Mona Lisa (actress)
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Gloria Lerma Yatco (June 22, 1922 – August 25, 2019), better known by her screen name Mona Lisa, was a Filipina film actress. Known by the screen name Fleur de Lis before and during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, she was one of the renowned Filipina actresses of the late 1930s and 1940s.


Career

She was paired with Ely Ramos in LVN Pictures' ''
Giliw Ko ''Giliw Ko'' (''My Love'') is a 1939 Filipino film. A musical romance, ''Giliw Ko'' had a radio theme, and was the first production of the Filipino company, LVN Pictures. The restored film is notable for being a gift from Australia to the Filipino ...
'', along with LVN's first leading actress
Mila del Sol Clarita Villarba Rivera, better known by her screen name Mila del Sol (12 May 1923 – 10 November 2020), was a Filipina actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Born in Tondo, Manila, she gained fame in her very first lead role in the 1939 fil ...
and Fernando Poe, directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa, where she made history as the first actress to appear in a Filipino film wearing a bathing suit. After WWII, she came back to the limelight as Mona Lisa, top billed with
Teddy Benavidez Teddy is an English language given name, usually a hypocorism of Edward or Theodore. It may refer to: People Nickname * Teddy Atlas (born 1956), boxing trainer and fight commentator * Teddy Bourne (born 1948), British Olympic epee fencer * Teddy ...
in ‘‘Kalbario ng Isang Ina’‘ (1946) and ‘‘Siyudad sa Ilalim ng Lupa’‘ (1949) opposite Fernando Royo. Mona Lisa paired with some of the Philippines' finest actors of the 40s like Ricardo Brillantes in ''Batang Lansangan'', ''Pag-ibig at Patalim'' (1948) opposite
Teddy Benavidez Teddy is an English language given name, usually a hypocorism of Edward or Theodore. It may refer to: People Nickname * Teddy Atlas (born 1956), boxing trainer and fight commentator * Teddy Bourne (born 1948), British Olympic epee fencer * Teddy ...
and ''Hanggang Langit'' (1947) with the Philippine actor known as "The Great Profile"
Leopoldo Salcedo Leopoldo Salcedo (March 12, 1912 – June 11, 1998) was a Filipino film actor dubbed as "The Great Profile" who specialized in portraying dramatic heroes. Early life Salcedo was born in Cavite. His father was of Spanish descent whose family i ...
. In the mid-40s, Mona Lisa paired several times with Action/Drama actor Fernando Poe in movies like ''Intramuros'' (1946), ‘‘The 13th Sultan’‘ and ‘‘Sagur’‘, both in 1949. Before the war struck Manila, Mona Lisa paired with famous debonair actor of the 40s Serafin Garcia in the movie ''Tinangay ng Apoy'' in 1940 and second lead only to the Philippines' newest screen siren of the early 1940s
Paraluman Sigrid Sophia Agatha de Torres von Giese, better known by her screen name Paraluman (December 14, 1923 – April 27, 2009), was an award-winning Filipina German actress. Her contemporaries include the likes of Fernando Poe, Sr. and Carmen Rosal ...
opposite Fernando Poe. Mona Lisa portrayed a war-shock civilian in 1952's ‘‘Ulila ng Bataan’‘ opposite
Sampaguita Pictures Sampaguita Pictures was a Philippine film production company. It was named for the Philippine national flower, sampaguita. Though no longer functioning, the company's Sampaguita Compound remains in Quezon City. History Sampaguita Pictures was es ...
girl wonder
Tessie Agana Tessie Agana (born May 16, 1942) is a Filipina former child actress of the 1950s. She is best known for her role as the titular character in the 1951 film ''Roberta'', which was then the highest grossing Philippine film of all time. Her mother was ...
and ‘‘Buhay Alamang (Paglukso'y Patay)’‘, along with Sampaguita actor Fred Montilla combined with premier actress
