Cover Linda Estrella and Tessie Agana
Linda Estrella and Tessie Agana
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The golden age of Philippine cinema in the 1950s saw the rise of young superstar Tessie Agana. Her daughter, Mylene Agana Jao Richardson, retells her story
The fascination towards child actors and their impeccable acting prowess is not new to the Filipino audience. Despite being young, Shirley Temple, an indomitable Hollywood figure, was then the gold standard for child actors who could captivate movie-goers. There was Tita Duran, on-screen partner and wife of the late Pancho Magalona, deemed the Shirley Temple of the Philippines before the war broke out. The Philippine cinema then was marked by Westernised standards and yet brought to the silver screen the fantasies of every Filipino. Indeed, it was a template, especially for production studios seeking greater success in ticket sales and marketing. In the Seventies, there was Niño Muhlach, the Guttierrez twins in the Eighties, Richard and Raymond, Nora Aunor’s daughter Matet de Leon, and other actors like Serena Dalrymple, Carlo Aquino, and a lot more.
But if we‘re to talk about a child actor, whose success at the box office salvaged one of the country’s most prominent production studios of its time and brought it to greater heights, it was Tessie Agana. Her legendary story is the subject of her daughter’s book and 15-year passion project, The Legend of Tessie Agana: Beloved Child Star of the Philippines, recently released by Bookshelf PH.
Above Tessie Agana
Tessie Agana
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Barely making it out of the aftermath of the Second World War, Sampaguita Studios suffered an insurmountable loss when a fire consumed its studios and burned its film vaults. It destroyed the entire building housing its film laboratory, immensely hampering its operations during the 1950s. To survive, Azucena Vera-Perez and her family took the chance on a then-unknown actress Tessie Agana and a low-budget film production, based on Mars Ravelo’s melodramatic comics. Titled Roberta, with Agana in the titular role, Sampaguita Pictures revived its status and returned stronger and bigger. The esteemed production house later geared towards grand musicals thus beginning the golden age of Philippine cinema in the 1950s.
“Eventually, Tessie Agana with her charm and charisma, and approximately 20 movies as the starring role became known as the [new] ‘Shirley Temple of the Philippines’,” said Richardson. “She was also deemed as the ‘take one’ actress, so other actors need to be ready for the emotional scenes as the directors knew she only needed ‘one take’,” she said.
Above Linda Estrella and Tessie Agana
Linda Estrella and Tessie Agana
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Agana starred in films alongside her mother, Linda Estrella. Eventually, she had to finish her studies in the United States, which had put her successful career on hold. At 18, she returned to the Philippines and starred alongside Susan Roces and Amalia Fuentes in the 1960 classic and cult-favourite romantic-comedy film, Amy, Susie and Tessie. Eventually, Agana left the limelight and settled in the United States after marrying Rodolfo Jao, a doctor. There she built her family and took care of her nine children.
“When we celebrated my eldest son Chapman’s first birthday in 2009, I stared into his curious big brown eyes and felt that he needs to know his unique family history, especially about his grandmother, Tessie Agana, and great-grandmother, Linda Estrella—not from me but from their own voice and words,” Richardson recalled.
Above Mylene Jao Richardson and her mother, Tessie Agana
Mylene Jao Richardson and her mother, Tessie Agana
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“This was the impetus of it all. I swept the dust away from old photo albums dating back to the 1940s. This became the roadmap of my journey. I began my interviews and research, starting with my beautiful grandmother and mother, and would drive Chapman from Chicago to Indiana where he would play with all my grandmother’s rosaries in her room, while we recorded our hours-long conversations,” she recalled.
From her humble beginnings as a child actor in post-war Manila to her experiences on mental health and motherhood, Richardson details Agana’s contributions to Philippine cinema and how it has ultimately influenced the majority of our films to take on family-centric storylines.
Readers and creatives can delve deeper into the artistic and cinematic direction and behind-the-scenes of creating a well-loved child star and the different characters she has played in over 40 films, including Kerubin, Ang Prinsesa at and Pulubi, and more.
Mylene Jao Richardson at the recent launch of ‘The Legend of Tessie Agana: Beloved Child Star of the Philippines’ at the Sampaguita Gardens in Quezon City last February 23
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“While I was writing the book, my mom had a stroke in 2017 and following she developed dementia,” shared Richardson. Then it became crucial for her to record her mother’s stories. With the uncertainty of it being finished in time looming over them, Richardson read every chapter to her mother out loud.
“I started on this journey researching, and realized in that word ‘research’ it was the ‘search’ that was integral,” she said. “I was searching in the life of my mom and grandmother, and it allowed me to know more about myself and my family and broke life-long barriers that brought my mama and me so much closer. Her stories brought me on an unprecedented journey I never could have imagined,” Richardson concluded.
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This captivating journey through Tessie Agana’s cinematic legacy is now available in hardbound paperback and ebook formats.
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About
Before assuming the Art and Culture Editor position, Franz has always had a penchant for visual and performing arts. He is passionate about exploring and writing about the local cultural scene and rediscovering the country’s storied past and rich heritage. Besides working on this luxury lifestyle magazine, Franz is an avid book reader, local traveller, museum-goer, chorister, and community theatre playwright.
Work
Franz earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas. He writes about local visual and performing artists and their craft; drinks wines, liquors, and spirits and talks about the creativity of their respective winemakers and master blenders; tries to learn more about business and investments; respects the tradition and artistry that go behind the making of watches and jewellery; and appreciates the genius of architecture and creative design.
As head of Tatler Philippines’ pool of writers, he helps them bring impactful and socially relevant stories to light.
For any leads, you may reach him through @franzsorillaiv on Instagram or franz@tatlerphilippines.com via email.
