas Pa which aired on RPN 9 and IBC-13 and 2002-2003 played Cherie Gil's mother again in Bituin as Dona Virginia Gaston. Since 2004, she has starred in numerous television shows for GMA-7's and in two more incarnations of Darnas as the main villain. She was included in the GMA Network TV sitcom Who's Your Daddy Now? (2007) and the romantic-comedy series I Heart You, Pare! (2011) starring Dingdong Dantes and Regine Velasquez. In 2013, she returned to afternoon television in the highly acclaimed Magkano Ba ang Pag-ibig? with Maryo J. de los Reyes at the helm.

Personal life

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Rodriguez is unmarried but has three children from previous relationships, one of whom, Jackie, was her daughter with a doctor and died from an aneurysm in 1995. She describes herself as a born-again Christian since 1995.[1][5]

Awards and nominations

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FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards)
Year Nominated work Category Result
2004 Magnifico Best Supporting Actress Won
1984 Ang Boyfriend kong Kano Nominated
1972 Lilet Best Actress Won
1967 The Passionate Strangers Best Supporting Actress Won
1965 Blood Is The Color Of Night Won
Gawad Urian
Year Nominated work Category Result
2005 Magnifico Best Supporting Actress Nominated
1985 Bulaklak sa City Jail Nominated
Luna Awards
Year Nominated work Category Result
2007 Ligalig Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Metro Manila Film Festival
Year Nominated work Category Result
2006 Magnifico Best Actress Nominated
1984 Bulaklak sa City Jail Best Supporting Actress Won

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Network
1996–1997 Familia Zaragoza Doña Elvira ABS-CBN
1997 Wansapanataym: Andi-Patika, Sulp-Anita, Mal-Ditas Episode guest
1998 !Oka Tokat: Death Wish
1998–1999 Halik sa Apoy Doña Tuding GMA Network
1999 Pwedeng Pwede Pearl ABS-CBN
1999–2001 Rio Del Mar Candida GMA Network
2000–2001 May Bukas Pa Conchita Suarez IBC
2001–2002 Biglang Sibol, Bayang Impasibol Nena GMA Network
2002–2003 Bituin Doña Virginia Gaston ABS-CBN
2005 Ganda ng Lola Ko Laura Q
Mars Ravelo's Darna Braguda GMA Network
2005–2006 Daisy Siete: Ang Pitong Maria Doña Asuncion Santiago
2006 Noel Q
Atlantika Doña Segunda GMA Network
2006–2007 Makita Ka Lang Muli Olympia Van Helden
2007 Who's Your Daddy Now? Mamu Candy
Mga Mata ni Anghelita Leticia Manresa / Rasfelina / Corazon
2009 Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang Madam Laurenna Alcaraz
All About Eve Doña Concepcion Gonzales
Mars Ravelo's Darna Perfecta
2010 Sine Novela: Basahang Ginto Doña Marina Vergara
Claudine: Fraternity
2011 I Heart You, Pare! Marita Castillo
Spooky Nights: Snow White Lady & the Seven Ghosts Basya
Iglot Lola Idang Salvador
2012 Broken Vow Doña Ofelia "Amorcita" Rastro
Coffee Prince Mamita Ochoa
2013 Home Sweet Home Madame Pandora
Magkano Ba ang Pag-ibig? Doña Hilaria Buenaventura
2015 2½ Daddies Mommy Vi TV5
Kalyeserye Doña Celia Rodriguez viuda de Ungasis GMA Network
2015–2016 Because of You Feliza Salcedo
2017–2018 Haplos Bettina "Lola Biring / Inang" Alonzo
2018 Dear Uge Lola Florencia
2020 Anak ni Waray vs. Anak ni Biday Zenaida Agpangan
Dear Uge Ima
2023–2024 Stolen Life Corazon "Azon/Mamita" Rigor

Film

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Year Title Role Film production
1958 Shirley, My Darling
Sa Ngalan ng Espada
1960 Hong Kong Honeymoon
1961 Konsiyerto ng Kamatayan
1964 Lagalag
1965 Hong Kong 999
1966 Wanted: Johnny L
1971 Lilet
1973 Zoom, Zoom, Superman! The Spiderwoman
1974 Huwag Tularan: Pito ang Asawa Ko
Biktima Monica Valdez Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions
1975 Lulubog Lilitaw sa Ilalim ng Tulay
1976 Mga Rosas sa Putikan
1977 Maligno
1978 Bomba Star Estrella Montana Regal Films
1979 Roberta
1980 Aguila Margo Cepeda Bancom Audiovision
Katorse Doña Margarita Arkanghel Regal Films
Angela Markado Rona Four-Seasons Films International, Inc.
1981 Kapitan Kidlat
Bakit Ba Ganyan? Mrs. del Oro Regal Films
1982 Mother Dear Nilda
Palengke Queen Doña Carmela JoyVee Film Productions
Diary of Cristina Gaston Donya Madonna Regal Films
1983 Angkinin Mo Ako
1984 Bagets Adie's mother
Bulaklak sa City Jail Luna
1985 Sanay Elisa
1996 Tukso Layuan Mo Ako 2
1997 Lihim Ni Madonna Viring
Ikaw Pala ang Mahal Ko Corinne Balmaceda
1998 Kahit Saan... Kung Puwede
1999 Bullet Flor
2003 Magnifico Ka Doring Violett Films
2004 Naglalayag Mrs. Roces
2006 Ligalig Martha
2009 Tarot Lola Nena
Fuchsia Priscilla
2010 I'll Be There Madam Conching Collins
2011 Shake, Rattle & Roll 13 Aling Epang
2012 Thy Womb
My Kontrabida Girl

[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Ricky Lo (June 20, 2017). "Celia: Angel Locsin is the best Darna". The Philippine Star.
  2. ^ Valencia, F. (July 27, 2017). "Strong is Sexy, According to These Iconic Pinay Actresses". Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  3. ^ Butch Francisco (August 8, 2002). "Celia: A study in contradiction". The Philippine Star.
  4. ^ Butch Francisco (August 10, 2002). "Celia Rodriguez: A study in contradiction". The Philippine Star.
  5. ^ a b Butch Francisco (August 13, 2002). "Celia: A study in contradiction (Part 3)". The Philippine Star.
  6. ^ "Movie Celebrities Then and Now: CELIA RODRIGUEZ". July 19, 2008.
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