Anita Linda Alice Bueñaflor Lake (November 23, 1924 – June 10, 2020), better known by her stage name Anita Linda, was a Filipino film actress. A romantic lead in her youth, she later gained critical acclaim for her portrayals in maternal or elderly r ...
also in 1952. She resumed her film career in 1970 after an absence of nearly two decades, and remained active in the industry where she got a Best Supporting Actress Award for ‘‘Insiang’‘, and another Best Supporting Actress Award for the Metro Manila Film Festival in 1977 consecutively, where she portrayed a sex hungry mother of Insiang played by
Hilda Koronel Hilda Koronel (born Susan Reid; January 17, 1957) is a MMFF, FAMAS, Luna and Urian award-winning Filipino actress. Born to a Filipino mother and an American father who was a serviceman in Clark Air Base, she has starred in around 45 films, ma ...
. Some of her films from the mid to late 70s were as a supporting actress to lead actors such as
Rio Locsin Maria Theresa Rosario Garcia Nayve, known by her screen name Rio Locsin (born October 3, 1961), is a Filipina actress and model. Regarded as the "Queen of Adult Drama", Locsin has starred in nearly 60 films including '' Bira! Darna! Bira!'' (197 ...
in ‘‘Risa Jones: Showgirl!’‘ (1979), ‘‘Atsay’‘ (1978) with
Nora Aunor Nora Cabaltera Villamayor (born May 21, 1953), professionally known as Nora Aunor (), is a Filipino actress, recording artist, and film producer. Aunor has also appeared in several stage plays, television shows and concerts. She is known as Ph ...
, ‘‘Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak’‘ (1978) with
Vilma Santos Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos-Recto (, born November 3, 1953) is a Filipino actress, singer, dancer, TV host, producer, and politician. She served as a House Deputy Speaker since 2019 to 2022 and as the Representative of Batangas' 6th district since ...
and
Bembol Roco Rafael Aranda Roco, Jr. (born November 20, 1953), popularly known as Bembol Roco, is a Filipino actor whose work ranges from films to television. He is famous for his critically acclaimed role as Julio Madiaga in '' Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liw ...
, ‘‘Mananayaw’‘ (1978) with
Chanda Romero Chanda V. Romero (born February 26, 1954) is a Filipina actress. She is mostly seen on GMA Network. She played supporting roles and leading roles in many films during the early and late 1970s. Her prolific work in sexy comedies and dramas caug ...
and
Phillip Salvador Phillip Mikael "Ipe" Reyes Salvador (born Felipe Reyes Salvador; August 22, 1953) is a three-time FAMAS award-winning Filipino film and television actor. Acting career Salvador made his film debut in 1971 with ''Adios Mi Amor''. He toiled in m ...
, ‘‘Hindi Kami Damong Ligaw’‘ (1976) with
Charito Solis Rosario Violeta Solís Hernández, better known as Charito Solís (October 6, 1935 – January 9, 1998), was a FAMAS and Gawad Urian Award-winning Filipina film actress, in addition to being the first Philippine woman who have bared her chest in ...
, and ‘‘Itim’‘ (1977) with a promising talent and rising star
Charo Santos María Rosario Navarro Santos-Concio (born October 27, 1955), popularly known as Charo Santos-Concio or simply Charo Santos (), is a Filipino media executive and actress. She is the host of ''Maalaala Mo Kaya'', the longest-running television dra ...
. Her last movie ''Mother Ignacia'' was released in 1998, in which she plays a nun in a Catholic church. A book on her life and career in show business, ''Mona Lisa: A Portrait (From the Memoirs of a Grandmother)'', was published in 2013 by
ABS-CBN Publishing Inc. This is a list of subsidiaries owned by ABS-CBN Corporation, a Philippine media and entertainment conglomerate based in Quezon City. This also includes business segments that are owned and operated by the company including its blocktime agreeme ...
Her granddaughter was the author.


