NEWSFLASH

SHOWBIZ FOLK REMEMBER NIDA

Manila, Nov. 12, 2001 - To those who knew Nida Blanca, she will always be a different kind of movie star. She is actually, one of a kind. She may have been dubbed as the "original Taray," but offensive she never was. I doubt if there are any movie writers who consider themselves Nida's contemporaries who have any complaints against her. She was, after all, an ideal interviewee. With her answer to one or two questions, one can already write a whole feature on her.

I also doubt if there is any star, young or old alike, who worked with her but did not learn a thing or two from her about good acting and professionalism. Up and coming comedienne Marissa Sanchez, who is co-starring with Nida in one of Nida's last two movies, "Ano Bang Meron Ka?" (Nida is also in the cast of "Kung Ito'y Panaginip," starring Jolina Magdangal, Leandro Muñoz and Rafael Russel), said: "Nagkasama kami ni Tita Nida sa sitcom na 'Puwedeng Puwede.' Since then, she has served as my mentor.

"Parang mga anak ang tingin niya sa amin nina Robin (Padilla), Ogie (Diaz) and even Redford (White). May pangaral siyang nakalaan sa amin if she thought we were going overboard. At nandiyan lang siya if we need an older person's advice."

Sharon Cuneta, Maricel Soriano and Vina Morales were all crying profusely in their respective corners at the White Plains Chapel where Nida's remains for a while lie in state. They, too, all took to Nida like a second mother. Especially Maricel, who played daughter to Nida for more than 15 years in the popular sitcom, "John en Marsha."

"I grew up with her and Tito Dolphy. Parang isang close relative ang nawala sa buhay ko sa kanyang pagkamatay," said Maricel, wiping her tears.

Veteran comedienne Nova Villa said she learned the trick of making people laugh from Nida. She was 15-years-old when she started her career in the movies via an action-drama co-starring her with Fernando Poe, Jr.

"Drama roles noong una ang tina-target ko," said Nova in an interview. "Until I found myself co-starring with Nida in 'Ang Mahiwagang Daigdig ni Doray.' She encouraged me to follow her in her footsteps. In no time, I was getting to be as effective a comedienne as she is. But instead of resenting it, she told me she was happy for me. And I believed her."

As a movie writer, Nida gave me several scoops (about herself). I was the first one whom she called when she broke up with Tony Ferrer, who was the love of her life for a while. She caught Tony in the act, she complained, while he was out on a date with Alice Crisostomo, former Mutya ng Pilipinas. He later married Alice. They are now estranged. Tony and Alice were blessed with two children, Mutya and Falcon.

Nida was open about her romance with Bert le Roy, Jr., who was her lover for seven years.

It was the pre-Martial Law days and I was working as a staff writer for Graphic Magazine, which was then being edited by the late Luis Mauricio. Nida arrived one day with now Congressman Romy Jalosjos (he is locked up in jail, though, for a case of rape). They were leaving for Hongkong to get married, she told me. She added that she had found true happiness with him.

But as is common knowledge, their romance didn't last. I purposely refrained from asking Nida, even if it was just the two of us talking, if she ever visited Congressman Jalosjos in jail.

When she decided to marry Rod Lauren in the early '70s, she again called for me. I wrote an article about their romance which came out in the daily evening newspaper, Evening Post. Ronald Constantino, who now writes a movie column, Highspeed, for Tempo, was then the said newspaper's entertainment editor.

In the interview, Nida narrated how her romance with Rod started. She said she came to know him through a friend. But their romance didn't blossom right then and there. Rod went back abroad as he was himself starting a career as a singer.

When they met again after a few years, he learned about her desire to grab an American citizenship, so she could petition for daughter Kay (Torres), who wanted a life abroad.

Rod, who was then already separated from his wife, offered to marry her. For that, she got herself the green card she dreamed about.

Nida's relationship with Rod proved to be her longest ever. They were together for 27 years. (Ethel Ramos, Malaya)