24
Philippine Showbiz Today
October 22 - November 7, 2017
Final curtain call
for Chinggoy Alonzo
The world of theater and
showbiz lost another star as
thespian actor Chinggoy Alonzo
passed away at age 67.
According to his manager,
Shirley Kwan, Alonso died at
11:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Chi-
nese General Hospital in Manila
due to colon cancer.
Kwan said arrangements
are being finalized for the actor’s
wake at the Garden of the Divine
Word in Christ the King in Que-
zon City.
The actor enjoyed a stellar
career on stage, television and
the movies. During the ‘60s, he
became a prominent face in the
local theater scene not only as an
actor but as stage director, play-
wright and producer as well. Lat-
er, he founded his own repertory
group, The Company of Players.
Alonzo eventually crossed
over to the big and small screens,
debuting in the film “Buhay Ar-
tista Ngayon” in 1979, and TV se-
ries “Anna Karenina” in 1996.
Thereafter, he starred in a
string of movies, such as “Where
‘D’ Girls ‘R’,” “Ikaw Naman ang
Iiyak,” and “Moments of Love.”
He last appeared in the movie “Et-
iquette for Mistresses” in 2015.
Television further tapped his
talent for more dramas, best re-
membered as Don Ramon Al-
tamonte in the GMA series, “Sana
Ay Ikaw Na Nga.” He was last seen
portraying the role of Senator
Pablo Alcantara in the ABS-CBN
afternoon drama, “Wildflower.”
Because of his aristocratic
features, the character actor often
bagged roles as a rich patriarch or
as an affluent politician.
The Met’s Ruth Pambid-Avila
paid tribute to the respected artist
and said, “Sad day for the theater,
TV, movie industry where Ching-
goy Gil Alonso always stood out
as a true, real, talented, versatile
and committed thespian. We will
miss you….” Avila worked as pro-
duction manager at The Met when
Alonzo was directing and starring
in musicals for the company.●
- MB.com
Movie director Maning
Borlaza passes away
The Philippine movie industry
has lost another iconic director in
Emmanuel “Maning” Borlaza who
succumbed to a heart attack. He
would have turned 82 on Novem-
ber 5.
Borlaza was one of the most
prolific filmmakers from the 1960s
to the 1980s. He is best known
for his dramatic works with Vilma
Santos, but also for the actress’
starring roles as “Dyesebel,” and
“Darna” in two movies.
In the ’80s, he directed a
number of Sharon Cuneta’s
blockbusters, including “Bituing
Walang Ningning,” “Bukas Lu-
luhod Ang Mga Tala” and “Dapat
Ka Bang Mahalin,” as well as
Snooky Serna’s “Blusang Itim.”
His last movie on record is
the 1996 remake of Dyesebel,
then with Charlene Gonzales in
the lead role.
Borlaza won a total of seven
Best Director awards throughout
his career from the country’s ma-
jor movie award-giving bodies.
His trophies comprise the Famas,
FAP, Gawad Urian and Young Crit-
ics Circle.
Until the time of his death,
Borlaza was officially a member
of the board of the MTRCB, and
even served as interim chairman
in 2013 when then agency chief
Grace Poe resigned from her post
to run for the Senate.
Moreover,
Borlaza
had
chaired the Directors’ Guild of the
Philippines, Inc.
Back in May, The Manila
Times Entertainment columnist
George Vail reported that Borlaza’s
health had deteriorated, quoting a
text message from former actress
and director Jackie Aquino.
As of this writing, condolenc-
es have poured in for the revered
director from fellow members at
MTRCB as well as actress Lea
Salonga and colleague, director
Joey Reyes.
According to early reports,
the director’s remains will be tak-
en to Loyola Memorial Chapel in
Sucat, Parañaque.●
- TMT