Basic Information: Directed: Cirio H. Santiago; Story: Nerissa G. Cabral; Screenplay: Jose Mari Avellana; Executive Producer: Cirio H. Santiago; Cast: Vilma Santos, Charito Solis, Winnie Santos; Original Music: Nonong Buencamino; Cinematography: Manuel Bulotano
Plot Description: Directed by Cirio H Santiago. Serialized from comics story of Nerissa Cabral. Film with Charito Solis.
Film Achievement: Entry to 1979 Metro Manila Film Festival
One of six films Solis and Santos collaborated (Happy Days are Here Again, Mga Tigre ng Sierra Cruz, Modelong Tanso, Ipagpatawad Mo, Dahil Mahal Kita The Dolzura Cortez Story, Hanggang Ngayon Ika’y Minamahal) - RV (READ MORE)
Film Reviews: "...what the non-winning dramatic films (Modelong Tanso, Alabok na Ginto, and Julian Makabayan) have in common are disappointments. Cirio H. Santiago’s Modelong Tanso is another of those Electra-complex explorations which lately have become so strangely fashionable in local cinema: in fact one of the festival winners, Ina Ka, falls in the same category. Modelong Tanso is about the conflict between a materialistic mother and an idealistic daughter, each of whom gets what she wants and pays the proper price for it. Santiago also pays a price: stereotypical acting, carelessly executed multiple roles, and embarrassing approximations of social sophistication. As in the other entries, Modelong Tanso attempts at significance through developmentalisms (i.e., favorable references to the barangay and the Bagong Lipunan Sites and Services program); as in the other entries, the attempts deservedly fail. Antonio C. Martinez’s Alabok na Ginto may have been the festival’s dark horse, a love triangle consistent in many ways, mostly technical. Thematically, it falls short of realizing the ambitious statements it makes about fairness (or the lack of it) in love and war. As its title suggests, the movie glitters, but it certainly isn’t gold. As least it is better than the uneven alloy Modelong Tanso turned out to be..." - Joel David, WHO, 19 January 1980 (READ MORE)
"...The multi-awarded actress even related her personal experience about feeling inadequate when she did the 1979 movie Modelong Tanso with the late Charito Solis who played her mom in the story. “Ako ang naintimidate noon. Naranasan ko yun noong araw kay Ms. Charito Solis na ngayon parang yun naman ang nangyayari sa akin [with the young stars.] So tinuro ko sa kanila na kahit may ka-eksena kayo na senior stars, kapag sinabi ng direktor ni’yo na kailangan niyong sampalin/sigawan sila, wala kayong choice. Gawin ni’yo yun, kahit sabihin niyong senior or respected star man yun, hindi kayo pwedeng magpa-intimidate. Kasi lahat sila kinakabahan lalo na nung pinapasampal ako kay Megan..." - Rachelle Siazon (READ MORE)
"...Sa 1979 FAMAS, Nora bested Lolita, who, with her performance in Brocka’s Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang, beat Aunor in 1974. Ang “katapat” ng Nora-Lolita duo ay ang acting tandem nina Vilma Santos at Charito Solis in Bancom Audiovision’s Modelong Tanso, directed by Cirio Santiago. Sa 1979 Gawad Urian, it was neither Nora nor Lolita as Best Actress; the award instead went to Charito Solis for Brocka’s Ina, Kapatid, Anak..." - William Reyes (READ MORE)
"...the film that defined her 1970s career was not an adult film, but a dramatic film, her specialty. Pitted with the "other dramatic empress" Lolita Rodriguez, she contrasted her usual acting style with Rodriguez' restrained, quiet style in Ina, Kapatid, Anak (1979). At that time already acknowledged as Philippine Cinema's Hall of Famer for Best Actress, Charito Solis showed her acting prowess in a way that did not swallow Rodriguez nor did not allow to be shadowed by Rodriguez' subtle style. Come FAMAS time, she had another Best Actress nod but lost to Nora Aunor for Ina Ka ng Anak Mo, but the "other" awards, the Gawad Urian, granted her its Gawad para sa Pinakamahusay na Pangunahing Aktres (Best Actress). Interesting enough, her penchant for top-billing persisted: the usual tool for billing two actresses demanding top billing was employed (see left). She also appeared with Vilma Santos in Modelong Tanso, a pale competitor to Rodriguez' and Nora Aunor's Ina Ka ng Anak Mo. Because Vilma Santos was another actress known for her penchant with billing, the same tool was used...The 1990s saw Charito Solis graduate to mother and grandmother roles, which she had done with frequency in the 1980s. In another nod to her age, she finally allowed herself to be billed above Vilma Santos, then acknowledged as the Longest-Reigning Box Office Queen of Philippine Movies, albeit above-the-title in films such as Ipagpatawad Mo (1992) and Dahil Mahal Kita: The Dolzura Cortez Story (1993)...Charito Solis' "antics" were the toast of the tabloids when she was younger, from the admirable to the ridiculous. Her volatile outbursts on sets when professionalism was not observed was a common story written in the movie magazines. Ever a stickler for promptness and professionalism, she was said not to allow any one to make a noise during her performances because it detracts from her concentration. She would even go to the lengths of bringing her acting trophies on movie sets so that she can show the younger stars that they were dealing with a competent and award-winning actress that they have to respect in terms of promptness and performance. Both Vilma Santos and Nora Aunor, future FAMAS Hall of Famers, were said to have experienced this..." - FAMAS (READ MORE)
