Amalia Fuentes

Amalia Fuentes
Born
Amalia Amador Muhlach

(1940-08-27)August 27, 1940
DiedOctober 5, 2019(2019-10-05) (aged 79)
Resting placeLoyola Memorial Park - Marikina, Philippines
Occupation(s)Actress, writer, director, producer
Years active1956–2008, 2013–2017
Spouses
(m. 1965; div. 1969)
Joey Stevens
(divorced)
Children2 incl. Liezl Sumilang
Parent(s)Alvaro Muhlach Sr. (father)
Concepcion Amador (mother)
Isagani Fuentes (stepfather)[1]
RelativesAga Muhlach (nephew)
Nino Muhlach (nephew)
AJ Muhlach (nephew)
Alonzo Muhlach (grandnephew)
Albert Martinez (son-in-law)
FamilyAlvaro Mulach (brother)
Alexander Mulach (brother)[2]
Alfonso Martinez (grandson) Alissa Martinez (grand daughter)
Signature

Amalia Fuentes (Tagalog: [aˈmɐlja ˈfwɛntɛs]; born Amalia Amador Muhlach; August 27, 1940 – October 5, 2019) was a Filipino actress who reigned as the "Queen of Philippine Movies" in the 1960s and 1970s. She was once dubbed as the "Elizabeth Taylor of the Philippines".[3] She was the aunt of actors Aga Muhlach and Niño Muhlach and the mother of actress Liezl Martinez. She was the first Filipino Lux Soap model.

She produced and starred in her own films in the 1960s to the end of the 1970s. Her movies were big moneymakers making her the highest paid movie actress of her generation and a certified Movie and Box Office Queen. She later starred in productions by Viva Films (My Only Love), together with Sharon Cuneta, Gabby Concepcion and Jackie Lou Blanco. She also starred in later Regal Films such as Asawa Ko Huwag Mong Agawin, starring Vilma Santos, Eddie Guttierrez and Gabby Concepcion.

Career

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In 1956, Fuentes and fellow actor Juancho Gutierrez won Sampaguita Pictures' Mr. & Ms. Number One contest. Sampaguita Pictures launched Amalia and Juancho into full stardom in the 1956 film Movie Fan. They were initially paired as a "love team" – popular in Philippine cinema – by Sampaguita Pictures, and both starred in Rodora (1956), Sonata (1957), Pakiusap (1959), Ang Senyorito at Ang Atsay (1963) among others. She was also paired as love team with Romeo Vasquez in Pretty Boy (1957), Bobby (1958), Ako Ang May Sala (1958) and Bilanggong Birhen (1960) among others.

She starred in such notable films as, Estela Mondragon (1960) starring Carmen Rosales, Amy, Susie, Tessie (1960) with Susan Roces, Tessie Agana, Joey, Eddie, Lito (1961) starring Jose Mari Gonzales, Eddie Gutierrez, Lito Legaspi, Dayukdok (1961) with Carmen Rosales, Luis Gonzales, Barbara Perez and Amaliang Mali-Mali (1962) with Luis Gonzales.

Fuentes wrote the screenplay for the films Tatlong Kasaysayan Ng Pag-ibig (1966), and Ito Ang Aming Kasunduan (1973). She starred in and directed Mga Reynang Walang Trono (1976). Fuentes has her own production company, AM (Amalia Muhlach) Productions. She produced several movies, most notable of which are: Whisper to the Wind (1966), Baril at Rosaryo (1967), and Pwede Ako Pwede Ka Pa Ba?(1976). The Philippine Movie Queen's last acting appearance was the ABS CBN hit teleserye Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala (2013) with Judy Ann Santos.

She won Best Actress Awards from Famas in 1966 for Ibulong Mo Sa Hangin and in the 1973 Manila Film Festival for the movie Pagibig Mo Buhay Ko!

Fuentes was a member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). She appeared in more than 130 films.

Personal life

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Fuentes was born Amalia Amador Muhlach in Bicol. She was educated in Catholic schools.

After retiring from films in 2013, she suffered a stroke while on vacation in South Korea.[4]

Her father died during the war and as the eldest child, she became the family breadwinner. Her two younger brothers, Alex and Alvaro, are also actors. Amalia married fellow actor Romeo Vasquez in 1965 in Hong Kong but they separated in 1969. They had a daughter, Liezl Sumilang (wife of actor Albert Martinez).[5][6] After her divorce from Vasquez, Amalia married Joey Stevens, an American businessman with whom she adopted a son, Geric Stevens. She divorced Stevens after 28 years of marriage, citing infidelity. Stevens died in 2012.[7][8][9]

Death

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Fuentes died on October 5, 2019, due to cardiac arrest and multiple organ failures.[10] She and family are buried at Loyola Memorial Park.

