Mila Del Sol
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Clarita Villarba Rivera, better known by her screen name Mila del Sol (12 May 1923 – 10 November 2020), was a
Filipina Filipinos () are citizens or people identified with the country of the Philippines. Filipinos come from various Austronesian peoples, all typically speaking Filipino, English, or other Philippine languages. Despite formerly being subject to ...
actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Born in
Tondo, Manila Tondo is a district located in Manila, Philippines. It is the largest, in terms of area and population, of Manila's sixteen districts, with a census-estimated 654,220 people in 2020. It consists of two congressional districts. It is also the se ...
, she gained fame in her very first lead role in the 1939 film '' Giliw Ko''. She was discovered by
LVN Pictures LVN Pictures, Inc. was a Filipino film studio that was considered one of the biggest in the history of Philippine cinema and its foremost establishment in motion picture post-production until 2005. In its heyday of motion picture production, LV ...
President Doña Sisang de Leon, who insisted in
casting Casting is a manufacturing process in which a liquid material is usually poured into a mold, which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape, and then allowed to solidify. The solidified part is also known as a casting, which is ejected or ...
her over the objections of the film's director, who felt she was too young for the part. It was the film's director, Carlos Vander Tolosa, who gave her the screen name ''Mila del Sol'' for "causing the sun (sol) to appear as if by miracle (milagro) over his otherwise overcast set whenever she was called in to do her scenes." Film production shut down during the Japanese occupation and was restored only in 1945. Del Sol returned to LVN and starred in its production of Manuel Conde's ''Orasang Ginto'', the first post-war Filipino film. She starred in other LVN films of the 1940s, including ''
Ibong Adarna ''Ibong Adarna'', also known as ''The Adarna Bird'', is an early 19th century Filipino Epic poetry, epic poem that centers around a magical bird of the same name. During the History of the Philippines (1565–1898), Spanish era, the longer form ...
'' (1941) and ''Villa Hermosa''. Del Sol retired from films to raise a family in the 1950s, but staged a comeback in 1960 with two films released that year, ''Pakipot'' and ''Tatlong Magdalena''. The following year, she starred in an international production, ''Espionage Far East, ''and later starred in a long-running television series. She began her career as an entrepreneur in 1964, and focused on philanthropic work from the 1970s onward.
Pope Francis Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...
imparted the
Apostolic Blessing The apostolic blessing or papal blessing is a blessing imparted by the pope, either directly or by delegation through others. Bishops are empowered to grant it three times a year and any priest can do so for the dying. The apostolic blessing is n ...
upon del Sol on the occasion of her 90th birthday. In December 2014, the
Congress of the Philippines The Congress of the Philippines () is the legislature of the national government of the Philippines. It is Bicameralism, bicameral, composed of an upper body, the Senate of the Philippines, Senate, and a lower body, the House of Representatives ...
passed Resolution No. 165, honoring Mila del Sol "for her contributions to the movie industry and to Philippine society in general". The Resolution said in part that "Ms. Mila del Sol proved that poverty should not be a hindrance but an inspiration to improve one's status in life" and that "her businesses and various foundations that employ and extend benefits to those who are in need and have less in life are proofs of Ms. Mila del Sol's unwavering commitment to contribute to the improvement of Philippine society."