"...Charito Solis, who initially had a tempestuous and hostile relationship with Vilma while making the ill-fated but box-office MMFF champ Modelong Tanso, had a change of heart when the reborn versatile/professional/charismatic actress Vilma impressed her through the years, at idineklara niya sa buong mundo, without batting an eyelash. na di hamak na mas magaling na aktres si Vilma kaysa kay Nora Aunor. Walang kumontra kay Chato dahil totoo ang sinabi niya, si La Solis yata iyan, at pati nga si Amalia Fuentes, another certified Vilmanian, at "kaaway" na mortal ni La Solis, ay sumang-ayon sa kanya. Si Susan Roces, ano naman kaya ang opinion niya sa obserbasyon ni Chato? Ah, Nida Blanca. Ang dami nilang pinagsamahan ni Vilma, mula TV hanggang sa movies. Dati ay una sa billing si Nida, subali't dahil nga sa gulong ng buhay ay kailangang maging praktikal at handa ka sa katotohanang magiging second lead ka lang in the future. Walang problema sina Nida at Vilma ? ke mag-Ate o mag-Ina sila sa mga proyekto, may chemistry sila and mutual respect. Patok ang kanilang pagsasama. Remember their mother and daughter roles in Ibulong Mo Sa Diyos? Sayang at wala na ang original versatile movie and dancing queen Nida ? mapa-aksiyon (Babaing Isputnik), musical (Huwag Kang Sumingit with Gloria Romero), comedy (Waray-waray) at drama (Miguelito at Magdusa Ka!). Kung tutuusin ay tunay na maigsi ang ating hiram na buhay. Kung buhay nga lang ang mga nabanggit sa itaas ay mas lalu sanang makulay ang daigdig ng sining. Subali?t ang lahat ay may katapusan. Ating suriin ang mga sumusunod na talata...." - Mario O. Garces (READ MORE)
"...Vilma in 1979 was a picture of self-assured bankable star. She did two movies with Elwood Perez, Magkaribal and Pinay American Style both were box office hits. She also produced an Eddie Rodrigues starrer Halik sa Paa Halik sa Kamay, and teamed-up with comedy king, Dolphy in Buhay Artista. As the year 1979 ends, she battled the drama queen Charito Solis in the local festival entry, Modelong Tanso. The end of the decade marked her stronghold as the box office queen. Clearly, Vilma Santos’ versatility as an actress was the secret weapon of her box office success. And this weapon was in full display in Pinay American Style..." - RV (READ MORE)
"Ooops! Keep your cool, dear Noranians, and listen to Charito Solis' explanation before you accuse her of being, uh, ?maka-Vilma. "Vilma has a wider range as an actress while Nora is limited and typecast in certain roles," Charito said in a tone devoid of intrigue, answering our question in a straightforward, matter-of-fact manner. "Si Vilma, puede kahit anong role, kahit bold. You can't imagine Nora doing a bold role, can you?" But, and that's the big but, "Nora has more depth than Vilma," Charito added, "and it's because of her expressive eyes. Nora is very effective in scenes where she doesn't say anything, just act with her eyes, at "yan ang kulang ni Vilma. Vilma has to say something to be effective." Charito has worked with Vilma twice (in "Mga Tigre ng SierraCruz" and "Modelong Tanso") and with Nora once ("Minsan May Isang Ina"). Speaking in general now, said Charito, "Vilma is the better actress." We asked Charito that ticklish question during the lunch presscon for her latest movie, the star-studded Mother's Day offering of Regal Films titled "Dear Mama," which also stars Gloria Romero, Laurice Guillen, Snooky, Janice de Belen, Julie Vega, Manilyn Reynes, Jaypee de Guzman, Rey ?PJ? Abellana and Alicia Alonzo in the title role. Our own personal opinion somehow jibes with that of Charito whose "throne," I suppose, will be inherited by Vilma (while Nora will inherit the "throne" of the other drama queen, Lolita Rodriguez)." - Ricardo F. Lo, The Phil. Star April 031984 (READ MORE)
"...Another "good" movie is "Modelong Tanso" directed by Cirio Santiago. It is based on a novel by Nerissa Cabral. This movie has one hell of a different plot: that of an obsessed woman who would get wealth and power against odds. The woman (ably portrayed by Charito Solis), forsakes husband, morals, children, for the sake of the over-riding ambition. The driving force is rooted in an impoverished childhood. She had to beg for food. She would get out of her squalid surroundings by any means. Only trouble was, she was still at it, long after she had left the barung-barong. Ang bigat ng paper ni Solis dito. At believeable siya. The conflict in this film comes off naturally. No issue is forced each incident is the result of a logical buildup in the plot. Vilma Santos, who marries a filthy rich fag in this movie, sees that she is starting to take up to her mother's ways and stops, in this time, Solis, however, remains "unreconstructed" up to the very last. As teh movie ends, she has assumed command of an even bigger business empires. Nagustuhan ko ang pelikulang ito dahil may sinasabi. It should have won some awards. The fact that it didn't again speak of the "consistency" of the judges..." - Ros H. Matienzo, JEH Jan 21 1980 (READ MORE)