Tita Muñoz(1928-2009)
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Maria Theresa Sanchez Muñoz was born in 1928, the eldest of six
siblings, to Miguel Muñoz and Feliza Sanchez. She was dark-haired,
pretty, spoke only English and Spanish but not Tagalog. "Tita" studied
at St James Academy and graduated from Lyceum University of Manila,
with a degree in AB History. However, before she graduated, she was
married for four years to an American. They lived in New York and she
gave premature birth to twins, who died. She was scared and the brief
marriage was a terrible chapter in her life. Tita went back to Manila,
where as a 22-year-old, she looked for work. Her English speaking
skills were an asset, and she went to the newly opened dzBB radio
station, owned by Bob Stewart. There were a hundred people in the queue
but the Spanish mestiza was hired to replace Rose Bush as the new Host
of "Homemakers' Club of the Air." From thereon, with an initial talent
fee of Ph. P100 a month, Tita moved into more prominent circles. One
was a radio job with the legendary Vero Perfecto. Then Tita transferred
to dzPI, another radio station, where she hosted a rival show (of
"Homemakers'"), "Women's Club of the Air." Tita's earnings of Ph. P800
a month was a huge sum already in the 1950s. Tita has also become the
newest "Camay" girl (Camay was a popular Filipino soap brand). Already
a radio star, Tita went back to school to finish her history course.
After graduating, Tita accepted a teaching job that paid Ph. P5.00 an
hour, an pathetic sum compared to her radio fees that paid Ph. P50 a
minute. Tita eventually became the highest-paid radio talent, earning
Ph. P75 a minute. In 1952, convinced by a magazine editor (Ernie Evora)
to give the movies a try, Tita reluctantly joined the cast of
"Rosalinda," starring Rodolfo Ruiz and produced by Philippine Artists
Management. The movie launched Tita as the Philippines' version of
Elizabeth Taylor. Tita then moved to Sampaguita Studios to co-star with Pancho Magalona
in Kasaysayan ni Rudy Concepcion (1952), where Tita portrayed Elsa Oria. Tita was on a roll, and she
soon appeared opposite Cesar Ramirez in El indio (1953). Because of her Spanish
señorita looks, Ms Muñoz played "Blanquita," a beautiful foil to the
leading lady, Nena Cardenas. Ms Muñoz also played a Spanish señorita foil to
Linda Estrella in Teksas, ang manok na nagsasalita (1952), which also starred Magalona, Myrna Delgado and comedian
Tolindoy. This was followed by Tulisang pugot (1952) opposite Fred Montilla. These films
were a combination of dramatic romance and sometimes suspense (as in
Tulisang pugot (1952), which means "Headless Bandit.") Tita was appearing in movies
one after the other but she was eyeing a new medium: Television. Ms
Muñoz, according to herself, became the first (Filipina) woman to
appear on (Philippine) television; she was also the first production
manager, under the aegis of the legendary Koko Trinidad. The "First Lady of
Philippine television" also made history with the very first kissing
scene, opposite actor Ronald Remy. Tita broke new ground with dramatic
television shows, including "Sorry, Wrong Number" {adapted from the
1943 American radio by Lucille Fletcher}; it was aired as a one-woman teleplay
on "Caltex Caravan Presents" and was directed by National Artist for
film Gerardo de Leon. Tita also appeared on the Philippine television show
"Balintataw." Tita continued to appear in an eclectic array of films,
including Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1968) -which was internationally released, and Lilet (1971),
both directed by Gerardo de Leon; Destination Vietnam (1968), and The Evil Within (1970), both directed
by yet another National Artist for Film, Lamberto V. Avellana. National Artist for
Film Lino Brocka also handled Tita for Stardoom (1971), a poignant film on decadent
sexual mores of the era. Still another National Artist for Film,
Ishmael Bernal, directed Tita in Sugat sa ugat (1983) and On Borrowed Time (1989), both powerful dramatic
films about love and despair. Tita played mother to Tirso Cruz III in two
films: in "Now" directed by Lino Brocka, where Eddie Garcia was her husband, and
in Elwood Perez's Till We Meet Again (1985). In 1991 Tita joined the international cast of
_A Fei jing juen (1991)_, playing the mother of Hong Kong actor Leslie Cheung. In 1992 Tita
joined the Nora Aunor film Inay (1993), about incest and strained family
values. Tita's last film appearance was in the Sharon Cuneta film Madrasta (1996), an
award-winning and financially successful film about step-families. She
also joined the television soap Sana ay ikaw na nga (2002), as the haughty mother, "Doña
Amparo," of the secondary lead male, Eric Quizon, opposing her son's
relationship and impending marriage to the heroine, played by Tanya Garcia.
Nowadays, Ms Muñoz lives alone in her own condominium unit in San Juan,
sometimes visited by writer-friends Nestor Torre and Behn Cervantes. Ms Muñoz is
the aunt of Filipino soap actors Leandro Muñoz and Carlo Muñoz.
