229. A Tribute to Miss Mindanao 1935, CARMELING DEL ROSARIO

A video tribute to Carmeling Del Rosario-Rodriguez (b. 2 July 1916)  Miss Mindanao of the 1935 Manila Carnival who passed away this year on 17 April 2012, at age 96, in Makati. Used with permission (Thank you Aids Asis for the youtube video tribute).

For  her remarkable Carnival story, please refer to: MISSING MISS MINDANAO

190. CATALINA MORENO ZAVALA: A Family's Recollection of Miss Luzon 1935

Catalina Zavala Moreno was born on November 11, 1916 to Luz Vasquez Villena and Aquilino Zavala, both residents of Tondo, Manila. She was the eldest of 5 siblings, 3 girls and 2 boys. She spent her childhood and early adult life in Tondo, went to primary school in Sta. Catalina College and attended the University of the Philippines for a course in Home Economics.

Catalina, or Nena, as she was fondly called, was a beautiful child, and often elicited admiring glances and comments when she accompanied her mother on various outings. She was known as "muneca" (Spanish for 'doll') because of her fair skin, brown hair and beautiful brown eyes and long curly lashes. Nena grew up to be a tall, willowy and winsome beauty and many suitors were after her during her years in the University. It was during these years that she was asked to vie for the title of carnival queen, that era's version of our beauty pageant.

As history records, Nena won the title of Miss Luzon during the 1935 carnival. Photos of the coronation night show her to be a lovely, slender and graceful young woman, poised and confident, yet still sheltered and innocent, on the cusp of womanhood at age 19.

She was swept off her feet by young, dashing and handsome Hector de Santos Moreno, youngest scion of the respected de Santos-Moreno clan, just arrived from a four year course in Heidelberg, Germany. He was the grandson of Marcelino de Santos (treasurer of the Katipunan, associate of Jose Rizal),who has a street in Divisoria named after him, and youngest son of Pacita Ongsiako de Santos and Roberto Gutierrez Moreno (then Fiscal of San Pedro, Laguna).

Hector fell in love with Nena and persuaded her to elope with him in the summer of 1936. They were married in Baguio on April 14, 1936 and took up residence in the Moreno mansion on Juan Luna Street in Tondo, Manila -- then one of the more respectable residential areas in old Manila. Hector and Nena's early married life was spent in this house, along with the young families of Hector's siblings: Ada Moreno de Leon, Nitang Moreno Lopez, Mario Moreno and Elsa Zamora, and Choling Moreno and Enrique Villanueva. In later years the siblings left Juan Luna to take up residence in other parts of Manila, but Hector and Nena remained there along with Ada and Sancho de Leon.

One interesting footnote about this imposing structure built on approximately 20,000 square meters of land is that an exact replica of the house was built in Gagalangin, a few minutes away from Juan Luna, by the same architect. This second mansion housed the de Santos siblings.

Hector and Nena Moreno stayed in Juan Luna until 1950, when they moved to Horseshoe Drive with their 5 children. Two more children were born after the move to Quezon City, and Hector and Nena lived here until their last days.

Nena quickly involved herself in the neighborhood association, and as president worked at organizing the neighborhood along with the other residents' wives. She also threw herself in Jayceerette activities in full support of her husband's membership in this organization, participating in most of the fundraising activities of the group. She was a full-time mother except for when she ran the restaurant Talk of the Town at Manila Doctor’s Hospital and when she ran the family's 300-hectare hacienda in Nueva Ecija. Apart from these commitments, Nena was basically a housewife, devoted to the care and upbringing of her (now) 7 children; Roberto, Hector, Maria Paz, Jose Luis, Maria Isabel, Miguel and Maria Luz.

In her later years, Nena devoted her days to parish prayer meetings and related activities and to the care of her husband. She was always the focal point in family gatherings, and her children and grandchildren cherish the memory of many happy, noisy and fun-filled family events in Horseshoe Drive. Nena was always caring, supportive and loving to all the members of her family. Her incomparable sense of humour, her incisive witticisms and words of advice, her wisdom and generosity made her the perfect mother, the perfect lola, the perfect wife, and these are the traits she will always be remembered for. She passed away at the age of 81 on May 13, 1998, and Hector followed 3 years later on May 14, 2001. She was a beauty all throughout her life, doted on by her husband, loved by all.

(This contributed piece was made possible through the efforts of Andrea Tantoco (Catalina's granddaughter) and Maria Luz (Jackie) and Maria Paz (Tootsie) Moreno who wrote this biographical sketch based on their recollections of their parents, Catalina and Hector Sr. Many thanks!).

77. 1935, MISSING MISS MINDANAO: The Case of Carmen Del Rosario

THE ORIGINAL MISS MINDANAO OF 1935. Carmen "Carmeling" del Rosario joined the contest as a favor to her father's friend, an editor of a newspaper. She was so sure that would not win but she did. She immediately resigned here title in compliance with her father's wish to prioritize her studies.

