MILA DEL SOL, the mother of Jeanne Young and grandma of Ira Cruz (guitarist of Bamboo), is acting again as the grandma of Felix Roco in ABS-CBN's suspense-thriller, "Rosalka". A pre-war actress, she was born in Tondo on May 12, 1923, so she's turning 87 on Wednesday. In fairness to her, she looks younger than her age. She's still up and about and not suffering from Alzheimer's like other people her age. She's the lead star in the oldest local film with an existing print, the musical "Giliw Ko" (1939) of LVN Pictures, where she starred opposite Fernando Poe (the father of the late FPJ). But she began acting when she was only 14 in "Nasaan Ka Irog" (1937). Another memorable film she did in 1939 was "Sawing Gantimpala".
She continued doing films (some 30 plus) even during the war years, making such films (mostly with LVN) as "In Despair", "Solomon at Sheba", "Nuno sa Punso", and "Sarungbanggi". Making a story about a hunchback like Rosalka is not new to her as she also starred in the movie "Kuba sa Quiapo" in 1949. She stopped acting in 1952 when she moved to the U.S. She'd come back to Manila every now and then to do films. In 1960, she did "Tatlong Magdalena" with the legendary actress Lolita Rodriguez for. Sampaguita Pictures. In 1969, she supported her own daughter Jeanne in her launching flick "Young Girl". In 1974, she played Vilma Santos' mom in "Batya't Palo-Palo". Her last film appearance was in the Sharon Cuneta drama for Viva, "Kahit Wala Ka Na" (1989). She's older than Anita Linda, currently considered the eldest working actress in local cinema. She's even older than Mona Lisa, who just supported her in "Giliw Ko" using the screen name Fleur de Lis. Mila del Sol has never won a major acting award. As we all know, award-giving bodies are now a dime a dozen. How we wish a fairly prestigious one would give her an award of recognition. Imagine, she started acting in 1937 and is still very much around in the new millenium. In terms of longevity alone, she certainly deserves to be recognized.
She continued doing films (some 30 plus) even during the war years, making such films (mostly with LVN) as "In Despair", "Solomon at Sheba", "Nuno sa Punso", and "Sarungbanggi". Making a story about a hunchback like Rosalka is not new to her as she also starred in the movie "Kuba sa Quiapo" in 1949. She stopped acting in 1952 when she moved to the U.S. She'd come back to Manila every now and then to do films. In 1960, she did "Tatlong Magdalena" with the legendary actress Lolita Rodriguez for. Sampaguita Pictures. In 1969, she supported her own daughter Jeanne in her launching flick "Young Girl". In 1974, she played Vilma Santos' mom in "Batya't Palo-Palo". Her last film appearance was in the Sharon Cuneta drama for Viva, "Kahit Wala Ka Na" (1989). She's older than Anita Linda, currently considered the eldest working actress in local cinema. She's even older than Mona Lisa, who just supported her in "Giliw Ko" using the screen name Fleur de Lis. Mila del Sol has never won a major acting award. As we all know, award-giving bodies are now a dime a dozen. How we wish a fairly prestigious one would give her an award of recognition. Imagine, she started acting in 1937 and is still very much around in the new millenium. In terms of longevity alone, she certainly deserves to be recognized.