Early life

Del Sol was born in
Tondo, Manila Tondo is a district located in Manila, Philippines. It is the largest, in terms of area and population, of Manila's sixteen districts, with a census-estimated 654,220 people in 2020. It consists of two congressional districts. It is also the se ...
at the Mary Johnston Hospital. Her father, Amado C. Rivera, worked at the internal revenue service during the day, and was a waiter at night. He served as a guerilla in the Philippines during World War II. Her mother, Lorenza Villarba, stayed at home to raise eight children. Her younger brother Duds Rivera was a news anchor for ''
Big News ''Big News'' was a Philippine television news broadcasting show broadcast by ABC. Originally anchored by Duds Rivera and Bong Lapira, it aired from March 19, 1962 to September 22, 1972. The newscasts returned on February 24, 1992. The show conc ...
'' on ABC 5 (now TV5) and ''Newsbreak'' for
ABS-CBN ABS-CBN is a leading Philippine media and content company. It serves as the flagship media brand of ABS-CBN Corporation, a subsidiary of Lopez Holdings Corporation. Once the country's largest free-to-air television network, ABS-CBN has since ...
in the 1960s. Del Sol attended Malate Primary School, San Andres Elementary, and Intramuros Intermediate School. She could not go to high school, since she had to start working, at the age of 12. She later attended
Hollywood High School Hollywood High School is a four-year public secondary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, located at the intersection of North Highland Avenue and West Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California. His ...
in the 1950s, after the birth of her third child. She took some courses at
Los Angeles City College Los Angeles City College (LACC) is a public community college in East Hollywood, California. A part of the Los Angeles Community College District, it is located on Vermont Avenue south of Santa Monica Boulevard on the former campus of the U ...
and Ateneo de Manila University.


Career


1938–1942

Del Sol appeared in three films in 1938 (including ''Ang Maya'' opposite
Fernando Poe, Sr. Allan Fernando Reyes Poe (November 27, 1916 – October 23, 1951) was a Filipino actor and film director during the early era of cinema in the Philippines. Poe was the father of Fernando Poe Jr., who later became a prominent actor and fil ...
), but got her big break as a principal character in the 1939 classic '' Giliw Ko'', for which she was honored by then Philippine President
Manuel L. Quezon Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina (, , , ; 19 August 1878 – 1 August 1944), also known by his initials MLQ, was a Filipino people, Filipino lawyer, statesman, soldier, and politician who was president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1 ...
. This was the first movie of the storied film production company. She made twelve other films for LVN during this period, including ''Hali'' (1940), an early example of the ''
Sarong A sarong or a sarung (, ) is a large tube or length of textile, fabric, often wrapped around the waist, worn in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Western Asia, Northern Africa, East Africa, West Africa, and on many Pacific islands. The fabric often ...
'' genre, and ''Sawing Gantimpala'' (1940), which was based on a song written for del Sol by First Lady Aurora Quezon.


1946–1952

LVN stopped film production during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, when the Philippines was occupied by Japan. Del Sol volunteered for the Red Cross, and frequented Prisoner of War camps along with other "Blue Ladies" of the Philippine film industry. LVN's first post-war film, ''Orasang Ginto'' again starred del Sol. She made more than twenty other films during this period including ''Garrison 13'' (1946), which recounted atrocities committed by the
Imperial Japanese Army The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA; , ''Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun'', "Army of the Greater Japanese Empire") was the principal ground force of the Empire of Japan from 1871 to 1945. It played a central role in Japan’s rapid modernization during th ...
in the Philippines during the war.


1960 onwards

Del Sol migrated to the United States, and lived there and in Europe for much of the 1950s. She returned to the Philippines in the 1960s, when she made two more films, and starred in the hit television series ''Problema Mo Na Yan''. She continued her work as an actress well into her 80s, most recently as a lead in the television series ''Rosalka''.