As soon as Carmen del Rosario was proclaimed as Miss Mindanao 1935, her face was splashed all over the national papers alongside her co-winners. But her reign was a short-lived one, for soon after, Carmeling resigned her title under the most unusual circumstances that sent the Carnival Association frantically looking for a new regional queen.

Carmeling, as she was to be known all her life, was born in Manila on 2 July 1916 to Jose del Rosario and the former Carmelita de Leon, one of 9 children. Her paternal grandfather, Anacleto Sales del Rosario (b. 13 July 1860/d.1895) was the country’s leading chemist during the Spanish times and was known even to Jose P. Rizal. His pioneering work on nipa palm and its products won First Prize at the 1881 World’s Fair in Paris. Today, he is known as the Father of Philippine Laboratory Science.

LA VANGUARDIA'S CANDIDATE. Carmeling del Rosario in a publicity photo drumming up her candidacy to the 1935 search for Miss Philippines.

Carmeling was a standout campus beauty of Centro Escolar de Señoritas where she spent her college years. An editor of La Vanguardia newspaper—and a close friend of her father—had been beseeching him to allow the paper to sponsor her candidacy in the search for the queen of the 1935 Manila Carnival. Carmeling’s parents did not really approve of such beauty shows, but after much persuasion, and perhaps thinking that her chances of winning were slim, her father relented. One stipulation of the agreement however was that should Carmeling win, she would have to quickly relinquish her title.

As luck would have it, 19 year old Carmeling was one of the top vote-getters of the 1935 Carnival, eventually garnering the Miss Mindanao crown, just 3 steps away from the eventual winner, socialite Conchita Sunico. But for her family, there was no real cause for rejoicing.


THE ROYAL ENTOURAGE ANNOUNCED. The 1935 roster of winners have already been announced and printed on national dailies when Carmeling relinquished her title. She was succeeded by Celia Araullo.

Her victory had already been reported in national papers together with Catalina Zabala (Miss Luzon) and Julieta Abad (Miss Visayas, who had a Kapampangan escort from Tarlac, Jose Feliciano, later to be a Secretary of Agriculture under Pres. Diosdado Macapagal’s term), when she announced that she was giving up her title. Her conviction to stand by her decision in fulfillment of her father’s wish ruffled quite a few feathers among the carnival officials and participants who now believed her to be a nuisance candidate. Thus, 4th placer Celia Araullo was elevated to the court as Miss Mindanao.

WEDDING OF CARMELING DEL ROSARIO AND VIRGILIO RODRIGUEZ. A much publicized 'wedding of the year" between a short-lived beauty titlist and a well-heeled Kapampangan from an affluent San Fernando family.

But her all-too-brief carnival days were not without wonderful moments. That same year, she met Virgilio Rodriguez, son of sugar baron Don Godofredo Rodriguez and Doña Victoria Hizon of San Fernando. On 26 June 1935, Carmeling and Virgilio were married in spectacular rites at the Sto. Domingo Church, on 26 June 1935, a talk-of-the-town wedding that merited coverage in the Pampanga Social Register 1936, which chronicled Pampanga’s alta sociedad events. They settled in San Fernando where she quickly learned to speak in Kapampangan. They had 5 children: Victoria, Godofredo, Gorgonia, Ana Marie and Jo Anne. Although in delicate health, 93 year old Carmeling is settled in San Lorenzo Village, Makati today with an unmarried daughter.

76. 1935 MISS LUZON, MISS VISAYAS, MISS MINDANAO

CATALINA ZABALA, Miss Luzon 1935

*****

JULIETA ABAD y LUGOD, Miss Visayas 1935

Married to Rafael R. Rufino Sr., whose family earned its fortune through film distribution, construction of movie houses (Gaiety, Ever, Rizal, State and Avenue and later in Makati, Quad, Magallanes and Rizal Theaters) and also commercial banks (Bank of Commerce, Security Bank). Children includes Manny, Rafael Jr., Antonio, Maria Victoria Rufino (artist and author), Assunta and Joey (+).

*****

CELIA ARAULLO, Miss Mindanao 1935
On April 20, 1938, Celia married the famed architect Gabriel Formoso, with whom she had 4 children: Junior, Maria Erlinda, Roberto, and Gabriel.
*****

75. 1935, Miss Philippines of the Manila Carnival, CONCHITA CHUIDIAN SUNICO

1935 MISS PHILIPPINES. Conchita "Conching" Chuidian Sunico was a popular society girl who took to heart the "beauty with a purpose" philosophy, becoming even more well known for her advocacies in arts, socio-civic and war causes.

