Ben Madilynn
January 26, 2025 | 12:03pm
— From designer JC Buendia to well-respected TV and film actress and producer Charo Santos-Concio and even this generation’s most popular star, Barbie Forteza, they all have fond memories of working with screen icon Gloria Romero, or “Tita Glo.”
Charo, who is among the few who has transitioned from starring in movies to helming a media company as its president, recalled the days when she served as a producer of the 1990 film “Kapag Langit Ang Humatol,” starring an all-star cast of Vilma Santos, Richard Gomez, Carmina Villaroel and Gloria.
“When I became a producer for Kapag Langit ang Humatol, I saw firsthand how dedicated and professional she was. Tita Glo had this remarkable way of making everyone around her feel valued and respected. She treated every role with the same reverence, from her award-winning performance in ‘Dalagang Ilocana,’ her unforgettable portrayal in ‘Tanging Yaman,’ to the heartwarming comedy of ‘Palibhasa Lalake,’ where she became our ever-charming Tita Minerva.
“On-screen, she brought laughter, joy, and wisdom as the lovable grandmother. Off-screen, she was just as warm and nurturing, always ready with kind words or a gentle smile that could brighten even the most difficult days,” the former president of ABS-CBN wrote on Instagram hours after news of Gloria’s death broke.
Gloria’s daughter Maritess Gutierrez confirmed the passing of the TV and movie icon yesterday. She was 91.
Amy Perez left a short yet deeply moving message to her screen mother. Amy was one of the two daughters of Gloria’s Minerva Chavez in the ’90s sitcom “Palibhasa Lalake,” which ran for 11 years from 1987 to 1998. It also starred Richard Gomez, Joey Marquez and John Estrada.
“Mommy, I will miss you. Thank you for everything. Rest now in the loving arms of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Perez wrote on Instagram with emojis and a clip of her interaction with Gloria.
For designer JC Buendia, Gloria was a fashion inspiration ever since he saw one of Gloria’s black-and-white films “Hong Kong Holiday,” shown on GMA-7.
“Growing up, my afternoons were spent watching ‘Sine Siete’ on GMA-7. Black and white films from the ’50s and ’60s. One that left a big impression on me was ‘Hong Kong Holiday,’ starring Gloria Romero, Ric Rodrigo and Paraluman. I must have watched it 10 times one summer. Gloria Romero resplendent in a lamé cheongsam became part of my design DNA,” Buendia shared.
It was in the early 2000s that Buendia got the chance to sew for one of his fashion icons. He was able to do a pantsuit version Gloria Romero wore in the 1957 musical comedy that also starred the late Dolphy. He recalled how Gloria was accommodating to everyone, including his long-time helper who brought her postcard collection of Gloria when the movie queen visited his atelier in Cubao.
Buendia put into beautiful words his memory of the movie and TV icon.
“When she came back to pick up her suit, I accompanied her out of the gate to her waiting van. As she sat down in the back seat, with the garment bag in her light embrace, she said ‘Ijo, I shall treasure this for the rest of my life, thank you.’ I was probably too choked to say anything; I closed the sliding door and waved goodbye watching her van fade in the horizon, just like in the movies,” he wrote.
In the latter years of her life, Gloria appeared more on TV but was still able to do movies, such as “Ang Panday” in 2017 and “Rainbow’s Sunset” in 2018.
From 2011 to 2022, Gloria was seen in several GMA-7 shows, such as “Munting Heredera” (2012), “The Rich Man’s Daughter” (2015) and the weekly fantasy show “Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko.” Two of these shows starred Barbie Forteza: “The Half Sisters” in 2014 and “Meant to Be” in 2017.
Barbie said she is thankful for the opportunity to work with Gloria, dubbed the “Queen of Philippine Cinema.”
“This is so heartbreaking. Buong buhay ko pong ipagmamalaki na nakatrabaho ko po kayo. Rest in paradise, Ms. Gloria Romero,” Barbie wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
This is so heartbreaking ????
Buong buhay ko pong ipagmamalaki na nakatrabaho ko po kayo.
Rest in paradise, Ms. Gloria Romero ????? pic.twitter.com/lzVAQnrFeL
— Barbie Forteza (@dealwithBARBIE) January 25, 2025