Actors and directors

Del Sol acted opposite all the male leads of her period, including Teddy Benavídez, Fred Cortes, Armando Goyena,
Fernando Poe, Sr. Allan Fernando Reyes Poe (November 27, 1916 – October 23, 1951) was a Filipino actor and film director during the early era of cinema in the Philippines. Poe was the father of Fernando Poe Jr., who later became a prominent actor and fil ...
, José Padilla, Jr., Ely Ramos, Jaime de la Rosa,
Rogelio de la Rosa Regidor Lim de la Rosa"Filipinos in History Vol. 3", page 75. (November 12, 1916 – November 26, 1986), professionally known as Rogelio de la Rosa, was a Filipino actor and politician. He was one of the most popular Filipino matinee idols of ...
, and
Leopoldo Salcedo Leopoldo Ganal Salcedo Sr. (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 who ...
. She was directed by Lamberto V. Avellana,
Emmanuel Borlaza Emmanuel "Maning" H. Borlaza (November 5, 1935 – October 11, 2017) was a Filipino movie screenwriter and director. Early life Born Emmanuel H. Borlaza on November 5, 1935, in Liliw, Laguna. Career Borlaza co-wrote and starred in the 1965 ...
, Manuel Conde, Ramon A. Estella, Gregorio Fernandes,
Gerardo de León Gerardo de Leon (September 12, 1913 – July 25, 1981) was a Philippines, Filipino film director and actor. He was posthumously conferred as a National Artist of the Philippines for Film in 1982. Biography De Leon, who was born Gerardo Ilagan, ...
,
José Nepomuceno José Nepomuceno y Zialcita (May 15, 1893 – December 1, 1959) was one of the pioneering directors and producers of Philippine cinema. He is also known as the ''"founder of Philippine movies"'', and he had his own production company Jose Nep ...
, Vicente Salumbides,
Manuel Silos Manuel Silos (1 January 1906 – 31 March 1988) was a Filipino film-maker from the 1920s through the 1950s. He began his career by making silent movies together with his brothers. As a ''bodabil'' (vaudeville) actor and comedian, Silos use ...
, and Carlos Vander Tolosa.


Awards

*''The Cinema's Living Treasure Citation'', 1994, The Metropolitan Manila Authority and The Metro Manila Film Festival *''Nagtatanging Gawad Urian'', 2013, Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino *''House Resolution No. 165 Honoring Clarita Villarba Rivera, Also Known As Mila Del Sol, For Her Contributions To The Movie Industry That Enriched The Philippine Culture, And To Philippine Society In General'', 2014, Philippine Congress


Business and philanthropy

In 1964, del Sol founded Superior Maintenance Services, which has employed over 100,000 people, and continues to be managed by her grandchildren. Del Sol chaired the Pagasa ng Kabataan Foundation, which provides scholarships to indigent youth, and affordable housing to the elderly, and the Mila del Sol &
Eddie Romero Edgar Sinco Romero, (July 7, 1924 – May 28, 2013), commonly known as Eddie Romero, was a Filipino film director, film producer and screenwriter. Early life Romero was born on July 7, 1924. His father was José E. Romero, the first Philipp ...
Fund for Community Development, which supports
nonprofits A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
and
non-governmental organizations A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an independent, typically nonprofit organization that operates outside government control, though it may get a significant percentage of its funding from government or corporate sources. NGOs often focus ...
focused on local improvement. Del Sol has also been an active member or officer of several philanthropic organizations, including
Lions Club Lions Clubs International, is an international service organization, currently headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. , it had over 46,000 local clubs and more than 1.4 million members (including the youth wing Leo clubs, Leo) in more than 200 ge ...
,
Mowelfund Mowelfund, or the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, is an organization in the Philippines that provides for the welfare of marginalized and undeserved workers in the film industry. As well as helping film workers in times of need, it provides ...
, the
Philippine National Red Cross The Philippine Red Cross (PRC; ; ) is a non-profit humanitarian organization and a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The PRC was established in 1947, with roots in the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colon ...
, and the
Rotary Club Rotary International is one of the largest Service club, service organizations in the world. The self-declared mission of Rotary, as stated on its website, is to "provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, go ...
.


Relationships

Del Sol is the mother of
Filipina Filipinos () are citizens or people identified with the country of the Philippines. Filipinos come from various Austronesian peoples, all typically speaking Filipino, English, or other Philippine languages. Despite formerly being subject to ...
actress and television host Jeanne Young, non-profit professionals Ancel Edgar Romero and Leo John Romero, grandmother of famed musician
Ira Cruz Ira Cara Cruz is a Filipino musician, songwriter and producer. He was a founding member of Filipino rock bands Hijo, Bamboo, Introvoys, Passage and Kapatid. Professional background Introvoys (1987-1991, 2001) Introvoys was formed in 1986 by 3r ...
, Philippine Congressman
Gustavo Tambunting Gustavo Alonzo Suarez Tambunting (born April 24, 1964) is a Filipino politician and businessman who currently serves as the representative for 2nd District of Parañaque since 2022. He also previously served in the same position from 2013 to ...
of
Parañaque Parañaque, officially the City of Parañaque (, ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of ...
, actor
Onemig Bondoc Juan Miguel Rivera Bondoc (born May 12, 1977), professionally known as Onemig Bondoc, is a Filipino actor and television host. He was known for his roles in shows like ''T.G.I.S.'' and its spin-off '' Growing Up'' shown on GMA Network. He later ...
, and aunt of Former Mayor of Muntinlupa Ignacio Bunye.