Even before her candidacy to the 1935 search for Miss Philippines was announced, Conchita Sunico’s sterling reputation as a social leader had already been established, thus putting her at the forefront for the title. Conchita was born to Tomas Sunico and Paz Chuidian of Binondo, and their youngest daughter grew up amidst the trappings of Manila’s high society when they moved to Malate.

THE YOUNG CONCHING, toast of Manila's elite society, was known for her fashion sense and style.

As a teen-ager, Conching headed several socio-civic associations whose members consisted mostly of Manila’s young elite. When she came of age as a debutante, she modeled on the side, becoming a popular fashion icon to her contemporaries. At the time of her nomination for the national queenship, she was the president of the Smiles Club and the muse of the Bachelors’ Club, rival associations united for once, in their support for Conching.

THE QUEEN ENTHRONED. Official photo of the 1935 queen, beautiful of face and regal in bearing.

At the onset, Conching steadfastly refused to be nominated to the point that she even gave her vote to another candidate. But so insistent were her newspaper sponsors, and so intense was the support—she was the personal choice of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon—so Conching went ahead and joined the contest. On 17 February, Conching was presented, along with the other candidates, in the Princess of the Art Night, dubbed as a “Pageant of National Beauties”, at the Carnival Auditorium. That night, the winners were announced with Conching winning the crown effortlessly, without even trying.

THE 1935 MANILA CARNIVAL ROYAL COURT. Seated L-to-R, Catalina Zabala (Luzon), Conchita Sunico (Miss Philippines), Julieta Abad (Visayas), Celia Araullo (Mindanao). Standing L-to-R. Pedro Chanco Jr., Tony Bayot, Jose Feliciano and Jose Zamora.

Two days after came her Coronation Night. For her big day, Conching did away with the usual foreign fantasy themes and went Filipiniana. She was escorted by her handsome cousin, Antonio Bayot. Her court of honor included Catalina Zabala as Miss Luzon, Julieta Abad as Miss Visayas and Celia Araullo, who replaced Carmen del Rosario when she relinquished her title as Miss Mindanao. Mr. J. Pardo de Tavera emceed the ceremonial proceedings and a post-coronation garden party was held in the winners’ honor.

QUEEN CONCHING WITH KING CONSORT. Conching picked her good-looking mestizo cousin, Antonio Bayot to be her official escort for the duration of her reign.

The fist royal duties of the Queen and her court included gracing gala events of the Carnival. Miss Mindanao presided over the Prosperity Ball, while Miss Visayas graced the Parisian Night. Miss Luzon was the honored guest of the Far Eastern University Night while Conching, as Miss Philippines, was the star of the Miss Philippine Ball, emceed by the Hon. Buevantura Rodriguez on 3 March, the last day of the Carnival. Here, Conching and her court received their prizes as the Carnival royalties of the year.

AT THE FLORAL PARADE. Conching and Tony ride a flower-bedecked automobile at the traditional floral motorcade of the 1935 Carnival.

After the Carnival, Conching continued on with her nationalistic pursuits. Before the War, she assumed presidency of the Young Ladies’ Association of Charity, which organized benefit events for their various advocacies. When the War reached the Pacific, Conching did underground work and became a member of the Volunteer Social Aid Committee (VSAC) which counted Helena Benitez and Pilar Campos as members. She helped ran a hospital for the wounded, organized community kitchens for the hungry and managed a secret mail service for Manilans and their relatives imprisoned in Capas and Cabanatuan. Their programs were supported by fund raising productions like “La Traviata” and “Cavalleria Rusticana”. For her significant contributions to the war efforts, she was awarded the Legion of Honor by a grateful country.

When the War drew to a close, she proved herself a woman of culture by putting up high-profile shows for Malacañang functions highlighting various aspects of Philippine traditions. From this sprung Karilagan, the international fashion group she founded and which found fame the world over. In 1964, she was appointed as a Tourism Commissioner and in the 70s Marcos era, the fashionable Conching was named as one of Manila’s Ten Best Dressed, an affair that was marked with protest against this show of frivolity in the midst of the country’s growing poverty.

"TITA CONCHING", IN HER GOLDEN YEARS, actovely supported Philippine arts and culture and was, at one time, director of the restored Manila Metropolitan Theater.

When the Metropolitan Theater of Manila was restored to its glory in 1978, she was appointed as its first Executive Director. The theater sits just across the historic Luneta, where decades before, Conchita’s triumphant reign as the country’s ninth Miss Philippines began. Tita Conching, as she was fondly called, passed away at the age of 76 on 1 August 1990. She was the first to be bestowed the Presidential Medal of Merit, given posthumously by Pres. Corazon Aquino. On 18 May 2009, to honor her legacy in the performing arts, fashion and charity work, a concert entitled “Mga Ginintuang Ala-ala ni Conching Sunico sa Met” was staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.