Mellowed and Stronger - "...After my one-year rehab (thanks to Kapisanan ng mga Artistang Pilipino’s Rudy Fernandez and Rez Cortez and the late Inday Badiday), I realized how much I love my work. I appreciated the talent God gave me a lot more," says Gina. Thanks to that momentous phase in her life, Gina admits she has mellowed and become stronger. "I used to ram my ambitions about Jannica becoming an actress down her throat. I’m not that pushy anymore," Gina admits. There’s another reason behind Gina’s glowing skin: the inner peace that makes her exude an aura of calm and happiness. "I want to be remembered in showbiz as someone who made people happy," she says with a smile. ..." - Maridol Rañoa-Bismark, Star, Apr 05 2004 (READ MORE)
Accomplished Actress - "...Another successful comeback story is that of award-winning actress Gina Pareño. Before Jurado dominated the sexy comedy genre, Pareño flourished in that mold. She was discovered in the ’60s and enjoyed a robust career in the movies. But she was also stubborn and ignored the rigid rules imposed on contract stars. Her carefree ways led to an unplanned pregnancy in 1968, even before she could finish her launching movie, “Mama.” After giving birth in 1969, she staged a successful comeback when she donned Pinay super heroine Darna’s scarlet costume to star in the hit movie “Si Darna at ang Planetman.” She relished her success for over a decade but stumbled anew because of drugs. At one time, tabloid headlines bannered her reduced circumstances that had her selling dusters in Baclaran. A public admission of her drug problem and a plea for understanding resulted in a helping hand and a stint at the rehab center. Soon enough, the movie roles started coming again. Today, Pareño is one of the most accomplished actresses in the industry, with international acting awards attached to her name, especially for her role in the independent films “Serbis” and “Kubrador..." - Armin Adina, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Oct 01 2011 (READ MORE)
Gina Pareño and Vilma Santos
- Vilma Santos and Gina Pareño's only film together was Ibigay mo sa akin ang bukas, released in March 4, 1987. The film was first serialized in DZRH Radio and was directed by now the MTRCB chairman, Emmanuel H. Borlaza and produced by EDL Productions. Ibigay Mo Sa Akin Ang Bukas featured Vilma, Gabby Concepcion and Richard Gomez in leading roles while Gina Pareño together with Liza Lorena, Orestes Ojeda, Amy Austria, Al Tantay and Gretchen Barretto in supporting roles. The film was about a neglected married woman of a closeted homosexual who had an affair with her student.
- Two of the original Tondo Girls who became famous celebrities, both Gina and Vilma were from Tondo. Gina from Gagalangin, Tondo while Vilma was from Trozo Magdalena, Tondo, both places were part of Manila. These two bubly stars became box office giants after portraying comics superheroine, Darna. Gina in 1969 in "Darna At Planetman" and Vilma in 1973 via "Lipad Darna Lipad" (Fly Darna Fly)
- Both Gina and Vilma portrayed characters that ended up in jail, Gina in 1973 film, "Bakit May Bilanggo Sa Anak Ni Eba?" and Vilma in 1984's Marilou Diaz-Abaya film, "Alyas Baby Tsina"
- Gina and Vilma had several leading men in several memorable films, one of the most notable was their films with dramatic actor, Dindo Fernando. Gina co-starred with Dindo in 1968 via "Dalawang Mukha Ng Anghel" while Vilma first co-starred wirh Dindo in "Kampanerang kuba" in 1974.
- In their earlier years in showbiz, both Gina and Vilma co-starred with veteran movie queen, Gloria Romero. Both in title/lead roles and where their film directors were the same, Mar S. Torres. Gina was tested by Gloria in 1969 film, "Paula" and Vilma was still a child star in "Anak, Ang Iyong Ina" ("Child, This is Your Mother") in 1963
- In 2010 "Dalaw" ("The Visit") Gina play support to Diether Ocampo and horror queen, Kris Aquino. The film has nothing to do with Vilma Santos but Gina's film character named Aling Olga, the elderly servant with an open third eye, speaks mostly using lines from Vilma Santos films.
- It was reported that the film "Kubrador" was intended for Vilma Santos, and the role landed in Gina and several international acting awards. Director Jeffrey Jeturian, like Raya Martin, wanted Vilma to do a movie that he is planning another project for her. Raya Martin ofcourse did La Indepedencia, with Techie Agbayani substituting for Vilma. The films had been screened in several film festival. With several local and international acting awards, Gina Pareño was not listed in 2006's S magazine's Philippine Cinema’s 15 Best Actresses of All Time.
Gina Pareño (born Gina Acthley on December 17, 1949) is an actress in the Philippines born to a Filipina mother and German- American father. She first worked as an extra in some films and then later on became one of the artists of Sampaguita Films. She has worked in television and film in the Philippines since the 1960s. Recently her work has won international recognition; at the Osian's Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema held in New Delhi in July 2006 she won Best Actress award for her role in Kubrador (The Bet Collector). - Wikipedia (READ MORE)