Death

Lisa died in her sleep on August 25, 2019, at her home in
Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
, three years after she was diagnosed with
Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegeneration, neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and progressively worsens. It is the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in short-term me ...
, at the age of 97.Veteran actress Mona Lisa passes away at 97, wake details disclosed
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Awards

*In 1983, she was nominated as Best Actress in 1983 for ''Cain at Abel'' *In 1999, she won as Gawad Urian for Lifetime Achievement Award *In 2005, she won as Lifetime Achievement for Gawad Lino Brocka award


Selected filmography

*''Bago lumubog ang araw'' (1930) *''Ang pagbabalik'' (1937) *''Walang pangalan'' (1938) *''Mga sugat ng puso'' (1938) *''Makiling'' (1938) *''Dasalang perlas'' (1938) *''Bukang liwayway'' (1938) *''Bahay kubo'' (1938) *''Ang magmamani'' (1938) *''
Giliw Ko ''Giliw Ko'' (''My Love'') is a 1939 Filipino film. A musical romance, ''Giliw Ko'' had a radio theme, and was the first production of the Filipino company, LVN Pictures. The restored film is notable for being a gift from Australia to the Filipino ...
'' (1939) *''Dilim at liwanag'' (1940) *''Tinañgay na Apoy'' (1940) *''Datu-talim'' (1940) *''Paraluman'' (1941) *''Luksang bituin'' (1941) *''Puting dambana'' (1941) *''Palaris'' (1941) *''Bayani ng buhay'' (1941) *''Ang viuda alegre'' (1941) *''Princesa Urduja'' (1942) *''Intramuros: The Rape of a City'' (1946) *''Kalbario ng Isang Ina'' (1946) *''Barong-barong'' (1946) *''Bisig ng batas'' (1947) *''Hanggang langit'' (1947) *''Maria Kapra'' (1947) *''Batang lansangan'' (1948) *''Matimtiman'' (1948) *''Pag-ibig at Patalim'' (1948) *''Sunset Over Corregidor'' (1948) *''Outrages of the Orient'' (1948) *''Krus ng digma'' (1948) *'' Forbidden Women'' (1948) - Princess Apamena *''Siyudad sa ilalim ng lupa'' (1949) *''Sagur'' (1949) *''The 13th Sultan'' (1949) *''Naglahong tala'' (1949) *''Sundalong talahib'' (1950) *''Dugo ng Bataan'' (1951) *''Buhay alamang'' (1952) *''Ulila ng Bataan'' (1952) *''Blood of Bataan'' (1953) - Lolita Zalasar *''Romantika'' (1970) *''Romantiko'' (1970) *''La Paloma: Ang kalapating ligaw'' (1974) - Soledad *''Isang gabi... Tatlong babae!'' (1974) *''Mga uhaw na bulaklak'' (1975) *''Araw-araw, gabi-gabi'' (1975) *''Hindi kami damong ligaw'' (1976) *''Uhaw na Bulaklak, Part II'' (1976) *''
Insiang ''Insiang'' () is a 1976 Philippine Drama (film and television), drama film directed by Lino Brocka. Its screenplay, written by Mario O'Hara and Lamberto Antonio, Lamberto E. Antonio, is based on O'Hara's teleplay of the same name. Set in the slums ...
'' (1976) - Tonya *''
Itim ''Itim'' (Filipino for "black"), released overseas as ''The Rites of May'', is a 1976 Filipino thriller film and the directorial debut of Mike de Leon, with a screenplay by Clodualdo del Mundo Jr. and Gil Quito. The film stars Tommy Abuel as ...
'' (1976) - Aling Pining *''Electrika kasi, eh!'' (1977) *''Mananayaw'' (1978) *''Pagputi ng uwak... Pag-itim ng tagak'' (1978) - Diding *''Atsay'' (1978) - Lola *''Sino'ng pipigil sa pagpatak ng ulan?'' (1979) *''Risa Jones; Showgirl'' (1979) *''Tanikala'' (1980) *''Alfredo Sebastian'' (1981) *''
Oro, Plata, Mata ''Oro, Plata, Mata'' ( es, Gold, Silver, Death) is a 1982 Philippine historical war drama film directed by Peque Gallaga, from a story by Peque Gallaga, Mario Taguiwalo, and Conchita Castillo and screenplay by José Javier Reyes. The film is cons ...
'' (1982) - Lola Desta *''
Cain and Abel In the biblical Book of Genesis, Cain ''Qayīn'', in pausa ''Qāyīn''; gr, Κάϊν ''Káïn''; ar, قابيل/قايين, Qābīl / Qāyīn and Abel ''Heḇel'', in pausa ''Hāḇel''; gr, Ἅβελ ''Hábel''; ar, هابيل, Hāb ...
'' (1982) - Senora Pina *''Hulihin ang ... mandurugas'' (1983) *''Minsan pa nating hagkan ang nakaraan'' (1983) - Tia Salud *''Soltero'' (1984) *''
This Is My Country "This Is My Country" is an American patriotic song composed in 1940. The lyrics are by Don Raye and the music is by Al Jacobs. Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians were the first to record the song, in 1942. The song has played at the end of Walt ...
'' (1984) - Ina ni Turing *''Napakasakit, kuya Eddie'' (1986) *''Paano kung wala ka na?'' (1987) - Mrs. Ledesma *''1 + 1 = 12 + 1'' (1987) *''Barbi: Maid in the Philippines'' (1989) *''Babangon ako't dudurugin kita'' (1989) *''Umiyak pati langit'' (1991) *''Huwag mong salingin ang sugat ko'' (1991) *''Chop-Chop Lady: The Elsa Castillo Story'' (1994) *''Pagsubok sa hirap at ginhawa'' (1996) *''Mother Ignacia - Ang uliran'' (1998) - Mother Ignacia (elder years) *''GMA Telesine: Pariwara'' (2001) *''Kiskisan'' (2003) - Bining *''Camiling Story'' (2005) - Jenny (final film role)


Notes


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lisa, Mona 1922 births 2019 deaths Actresses from Manila Filipino child actresses Filipino film actresses Filipino silent film actresses People from Tondo, Manila Place of death missing 20th-century Filipino actresses 21st-century Filipino actresses