After Amparo Reyes Karagdag doffed the Miss Luzon 1936 crown from her head, she chose a stellar path by becoming an actress of note, in a career that spanned for just a decade. Amparing was immediately snapped by Director Vicente Salumbides to appear in a starring role in the movie "Anghel sa Tukso", produced by his own studio, Salumbides Film Co. Ltd.
Salumbides was known to have squired the Carnival for possible movie talents. He cast Miss Cotabato, 1926 in a movie, gave her the screen name, Sofia Lota, and turned her into a major star. He even married Rosario Panganiban, Miss Pampanga 1926, who also appeared in several of his movies.
Amparo starred alongside leading man, Carlos Padilla, with Dina Valle and Vilma Valle providing able support. It was directed by Nemesio Caravana. "Anghel na Tukso" was already being advertised as early as 1939 but it only premiered the next year.
In late 1940, she and Leopoldo Salcedo headlined "Carinosa", a lavish musical from Sanggumay Pictures, with music provided by Constancio de Guzman and helmed by Carlos Padilla. Other movies from this period included: "Pasalubong" and "Ikaw at Ako".
In January 1941, Amparo had second billing after leading lady Fely Vallejo in Dr. Francisco Santiago's glorious musical production, "Kundiman" (1941) from Excelsior Pictures. She was paired with Ernesto de la Guardia, with Rampon Estella as Director. Miguel Velarde provided the music in this classic movie that premiered at the Grand Theater.
Post-war, she starred with Jose Padilla Jr. in Premiere's "Lihim na Bayani", released in 1949, and directed by favorite director, Ramon Estella. With Ely Ramos, she was featured in "Magkapilas na Langit", also shown in 1949. They were to be her last movies.
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2 comments:
WOW! This is my grandmother :-) I'm so grateful that you all have an appreciation for these lovely ladies and created this website! Some of these pictures, I've never even seen. If anyone knows anymore about her, please let me know. We may be coming to the Philippines soon. I'm hoping to find some of her old movies.
I have a postcard from the Manilla Carnival in 1936 but I don't see you have that one
Hello. I am a Japanese historian, conducting my research work on the collaboration issue during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. Recently, I came across the name, Amparo Karagdag (also known as Amparo Ferguson), in the naming list of People's Court Papers which is currently stored at the main library of the University of the Philippines. According to the record, Mrs. Amparo Karagdag married an American national, Mr. Frank Ferguson, who ran a bookstore in Manila before World War 2. It looks like this marriage failed because her husband, Mr. Ferguson, was a drunkard. So, she needed to work as an actress to make their living amid the Japanese occupation. The money she earned from the film industry before the Japanese occupation was good enough to financially support her family, but things changed during the wartime period. According to the historical record, she worked as a hostess at Ranchito Cafe in Manila in June 1942. During that time, her husband was arrested by the Japanese military police (Kempeitai) to be interned at Fort Santiago because her husband's guerrilla connection. She made every effort to make the Japanese official release her husband. Her husband, Mr. Ferguson, was eventually released. Amparo again came back to Ranchito Cafe, but the money she earned from the cafe was quite small. Amparo somehow was acquainted with Benigno Aquino, Sr., then Speaker of National Assembly, only to become his mistress. Benigno Aquino financially supported Amparo and her husband even though Mr. Fank noticed their relationship. These are the story what Amparo Karagdag or Ferguson did during the Japanese occupation.
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