Awards and nominations

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Year Category Award Movie Result
1965 Best Actress FAMAS Award Blood Is The Color of Night (1964) Nominated
1966 Best Actress FAMAS Award Sapagkat Ikaw Ay Akin (1965) Nominated
1967 Best Actress FAMAS Award Whisper to the Wind (1966) Won
1968 Best Actress FAMAS Award O! Pagsintang Labis (1967) Nominated
1970 Best Actress FAMAS Award Kapatid Ko Ang Aking Ina (1969) Nominated
1972 Best Actress FAMAS Award Divina Bastarda (1971) Nominated
1973 Best Actress FAMAS Award Babae... Ikaw Ang Dahilan! (1972) Nominated
1974 Best Actress FAMAS Award Pag-ibig Mo, Buhay Ko (1973) Nominated
1975 Best Actress FAMAS Award Isang Gabi... Tatlong Babae! (1974) Nominated

[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Network
2013 Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala Dr. Maria Balaguer

Film

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Year Title Role Film Company
1955 Prince Charming
1956 Rodora Sampaguita Pictures
Movie Fan Sampaguita Pictures
1957 Hahabul-Habol Sampaguita Pictures
1958 Madaling Araw Sampaguita Pictures
1959 Kahapon Lamang Vera-Perez Productions
Ipinagbili Ko Ang Aking Anak Vera-Perez Productions
1960 Isinakdal Ko Ang Aking Ama Vera-Perez Productions
1961 Joey, Eddie, Lito Amy Vera-Perez Productions
1962 Pitong Puso Sampaguita Pictures
1963 Esperanza at Caridad Caridad Sampaguita Pictures
1964 Mga Daliring Ginto Lea Productions
1965 Dream Girl AM Productions
1966 Tatlong Kasaysayan Ng Pag-ibig I-Betty, II-Cynthia, III-Tina AM Productions
Ikaw... ang Gabi at ang Awit (Arrivederci Roma) Lea Productions
1967 Baril at Rosaryo AM Productions
1968 Gaano Kita Kamahal AM Productions
Sa Manlulupig Di Ka Pasisiil AM Productions
1969 Adriana Adriana Lea Productions
Kapatid Ko Ang Aking Ina Virgo Film Productions
Lorela Lorela AM Productions
1970 Mga Batong Buhay Arminda Larry Santiago Productions
1971 Europe Here We Come! AM Productions
1972 Huwag Mong Angkinin Ang Asawa Ko! AM Productions
1973 Sa Aming Muling Pagkikita AM Productions
1974 Durugin Ang Mga Diyablo Sa Punta Fuego AM Productions
1974 Urduja Tower Productions
1975 Isinumpa Emperor Films, Jimmy Pascual Film
Lulubog Lilitaw Sa Ilalim Ng Tulay Amalia Marinella Fuentebella Juan de la Cruz Productions
May Lalaki Sa Ilalim Ng Kama Ko AM Productions
1976 Babaing Hiwalay Sa Asawa AM Productions
Ang Boyfriend Kong Baduy Jessalee Productions
1977 Huwag Pipitas Ng Bubot Na Bunga Luis Enriquez Films
1978 Buhay: Ako Sa Itaas, Ikaw Sa Ibaba Rootman Productions
1979 Pagmamahal Mo Buhay Ko Spectrum Films
1980 Aguila Isabel Bancom Audiovision
1981 Dirty Games Movie World
1982 My Only Love Camille Viva Films
1983 Indecent Exposure
1984 Paano Ba Ang Magmahal? D'Wonder Films
1987 Asawa Ko Huwag Mong Agawin Dr. Alice Paredes Regal Films
1990 Higit Na Matimbang Ang Dugo ADCDG Productions
1996 Reputasyon Re-ichi Films International, Nolasco Visual Arts
2008 Kahit Isang Saglit ABS-CBN Films, Double Vision
2013 Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala (TV Series) Dreamscape Entertainment
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References

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  1. ^ "Kapamilya Family Tree:The Muhlach Family".
  2. ^ "Kapamilya Family Tree:The Muhlach Family".
  3. ^ "Aga Muhlach remembers aunt Amalia Fuentes: 'You have taught me so much'".
  4. ^ Stroke, Veteran Actress Amalia Fuentes Seen For the First Time After (June 21, 2017). "Veteran Actress Amalia Fuentes Seen For the First Time After Stroke". Philippine News.
  5. ^ "Actress Liezl Martinez, wife of actor Albert Martinez, passes away". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  6. ^ San Diego, Bayani Jr. "Actress Liezl Martinez dies of cancer; 47". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  7. ^ "Amalia Fuentes regrets not forgiving husband Joey Stevens before his death". GMA News.
  8. ^ "PEP EXCLUSIVE: Amalia Fuentes says she's "finally free" of former husband Joey Stevens". Philippine Entertainment Portal.
  9. ^ "PEP EXCLUSIVE: Amalia Fuentes regrets not forgiving husband Joey Stevens before his death". Philippine Entertainment Portal.
  10. ^ "Amalia Fuentes, pillar of Philippine cinema, dies". Rappler. October 5, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  11. ^ http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-22532776_ITM"Still Fiery After All These Years" Archived January 30, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Amalia Fuentes". IMDb. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  13. ^ Dolor, Danny. "Juancho and Amalia in 2 Sampaguita films". Philstar.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  14. ^ "Amalia Fuentes". IMDb. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  15. ^ "Amalia Fuentes". IMDb. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  16. ^ "Amalia Fuentes Pictures - Amalia Fuentes Picture Gallery - 2023 - Red Carpet Photos. Magazine Pictorials. Movie Stills". FanPix.Net. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  17. ^ http://www.remate.ph/2012/03/ex-husband-ni-amalia-fuentes-pumanaw-na/"Ex-husband ni Amalia Fuentes, pumanaw na Archived June 10, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
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