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Gypsy Baldovino
Before Amor Powers and Alwina, the leading ladies for Filipinos were Lola Basyang, "Ginang Hukom" and Luisa of "Gulong ng Palad."
And before Ragnarok and Counter Strike, children were crazy over the adventures of "Zimatar." They are all characters in soap operas that dominated the radio for almost three decades starting in the 50s.
It was a genteel period in Filipiniana. Bill Gates hadn’t introduced Microsoft yet and our forebears were satisfied feeding their young minds with the gallant adventures of "Prinsipe Amante" and "Tatlong Limbas."
And as the boys went ga-ga over the breathtaking action of "Takatak-takatak-takatak! Malapit na ang kalaban. Bang-bang-bang! Tinamaan ako ng bala. Huh! Malalaglag ako sa bangin. Aaaaaaaahh!," the female population collectively hated Donya Menang in "Gulong ng Palad."
The Philippines is the first country in Asia to have a radio. At its infancy, in 1922, it only catered to music and American propaganda, until "soaps" came into the picture.
Initially called "soap" as it was sponsored by soap manufacturers, it later became known as "soap opera." The format started from the 15-minute serialized broadcasts of "Painted Dreams," the story of an Irish widow and her family created by Irna Phillips in 1930 Chicago.
However, its development in the region was delayed by the Japanese War. It was introduced only in 1949 via "Gulong ng Palad."
"The '50s was the golden age of soap opera," recalls radio drama veteran Lucio Maylas. "Wala pang TV noon, kaya kilalang-kilala ang radio.
"Noon, mga artista ang gumaganap sa soap opera. In fact, when I auditioned in KZRH, the program being recorded was hosted by Jaime dela Rosa and Rosa Rosal. Si Erlinda Cortes, lumabas pa noon as narrator.
"Nasama pa nga ako kila Dolphy at Panchito sa ‘Darigold Jumbo Jamboree’ of CBN in Aduana, Intramuros. It was the first studio of ABS which was then known as CBN. "DZRH, the former KZRH, was the first commercial station to open after the World War II, under the auspices of Manila Broadcasting Company.
"Ang una noon, RH talaga," Maylas adds. "Sumunod, double B, saka yung (DZ)AQ. Then, yung CBN. Ang radio nila was DZXL. Then, during the early 60s, there was DZPI, na parang FM station.
"The first superstar of soap opera was Rosa Mia. She was the ‘Ginang Hukom.’ Ka Otsa, along with Loida Virina, Doro delos Ojos and Tony Cayado were the first real stars of soap. The late Tiya Dely was among the pioneers but she was initially an announcer, along with Rafael Yabut. Si Totoy ‘yon eh. Medyo sumisikat na rin noon sina Ernie Baron at Rey Langit pero wala pa si Johnny de Leon."
He continues, "DZRH then was a veritable goldmine of soap operas, starting at 11 a.m. with ‘Dr. Ramon Selga,’ then ‘Aklat ng Pag-ibig’ which featured upcoming drama talents, directed by Amado Principe.
"Then, there’s ‘Gulong ng Palad’. Rosa Mia was Aling Menang, Carding was played by Fernando Fernandez while Luisa was voiced by Loida Virina. It was penned by Lina Flor, who also handled ‘Ramon Selga.’ I was once the spinner and soundman of that program.
"Then there was ‘Ilaw ng Tahanan’ directed by Fred Gonzalez and written by Liwayway Arceo. Si Esther Chavez naman ang mother doon.
"Yung ‘Gabi ng Lagim" at "Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang," late '50s na yon. They were already recorded at the Taft studio of MBC (Manila Broadcasting Company), sa tabi ng jai-alai."
According to Director Maylas, during the golden age of soap, the ad agency along with the sponsoring company controlled the casting.
He says, "PMC (Philippine Manufacturing Company) and Fil-Ads were the ones responsible in casting major roles. They’re the clients eh. Kaya, may ‘say’ sila sa programming. They’re the ones who chose the right voice for the role. It’s like casting a movie. Kasama nila ang writer at director. "At that period, so powerful was the radio, practically all movie queens had to have a soap — from Gloria Romero with "Mga Liham Kay Gloria" to Susan Roces with "To Susan With Love."
Maylas agrees. "Noon, dapat mag-click muna sa radyo bago mai-pelikula, like ‘Duwelo sa Lumang Bato’ of Peping Miranda Cruz. It was filmed by Larry Santiago of Premiere Productions. Naipelikula din yung ‘Gulong ng Palad’ at ‘Prinsipe Amante’ noong early 60s.
"May dula kami noon, yung ‘Camay Theater Of The Air,’ where we dramatized hit movies. Ang guests namin doon, mga sikat like Jaime and Rogelio dela Rosa. Nakatayo lang kami lahat. Puro voice acting lang. It was done live, at may audience."
Before the 1972 Martial Law, the media enjoyed full freedom hence the abuses among radio practitioners. No politician or public figure could hope to be spared from the vitriolic ‘bomba.’
The soap opera however, remained pristine. "Wala, hindi napasok ng bomba," Maylas confirms. "The sponsors were very particular sa drama na ilalagay. The directors and writers exercised self-censorship. Maski nga halikan, suggestive lang."
As to its fate, Director Maylas says: "As long as there’s radio, there will be a soap opera. Its following is inter-generational — from the lola to the mother, hanggang sa mga anak at apo. Besides, hindi lahat ng nasa probinsiya, may TV. Most of them listen to the radio. At sakaling mawala man, siguradong may magbabalik nito. Nakagawian na eh."
Today, soap opera can still be heard on AM stations, particularly DZRH, DZBB & DZMM, and on the internet. The young generation is also rediscovering it through the I-pod with the podcast of "Ang Buhay ni Boy" (The Life of Boy) by some independent young minds, assuring that the sweet, old soap is here to stay.
(For comments, send e-mail to gypsybaldovino@yahoo.com.)