Death

She died on November 10, 2020, in Parañaque, Philippines at the age of 97.


Selected filmography


Film

*1938 - ''Ang Maya'' *1938 - ''Hatol ng Mataas na Langit'' *1938 - Mariang Alimango *1939 - '' Giliw Ko'' *1940 - ''Hali'' *1940 - ''Prinsesa ng Kumintang'' *1940 - '' Sawing Gantimpala'' *1940 - ''Maginoong Takas'' *1940 - ''Nag-iisang Sangla'' *1941 - ''Angelita'' *1941 - ''Hiyas ng Dagat'' *1941 - ''Rosalinda'' *1941 - ''Villa Hermosa'' *1941 - ''Ararong Ginto'' *1941 - ''
Ibong Adarna ''Ibong Adarna'', also known as ''The Adarna Bird'', is an early 19th century Filipino Epic poetry, epic poem that centers around a magical bird of the same name. During the History of the Philippines (1565–1898), Spanish era, the longer form ...
'' *1942 - ''Caviteno'' *1946 - ''Orasang Ginto'' *1946 - ''Garrison 13'' *1946 - ''Alaala Kita'' *1946 - ''Dalawang Daigdig'' *1946 - ''Ang Prinsipeng Hindi Tumatawa'' *1947 - ''Maling Akala'' *1947 - ''Violeta'' *1947 - ''Binatang Taring'' *1947 - ''Sa Ngiti Mo Lamang'' *1947 - ''Romansa'' *1947 - ''Sarungbanggi'' *1948 - ''Malaya (Mutya sa Gubat)'' *1949 - ''Hiyas ng Pamilihan'' *1949 - ''Kuba sa Quiapo'' *1949 - ''Lupang Pangako'' *1949 - ''Batalyong XIII'' *1949 - ''Don Juan Teñoso'' *1949 - ''Milyonaria'' *1950 - ''Nuno sa Punso'' *1950 - ''Dayang-Dayang'' *1950 - ''In Despair'' *1950 - ''Tatlong Limbas'' *1951 - ''Reyna Elena'' *1951 - ''Anak ng Pulubi'' *1952 - ''Romansa sa Nayon'' *1952 - ''Haring Solomon at Reyna Sheba'' *1957 - '' Escapade in Japan'' *1960 - ''Pakipot'' *1960 - ''Tatlong Magdalena'' *1961 - ''Espionage: Far East'' *1962 - ''Santa Clarang Pinung-Pino'' *1969 - ''Young Girl'' *1974 - ''Batya't Palu-palo'' *1989 - ''Kahit Wala Ka Na''


Television

*''Counterthrust'' *''Rawhide'' *''Silent Service'' *''Problema Mo Na Yan'' *''Talagang Ganyan'' (with
Leopoldo Salcedo Leopoldo Ganal Salcedo Sr. (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 who ...
, Dindo Fernando, and Jeanne Young) *''
Rosalka ''Rosalka'' is a 2010 Philippine television drama series broadcast by ABS-CBN. Directed by Jeffrey R. Jeturian, Rechie A. Del Carmen, Jerry Lopez Sineneng and Mae Czarina Cruz, it stars Empress Schuck, Matt Evans and Felix Roco. It aired on ...
'' (2010)


Notes


References

*


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Del Sol, Mila 1923 births 2020 deaths Actresses from Manila Filipino child actresses Filipino expatriates in the United States Filipino film actresses Filipino television actresses People from Tondo, Manila Tagalog actresses