MARICEL SORIANO - 40K DIAMOND

Contributed by Buddy Palad

Maria really lives up to her sparkling title: DIAMOND STAR.
Next year ay 40 karats na si Maria pero mas mataas ang karats ng kanyang showbiz achievements .Yes, that’s right, Maria really lives up to her sparkling title: DIAMOND STAR.

Buong 30 taon na ang nakararaan, taong 1974 nang manalo naman si Maria bilang Best Child Actress sa MMFF sa kanyang role sa pelikulang “Alaala mo…Daigdig ko.”

Five years old lang si Maria nang pasukin niya ang daigdig ng showbiz, sa pelikulang “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” ng Sampaguita Pictures bilang kapatid ni Tirso Cruz III.

Naging ganap na bituin si Maria noong 1980 sa series ng Regal Films na ‘Underage” kasama sina Dina Bonnevie at Snooky Serna.

Taong 1983 nang pagkalooban siya ng Guillermo Mendoza Memoial Award bilang “Most Popular Teenage Queen”, at Famas Best Supporting Actress sa pelikulang “Saan Darating ang Umaga?”

Maria is so blessed. Kahit na two years old pa lang siya nang magkahiwalay ang kanyang mga magulang at magkanya-kanya, biniyayaan naman siya ng panahon na magkaroon ng kabuhayang makatutulong sa kanilang magkakapatid Sikat pa.

Kung ang mga fans nina Nora at Vilma ay nagtititili at naghuhumiyaw tuwing nominado ang mga ito sa mga awards, at nagagalit kapag hindi nanalo, ganoon din ang maka-Maria. Nagwo-walk-out din ang mga ito pag hindi si Maria ang winner. Well, our Maria is indeed in the same league with the above-mentioned Icons.

Ang totoo, Maria commands a great following all these years. At tulad din ng kanyang mga ka-liga, ika nga, lalong humuhusay ang babaing ito habang tumatagal. Para bagang wine, it tastes better habang tumatagal. Minsan nga, mababaw ang script, naisulong ni Maria ang kanyang role at nakawala siya sa mediocrity ng storyline at character.

It is because Maria has developed not only into a fine actress that she is now, she is versatile, an all around performer: Singer, dancer, comedian, drama queen. She also produced her drama anthology then and her sitcom.

I wonder kung gaano pa dadami ang magiging achievements ng Miss Taray kapag naging Golden Girl at Senior Citizen na siya.

Maria is also a great sister. A generous friend. A perfect mom to her Chen and Marron who is now studying abroad. She has a big heart. Ang taray niyang magmahal.

We hope Maria would be entrusted character driven roles, the ones given to Jane Fonda, Meryll Streep and Vanessa Redgrave, or even Glenn Close. The magnitude of her talent should not be wasted with mediocre or screaming roles.

Cheers to you, Maria: Our one and only Diamond Star, the new pride of the Film Academy of the Philippines.