In the novel "The Catcher in the Rye" by author J.D. Salinger, there's an arresting line that says, "... just because somebody"s dead, you just stop liking them, for God's sake--especially if they were about a thousand times nicer than people who are alive and all."
The aphorism is a fitting tribute to Gloria Romero, the Queen of Philippine Cinema who died recently at the age of 91.
Gloria, known in the entertainment industry as the epitome of refinement and grace, was famous for her films like "Dalagang Ilocana," "Magnifico," "Tanging Yaman," " Rainbow Sunset," among others.
The other night, friends, fans, colleagues, relatives etc.gathered around her casket to pay tribute to her lasting legacy.
In Orlando Yanesa's Facebook pages, Nova Villa was quoted when she spoke of the veteran star.
"Si Gloria ay ang paboritong artista para gumanap na Mama Mary. Hindi na mabilang kung ilan beses sya gumanap ng role na ito. Super husay ng pagganap nya bilang Mama Mary. Kaya tulad ni St. Bernadette Subirous sinundo na ni Mama Mary si Gloria para sa buhay na walang hanggan (Gloria was the favorite actress to portray Mama Mary in countless presentations of the role. She was Super good in breathing life to the character. Like St. Bernadette Subirous, Mama Mary also beckoned her to eternity," said Nova.
Yanesa took note of what actress Celia Rodriguez said: "Nung araw daw hindi nirerespeto mga artista ngunit ng dahil kay Gloria Romero, nagkaroon ng mataas na pagtingin ang mga tao sa mga artista. Mga artista sa ngayon gayahin nyo si Gloria, kahit kalahati lang para manatili ang respeto ng publiko sa mga artista (They said that people in the past didn't respect movie stars but because of Gloria Romero they were regarded highly," exclaimed Celia in the eulogy.
"Stars of today follow the example of Gloria even half of them so that the respect of the public is held)," added Rodriguez.
Almost all stars, big and small, were at the Arlington Memorial Chapels in Araneta Avenue in Quezon City to pay their last respects to Tita (a term of endearment to an older woman or aunt by blood or by affinity) Glo like Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, Daisy Romualdez, Azenith Briones, and Maria Isabel Lopez.
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