Actress Gloria Romero, one of four extraordinary Filipinos posthumously honored for their iconic contributions to cinema, was a true class act, and “she was my mommy,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said during the awarding of the Presidential Medal of Merit over the weekend.
During the ceremony at Malacañan Palace on Sunday evening, President Marcos fondly recalled his moments with Romero, who played First Lady Imelda Marcos in the 1968 biographical film “Iginuhit ng Tadhana,” which chronicled the life of his father, the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
“She was my mommy. She played Imelda Marcos. I played myself,” the President said.
“I remember it very well. I was seven years old… The first day, dinala na lang ako sa set. Hindi ko alam, hindi na masyadong naipaliwanag sa akin. But there I was playing myself like an idiot, not knowing what I was doing,” President Marcos said, drawing laughter from the audience.
While he earned PhP2,000 from the film and even received a union card—officially making him a professional actor, President Marcos said the true reward was the chance to work with Romero.
“She’s one of what I would describe as an ‘Old World Lady’—all the way through, a true class act,” the President said.
Romero, who passed away on January 25, 2025, was honored alongside three other cultural icons for their immense contributions to Philippine arts and culture. Her career, which spanned over seven decades, earned her numerous accolades, including seven FAMAS Awards, three Gawad Urian Awards, and four Luna Awards.
“She grew with the film and the television industry, or perhaps, and I think this is even more accurate, the industry grew around the one and only Gloria Romero,” President Marcos said.
Reminiscing her unforgettable roles, the President added, “Naalala ninyo ba noong bata-bata pa tayo? ‘Pag sapit ng hapon, mapapanood natin sa telebisyon ang mga pelikulang pinagbibidahan ni Ms. Gloria Romero. Tumatak ang alaala ng kanyang pagganap sa ‘Dalagang Ilocana.’ Pinatawa niya tayo bilang Tita Minerva sa ‘Palibhasa Lalake,’ at pinaiyak tayo sa ‘Tanging Yaman.’” | PND
