Ilocana Maiden () is a 1954 Filipino romantic comedy film directed by Olive La Torre from a screenplay by Luciano B. Carlos, Conrado Conde, and Willie P. Orfinada, based on a story written by T. D. Agcaoili, who also wrote additional lyrics with Conde. It stars Gloria Romero, Ric Rodrigo, and Rudy Francisco, while the supporting cast includes Dolphy and Rebecca del Rio.
A black and white film produced and released by Sampaguita Pictures, a radio adaptation of the film was serialized over DZRH Sampaguita Radio Program and also, it launched the career of Tita de Villa. It was theatrically released on July 4, 1954.
In 2021, the film was digitally restored and remastered by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).
Background
Olive La Torre directed Gloria Romero as a country girl who rolls tobacco leaves into cigars for a living. Romero is a comedian, combining as she does a nose with eyes that slant. Dolphy has a role as a comic sidekick. The film, set in the lands of the Ilocos region, is also a advertisement on smoking, with seemingly everyone onscreen from the haciendero to the tobacco roller lighting up cigars made from uncut tobacco leaf; one character actually suffers asthma attacks if he can't get nicotine, from the rolled cigars that only Romero knows how to make.
Cast Gloria Romero — Biday Ric Rodrigo Dolphy — Kulas Tita de Villa Francisco Cruz Rudy Francisco Marcela Garcia Rebecca del Rio Horacio Morales Precy Ortega Leleng Isla
Release Ilocana Maiden was theatrically released in 1954. In late 2000, the film was aired on PTV as part of its SineGinto 2000 program in cooperation with the Advertising Foundation of the Philippines.
Rediscovery
After it was long lost. The film was rediscovered through archives and a long restoration before being shown to the theatrical audience again, in the 1990s to 2000s the SOFIA (Society of Filipino activist fro Film) founded and somewhat successfully located the film then, preserved it at the SOFIA headquarters.
Accolades FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards) Year Category Nominee Result FAMAS Awards Best Actress Gloria Romero
References
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