Monday, February 21, 2011

*238. THE GILS OF PORAC: Acting is All in the Family

ROSEMARIE'S BABIES. The Gils, a family of actors led by mother Rosemarie and children Michael, Mark and Cherie Gil, hail from Barrio Pio, Porac. Their Spanish bloodline is courtesy of Don Felino Gil, founder of the first trade school of Asia and a Spanish military man who became a hacendero in Porac. ca. 1963.

Rosemarie Gil, Cherie Gil, Mark Gil, Michael de Mesa, Sid Lucero, Ryan and Geoff Eigenmann---who has not heard of this talented family of Kapampangan artists who left their marks in acclaimed movies and TV serials like “Oro, Plata, Mata", "Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan", "Bituing Walang Ningning", "Grazilda", “Batch ‘81”, "Miss X", "Pasan Ko Ang Daigdig", "Palabra de Honor", "Unfaithful Wife" and "Selda".

Two generations of Gils continue to liven Philippine cinema arts today and credit should be given to the one who started it all—Rosemarie Gil—who traces her Hispanic-Kapampangan roots from Porac. Though Manila-born (b. 9 March 1942), Rosemarie’s family comes from Barrio Pio. She is directly descended from Don Felino Gil (1804-83), a Spanish military man who was assigned to Porac to prepare the area for the coming friar missions as well as to secure the forests which were a chief source of lumber for the projects of the Spanish government. Gil impressed his Spanish superiors and was rewarded with large tracts of lands which he converted into a profitable sugar hacienda.

Don Felino Gil went on to found the Escuela de Artes y Oficios de Bacolor, the oldest vocational school in Far East Asia, now known as Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University. He married Carlota Aguilar, and his great-great grandson would turn out to be Carlos Gil, Rosemarie Gil’s father.

Rosemarie Gil, like her daughter Cherie, was known for her rich socialite-villain roles, but surprisingly, she was introduced in a religious movie in 1958, in the title role of “Santa Rita de Casia (Patrona ng Imposible)”, opposite Lauro Delgado, who portrayed the saint’s wayward husband. This movie turned out to be a hit, but in the 60s, she married Eddie Mesa (Eddie Eigenmann, in real life), putting her stardom on hold, while her husband, known as the Philippines’ Elvis Presley, enjoyed a flourishing career as a singer and actor. The couple would eventually settle in the U.S., separate and then reconcile

Rosemarie went back to make movies for international release in the 1970s, starting with “Manda” (1970), “Night of the Cobra Woman” (1972), “Master Samurai” (1974), and the remake of “Siete Infantes de Lara” (1973). It was in 1977 that she made her presence felt in the 1977 critically-acclaimed “Burlesk Queen”, starring Vilma Santos. For her role as Virgie Nite, Rosemarie earned a Gawad Urian nomination the following year.

In the 80s thru the 90s, Rosemarie continued to appear in dramatic movies such as “Problem Child”, “Dear Heart” (1980), “Bata pa si Sabel” (1981), “Bagets” (1984) and in the HBO-produced mini-series inspired by the 1986 People Power Revolution, “A Dangerous Life” (as Tingting Cojuangco). In 1990s, she was in blockbuster hits like “Anak ni Baby Ama” (1990), “Maging Sino Ka Man” (1991), “Mulanay” (1996) and “Wansapanataym: The Movie” (1999). Rosemarie was also seen in telenovelas such as “Anna Karenina” (1996), “Sa Puso Ko, Iingatan Ka” (2001) and “Hiram” (2004).

Meanwhile, her children were also making their own mark as actors of note in dramatic movies. Cherie Gil (b. 12 May 1965) is undoubtedly one of the best contravidas of Philippine movies, best known for making life miserable for megastar Sharon Cuneta in the movie, “Bituing Walang Ningning” (1985). As the villainess Lavinia Arguelles, she spewed out the often-quoted put-down line, “You are nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat!”, while dousing Sharon with a glass of water. Siblings Mark Gil (b. 25 Aug. 1961) and Michael de Mesa (24 May 1960) are also seasoned actors on TV, stage and the silver screen. The next-generation Gils, led by heartthrob Geoff Eigenmann, continue to thrill Filipino fans on TV and Film.

