Another Philippine cinema icon has transitioned to the afterlife and the local show business is grieving anew.
The glamorous yet socially committed actress Rosa Rosal, Florence Lansang Danon-Gayda recently died and the whole Philippines is still mourning over her passing.
It is because Rosa was a marvelous actress who has always been remembered in the big screen masterpieces like “Sakada,” “Malvarosa,” “Anak Dalita,” “Badjao,” to name only a few, and a compassionate social worker who dedicated herself in the service of the Filipinos when she was the Governor of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).
Ms. Rosal was the poster lady of the humanitarian service of the Red Cross, especially her advocacy on blood donations.
Even if she was still an active actress of LVN Pictures, Rosa was in the thick of things in the health frontiers of the Filipino people that is why not only her showbiz colleagues are lamenting over her death.
More so, of the many scions of her contemporary actors and actresses.
Cathy Sanchez-Babao, the only daughter of Caridad Sanchez, penned heartwarming notes on her idol and cherished friend of her mom.
Here’s Cathy’s homage to Ms. Rosal:
“Dapat mabait ka kasi ka-birthday mo si Rosa Rosal!”
“For many years, my mom would say this as if it were a sacred commandment. Engraved somewhere between “Honor thy parents” and “Huwag matigas ang ulo.” And every year, without fail, she made sure I never forgot it.
“Among all the LVN actresses from the golden 1950s, Tita Rose was the woman my mom loved, feared, and respected—all in one breath, like a quick intake of air before a dramatic movie scene. Whenever she spoke of her, it was always with a mix of reverence and a tiny, harmless hint of envy. Tita Rose was simply in a league of her own.
“Yes, she was stunning onscreen.
“Yes, her body of work could rival any Hollywood actress of her time.
“And yes, thanks to ABS-CBN’s Sagip Pelikula, her brilliance continues to flicker to life on our screens today, as if reminding us: Art, when done with truth, never really ages.
“I’ve watched her finest films: ‘Badjao,’ ‘Anak Dalita,’ ‘Malvarosa’—each one a masterclass in depth, grace, and that emotional honesty we rarely see now. But the irony of it all? Her most important role came after the cameras stopped rolling. For 70 years she poured her heart into the Philippine Red Cross. She was a great actress, yes. But she was an even greater humanitarian.
“And through it all, she guarded her privacy with the fierceness of a woman who knew exactly who she was. She loved her small, tight-knit family with the same devotion she brought to every cause. She was strong, elegant, and unshakably grounded in her faith.
“Earlier this year, her LVN best friend, Tita Delia Razon, also journeyed home to heaven. And so I imagine today: the heavens a little brighter, a little more glamorous, with the LVN Titas, powder, pearls, and perfectly coiffed curls, gathered by the gates.
“Waiting. Welcoming. Ready with laughter and stories from a bygone era.
“And at the center of it all, I imagine Tita Rose stepping in with that quiet, luminous grace, finally saying, ‘I am home at last!’
“And maybe that’s why Mom always reminded me that we shared a birthday. Not just to keep me “mabait,” but to remind me that grace, courage, and kindness never go out of style. People like Tita Rose live long after their stories end because they leave something of themselves in all of us.
“So today, as I remember her, I light a small candle in my heart for a woman I grew up with - on screen, in stories, and in the way my mother spoke her name.
“What a life.
“What a legacy.
“What a beautiful homecoming,” Sanchez-Babao gushed.
Meanwhile, relatively new movie reporter Renz Spangler, a showbiz writer who specializes in writing about veteran stars wrote even without mentioning Rosa Rosal’s name: “Posting about the passing of our veteran stars is the hardest part of my advocacy. That has happened several times this year and there's nothing as painful as that.
“Although I'm very saddened by their passing, I'm still grateful on the other hand because once upon a time, I met these famous stars of the golden age of Philippine Cinema. Thank you for the laughter, the tears, and the moments of pure cinematic genius. Salamat dahil minsan ay nakilala ko kayo (Thanks for meeting and knowing you).”
Rosa’s last night of wake was November 19, 2025 at the Heritage Park and Crematorium in Taguig City
Ms. Rosal was 97.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonColumn #Imagery