Gloria Romero

Gloria Romero (born Gloria Galla on December 16, 1933) is a Filipino actress appearing in film and television. Her career spans 60 years and includes award winning performances in the films Tanging Yaman (FAMAS Best Actress 2001), Nagbabagang Luha (FAMAS Best Supporting Actress 1989) and 1955's Dalagang Ilocana. She is the first recipient of the lifetime achievement award from the MTRCB (Movies and Television Review and Classification Board).

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Born as Gloria Galla to a Filipino father, Pedro Galla, and an American mother, Mary Borrego, she attended school in Mabini, Pangasinan. Her brother was also an actor, Tito Galla.

She was introduced to Philippine showbiz through her uncle, Nario Rosales, who was Chief Editor of Sampaguita Studios. She started out as an extra in Sampaguita Pictures. She was given a role as the daughter of real-life couple Cesar Ramirez and Alicia Vergel, in Madame X (1952), and producers introduced her with a stage name "Gloria Romero". Romero got her first lead role in Monghita (1952) opposite Oscar Moreno. Romero received her first major acting award in Filipino Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) as Best Actress for her role in Dalagang Ilocana (1954).

In the year 2000 she starred in Tanging Yaman as the matriarch who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

After a long run as a movie star she also appeared on TV. She is cast in the television sitcom Palibhasa Lalaki as the drunkard Tita Minerva, and other sitcom such as "Richard Loves Lucy" and "Ok Fine! Whatever" as Lola Barbie. She also appeared in Sa dulo ng walang Hanggan,Familia Zaragoza, and Sanay wala nang Wakas.

On April 4, 2008, she was cast with Eddie Garcia in an episode for the drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya and received a nomination for the role. She appeared on the primetime drama series, May Bukas Pa, in which she played "Aling Soledad". Romero guested in the shows 30th chapter ("Greed").

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She received a star in a Philippine walk of fame located at Eastwood City in Libis.

In 2007, she was included in Yes! magazines 100 Most Beautiful Stars in the category "Staying Power" and the magazines 100 Most Beautiful Stars for 2009 issue in the category "The Venerable".

In 2005, she was one of the 31 women awarded with PAMA-AS Gintong Bai Award at Malacañan Palace, by president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

She become the first recipient of the lifetime achievement award from the 1st MTRCB (Movies and Television Review and Classification Board) Award held September 4, 2009, in Gateway Cinema in Quezon City.

On October 18, 2009, at the 57th FAMAS, she was awarded the Huwarang Bituin ng FAMAS Award (FAMAS' Model Movie Star), for her durability as a movie personality.

She was honored as a "Gawad Parangal sa mga Ginintuang Bituin ng Pelikulang Pilipino" at La Consolacion College, Manila on March 15, 2010, in celebration of the National Women's Month.

On the 8th Golden Screen Awards held last April 2, 2011, Romero was awarded and named one of the 13 "Movie Icons of Our Time". Mother Lily Monteverde of Regal Entertainment presented the Movie Icons of Our Time plaque to her.

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Gloria Galla married Juancho Gutierrez after they met during a movie; they had one child, a daughter, Maritess.

[ Wikipedia ]