The Gils have since upped and left Porac—only the controversial Pio Chapel—part of the Gil hacienda constructed in 1861, remains of their once vast homestead. This property has since been sold. The Gils may have already uprooted themselves from Pampanga, but in movies, stage and films, they continue to shine and make their presence felt, in the same league as the Dela Rosas and Fernandezes—actors, thespians, singers, dramatists, zarzuela stars, Kapampangan performers all--who once ruled the golden age of Philippine cinema.

24 comments:

Sam said...

My mom thought that Rosemarie Gil hailed from Iloilo... But then, as she was saying earlier the previous day, she discovered she was also a Kapampangan. :)

Alex D.R. Castro said...

The Gils would pop in and out of Porac, till the 80s, when they sold the property to someone from Bulacan.

Anonymous said...

The Gils were from Porac and Floridablanca. Gil-Toledo, Toledo-Gil, Herreros-Gil, Gil-Herreros-Toledo-Toda; They intermarried each other to maintain their wealth and properties(Hacienda Toledo, Hacienda Herreros, Hacienda Gil).

toledocoronel said...

My relatives from my motherside is related to the Gils and Toledos. My mothers name is Natividad Toledo Coronel, her mother is Asuncion Toledo, her grandfather is Manuel Toledo, who is the son of Luisa Gil Toledo, whose father is Don Felino Gil. We still have properties from Porac, whose titles bear the name Luisa Gil de Toledo.

Anonymous said...

@toledocoronel: is it possible that you still have a photo or a portait of Don Felino Gil?

Anonymous said...

The Toledo clan is alive and well. My maternal grandmother is Maria Carmen Toledo who is one of the 5 children of Manuel Toledo. My great aunt, Maria Pilar Toledo used to relay stories about the Gils, and the Todas. The last of the Manuel Toledo children (youngest and only male, Alberto Toledo lived, and died in Porac in the 90's.

Anonymous said...

The Gil and Toledo are land grabbers! They took the land from Herreros.

Anonymous said...

The Gils and Toledos are not land grabbers. The truth is that they are the victim of land grabbing. Toledos and Gils had their haciendas and so did the Herreros but unfortunately they sold it to the Mendiolas and since then the Herreros became impoverished.

Anonymous said...

Hola soy española y estoy realizando una investigación genealógica de mis anteapasados,que eran Pablo Nalda Gil, sus padres eran Carlos Nalda Molina,médico militar en Manila ,nacida en Cádiz,España y Rosa Gil en el acta de Matrimonio dice que el padre de Rosa Gil era Felino Gil y Fca.Javier Davis pero no se si Felino Gil se caso varias veces en la Parroquia de San Agustin el 08/02/1854 de Porac. Tenia constancia de mis antepasados Flipininos pero no llego aclarar esta parte de los Gil.
La mujer de Felino Gil era Carlota Aguilar,donde podria encontrar el árbol genealogico de esta rama?
Gracias

Anonymous said...

I'm and old lawyer who live in Angeles City, I've witnessed the hearing numerous times, I've learned all the legal issues between the Gozun family and Don Roberto Gil Toledo 111, Gozun family currently owned and claimed as the owner of the Hacienda Bellas Vistas situated in Barrio San Jose Floridablanca and Basa Air Base Pampanga,till the last breath of the late Don Roberto Gil Toledo 111, he was weeping, collapsed during the hearing when he found out that the Toledo State was stolen from him by the Gozun family from San Fernando Pampanga,the old man was sent to jail being accused of a trying to get the Gozun family killed, the old man can't get up on his own, by the way those Gozun family works in the Register of Deeds and Land Tittle, no problem transferring the Toledo state to their Gozun family name. It's true that Rosemarie Gil and family only comes and goes in Barrio Pio Porac Pampanga, the late Don Roberto Gil Toledo 111 inherited the property in Pio which shows in the old testament that he carried around while alive. Miracle how it became Rosemarie Gil's property?

The old man can't read English, guess ignorance was an issue. GOZUN family are the Hoodlums.

