A League all her own.

A previous post from a fellow maricelian years back....
courtesy of Piggs of Filmbug.


Maricel Soriano is in a league all her own. Among her generation, or even across generations, no other artista has crossed over to various entertainment genre and forms as easily and successfully as she had.

At the onset of her popularity as young actress, she did a couple of record of songs. I saw her once on Eat Bulaga, singing back to back Opalyn Foster, and the latter ate dusts! She was a recording artist!

In 1986, she did a sold-out concert at the Araneta. I saw it on TV and the entire Araneta was filled!

Two years after, she was given a tribute by Regal – a musical extravaganza at the Araneta in celebration of her birthday. This was where she made those classic lines, “di ako mahal ni mother lily; may mahal siyang iba” (referring to Kris Aquino, who would become one of maricel’s good friends). No one could have dared act that way. Only Maricel Soriano. And it earned my – Bravo! Bravo! Attagirl!

I think it was at the same year that she did a fabulous TV special at Channel 2 billed as “Maricel at 17.” A few years after, another special was given her by the same network, “Maricel:22 on 2.” This was also the time she practically lorded it over as Queen of Channel 2 – top-rating Drama Special, followed by another top-rating sitcom. How many blurbs alluded to her during promos as “pinaka-importanteng artista ng Star Cinema?” A number of times. Only Maricel Soriano has been called that, as far as my limited memory can remember.

Now I don’t care whether or not Maricel is more popular than Sharon or any other artista. She has nothing to prove. She is still in a league all her own.

Her filmography is most enviable. Her peers and contemporaries know this much. Who cares about a Grand Slam? Being recognized for all the drama films one after another is an achievement far more remarkable than being awarded for very very few movie roles.

Now I have realized how deep and significant Hinugot sa Langit was! God, how could Marya let out such deep angsts at a very young age, doing situations she might have not fully understood. If that was not sheer talent, I don’t know what talent is.
No one in her generation has been cited and nominated by different Award-Giving Bodies for different roles in a year. Si Maricel Soriano lang. Si Vilma at si Nora pero they are of another generation. Think of Separada and Vampira in 1994 (inlucding pa yata and Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin). Remember Dahas and Inagaw Mo Ang Lahat sa Akin in 1995? Or Ama Ina Anak and Abot-Kamay ang Pangarap in 1996. Meron pa – Minsan Lamang Magmamahal at Nasaan Ang Puso in 1997.

So what if she’s no box-office queen. No formal recognition can erase the fact that along side Sharon Cuneta, she was the only other star who made killings at the box office in the 1980s, and far surpassed Cuneta’s box-office appeal in the 1990s.

Whatever happens, she remains my Diamond Star!

Keeping me in awe!

Inspiring me.