Local showbiz connections

Local showbiz connections

 

Bayambang is home to a lot of celebrities in the world of entertainment or show business.

 

Actors Wendell Ramos and Donita Rose are the grandchildren of the patriarch of the Ramos clan.

 

The comic Ramon Bautista traces his family's roots to Bayambang, particularly Brgy. Duera.

Martin Nievera also has Bayambang roots, according to Dr. Clarita D.G. Jimenez.

He may not be exactly from showbiz, but retail fashion icon Rusty Lopez has Bayambang roots, according to old-time residents such as Museum, Culture and Arts Consultant Gloria de Vera-Valenzuela.

One Bayambang-born personality who made a name in the ramp modeling world is Kirst Viray. Viray has also dabbled in the world of acting, appearing in such shows as "Mulawin," "Maalala Mo Kaya," "La Luna Sangre," etc.

If we go further back in time, there were the actors Jing Abalos, Vic Pacia, and Carlos Salazar.

Jing Abalos was born to Angelita Asuncion and Rufino Abalos on September 17, 1941 in Brgy. San Vicente. He is reported to be active in the years 1957-1972. He started as a stuntman.

"His first movie was Amazona. He was introduced in the movie Apat na Agila (alternative title "Four Eagles"), and became a full-fledged star in Batman Fights Dracula under Lea Production in 1967, opposite Viviane Lorrain."

"Abalos became a contract star of Lea Production and made several films in Taurus Production's the Lady Untouchable opposite Magda Gonzalez."

"His other films are Babaing Kidlat (1964), Lady Untouchable (1968), Mighty Rock (1969), Cueva Vaca (1972), Dirty Hari (1972), Mga Mapanganib (1972), Trafcon-Ancar Limbas Unit 57 (1972)."

Pacia of Roxas St. was "a mainstay of 'Oras ng Ligaya' (a TV show), also dabbled in films as an actor for Sampaguita Pictures," Butch Francisco recalls in a November 1, 2003 article in StarBytes (Phistar.com).

Pacia's IMDb.com profile lists the following as his films: Pussy Cat (1969), Together Again (1967), and Basta Kantahan: Sila o Kami? (1969).

"Pacia died in a car crash in 1973 while driving in Laguna," Francisco writes.

According to an ABS-CBN article, Carlos "Rusty" Salazar was a successful actor discovered by Fernando Poe, Sr. "after he played the lead role in a stage play at the Far Eastern University (FEU)." 

"Salazar soon became one of the most popular "bida-kontrabida" actors at the time, often portraying key characters in movies."

"He was at the peak of his career, doing a minimum of four movies a year, when he fell in love at first sight with Carmen 'Menchu' Fernandez, a commercial model," and left showbiz for good.

Judging from posts of Video 48 blog, Salazar has made numerous films in the '50s, '60s, and '70s, and even became a film director and producer.

According to Dr. Henry Fernandez, "Carlos Salazar" is just a screen name. His real name is Rustico Roldan, and he is a grandchild of former town mayor Leo Roldan.

According to another local, Joey Ferrer, "a beautiful lass from Roxas St. named Lilian P. Napier tried the movies as an extra player in the first Darna movie starred in by Rosa del Rosario in the 50’s. Another one named Berting Macaranas appeared in the historic movie, Walang Sugat, starred in by Mario Montenegro."

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This note will not be complete without mentioning former Pinoy Big Brother-Teen Edition housemate and actress Niña Jose, who has become a Bayambangueña by virtue of being the wife of Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao. It is because of her showbiz connections that many events in town today, particularly the Pista'y Baley events, are star-studded.

In 2016-2019, townsfolk and visitors were treated -- mostly for free -- to guest appearances and performances by some of the biggest names and most promising stars of the day: popular teenage love tandems LizQuen (Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil) and KimXi (Kim Chiu and Xian Lim); balladeer Erik Santos and new singing sensations Michael Pangilinan and Jason Dy; RnB singers Jay-r, Kris Lawrence, and Luke Mejares; comic singer K Brosas; deadpan-style comedians Ramon Bautista, Eric Nicolas with his sidekick Tuko, and Jason Gainza; heartthrobs/hunks Paulo Avelino, JC de Vera, and Derek Ramsey; international beauty pageant titlists Venus Raj, Shamsey Supsup, Megan Young, and Evangeline Pascual; celebrity hosts Bianca Gonzales-Intal and Diane Medina (with boyfriend-actor Rhodjun Cruz in tow); alternative bands and artists Up Dharma Down, December Avenue, and Dong Abay; riotous comedian Vice Ganda with sidekicks MC and Lassy as well as Vhong Navarro; comic reporters Boobay and Love Añover, celebrity actor-dancers and licensed celebrity Zumba instructors (ZINs) Wowie de Guzman, Regine Tolentino, and Mark Kramer Pastrana; former Pinoy Big Brother housemates (Teen Edition, 1st batch) Fred Payawan, Brenda Fox, Miki Arceo, and Joaqui Mendoza; "Ang Probinsyano" lead actor Coco Martin; legendary balladeers Basil Valdez and Nonoy Zuñiga; top-notch singing quintet The Company; 'Fliptoppers'/rappers Abra, Loonie, Apekz, Sinio, Badang, Shanti Dope; actors Dominic Roque, Anjo Damiles, Nadine Samonte, Archie Alemania, Jose Sarasola, Manuel Chua, and Gerard Acao; and many more.

Outside showbiz proper are these other 'high-wattage' names: Sen. Grace Poe, Sen. Cynthia Villar, Congresswoman Rose Marie 'Baby' Arenas, Shalani Soledad-Romulo, et al.

References:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2859548/bio
https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2003/11/01/226255/remembering-departed-stars
https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/08/07/14/why-veteran-actor-gave-career-wife-family
http://video48.blogspot.com/search/label/CARLOS%20SALAZAR
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0007668/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jing_Abalos
Superheroeslives

Dr. Clarita D.G. Jimenez
Dr. Henry J. Fernandez
Bayambang Municipal Museum, Culture and Arts Consultant Gloria de Vera-Valenzuela

Dr. Leticia Ursua

Joey Ferrer