Hacienda Bellas is located in Floridablanca Pampanga, most in San Jose and Basa Air Base, the only soul, proprietor Heredero is Don Roberto Gil Toledo 111 who resided in San Jose Floridablanca. The one and only child of the late Don Roberto Toledo 11. San Jose Elementary School was donated by his father. While Don Roberto Toledo 11 wife is gravely ill he impregnated their muchacha (tsimay) nickname Paniang who's from San Nicolas, out of wed luck, she borne a crippled handicapped daughter named Maria Nieves, married to the greedy, dishonest, infidel (sakim) Joquin Gozun Jr, with all their power, the Gozun family did able to out smart the late Don Roberto Gil Toledo 111, by making Don Roberto Gil Toledo 111, to sign the papers that he did not understand, Deed of Sale, or (Benta Absoluta) only he can read Spanish, Gozun family forged his signature stating that he sold the hacienda to Maria Nieves and Jouquin Gozun, now the hacienda is not Toledo any more it's Gozun. According to the news, Gozun family are cursed, bunch of dysfunctional family, deuce bags and scams, they tried selling the hacienda to the people who lived there before even the church was built, for over price. People have to find their way to move out of the barrio for the little earnings they have.

Anonymous said...

Hola! The Herreros family are not even heard in Pampanga! What kind of land are you talking about?

Anonymous said...

El Sr. abogado que ha dejado comentarios sobre D.Roberto Toledo y Gil si me pudiese facilitar el nombre de la esposa D.Roberto Toledo II que era la madre de D. Roberto Toledo III y los demás hijos que hubiese tenido el matrimonio, así como el nombre de la esposa de D.Roberto Toledo y Gil III, imagino que no tendrían hijos si su patrimonio pasó a los Gozun. Muchas gracias a quien me pudiese aclarar lagunas que tengo con los citados Roberto Toledo. ¿Me podrían indicar en qué fecha falleció D.Roberto Toledo III?.
Pueden contactar conmigo en el correo m.solita@hotmail.es.

Anonymous said...

Hola soy Borja Hernández Medina. Margarita Nalda Gil fue mi bisabuela, casada con Antonio Hernández Merino fundador de la confitería La Campana. Supongo que era hermana de Pablo.

Louie Aldrin Lacson Bartolo said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Louie Aldrin Lacson Bartolo said...

Amigos, if you want to know about Gils, please follow this link. https://www.facebook.com/notes/louie-aldrin-lacson-bartolo/aquinos-and-gils-how-they-are-related/1904378359580190/
maybe it will help this new information...Gracias!

Anonymous said...

@Anonymous who posted a comment on March 25, 2015. The Herreros Family is one of the wealthiest landlord families in Pampanga. Just like what happened to many hacendero families, they did not manage their wealth well and they ended up being poor.

toledocoronel said...

Obviously you dont know what youre talking about and youre not from pampanga. The Gils and Toledos were the original owners of the haciendas.

toledocoronel said...

Herreros family are unheard of here in pampanga today.the gil and toledo families were the original owners of the haciendas.

Anonymous said...

Sugar and the Origins of Modern Philippine Society. La familia Herreros Toledo si tenía tierras en Pampanga,un comentario de esta página ya aclra que las vendieron a los Mendiola. Podeis contrastar la información en este libro en su página 86 • Pampanga: The Formation of a Tenant Society. Hay errores que deseo aclarar: D.Felino Gil Talens estaba casado con Dña. Francisca Javier de Ocampo, tuvieron 4 hijos, Luisa Gil Ocampo,casada con D.Vicente Toledo, Dolores Gil Ocampo, casada con D.Roberto Toledo, Rosa Gil Ocampo, casada con el doctor D.Carlos Nalda y Molina, y un único hijo varón, Rafael Gil Ocampo que estaba casado con Dña. Carlota Aguilar.

Matthew said...

I'm researching my family history to build my family tree [descended from Roberto Toledo III, father of Dolores Toledo, and specifically his granddaughter, Eloisa Herreros (born 1875)] and this information helps. I realize this post is a decade old, but if it so happens you come back to check on it -- where and how did you retrieve so much of this information?

Just as a side comment to some of the other posts on here: most Herreros descendants (100+) have by now immigrated to California and Australia. I've heard tales of these landownership issues but being a millenial, I know very little. My maternal grandfather, Richard Herreros, son of Eloisa Herreros and William Wolfert, apparently left the Philippines for California after being ostracized from the family for marrying my filipino grandmother rather than marrying within the Spanish landownership class.

Thanks for these informational blog posts!

Matthew said...

I misspoke in my comment above... I mean to say, I'm descended from Roberto Toledo II (not III). Dolores Toledo is my great great grandmother, sister of Roberto Toledo III.

Be Happy said...

Waiting for her upcoming Teleserye Legal Wives, where Cherie Gil will perform as Zaina Guimba.

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