Nida Blanca
Nida Blanca was a Filipino actress whose career spanned five decades. She was one of the biggest box-office draws of the 1950s and rose to stardom with roles in romantic comedies and musical films with frequent on-screen partner Nestor de Villa. She achieved Grand slam in 1987 for her performance in the drama Magdusa Ka!, winning Best Supporting Actress in all four major award-giving bodies in the Philippines. Blanca was a board member of Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 1998 until her death in 2001.
Biography
Born as Dorothy Guinto Jones on January 6, 1936, in then municipality of Gapan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines to an American soldier father of mestizo descent named John William Jones, Jr. and a local Filipina mother with Tagalog roots named Inocencia Vélez Guinto, she appeared in her first film at age 15. Actress Delia Razon successfully urged the head of LVN Pictures, Doña Sisang de Leon to hire Blanca. She was screen tested on October 6, 1951, by LVN Pictures where she reigned as "queen" of movies for more than a decade, doing mostly comedies opposite the late Nestor de Villa. In the movies, she has played a wide range of roles from a butch lesbian to a nun. She also starred in the hit TV comedy series, John en Marsha, where she played the wife who sticks by her poor husband despite her rich mother's constant harping. In 1958, she appeared opposite her contemporary, noted singer/actress Sylvia La Torre, and Leroy Salvador, in the LVN movie Tuloy ang Ligaya.Blanca was married twice. As divorce is not legal in the Philippines, she separated from her first husband, Victorino Torres, when their daughter Kay was two years old. She later married her second husband Roger Lawrence Strunk an American singer and actor, known by his screen name Rod Lauren in Las Vegas in 1979. The couple relocated to Manila.
Other activities
In 1952, Blanca competed at the Miss Philippines Universe pageant where she finished as a top 12 semi-finalist.Murder and aftermath
File:Nida_Blanca_Ancestral_House_02.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Blanca's old house in Lumang GapanFile:Loyola_Memorial_Park__E911a_19.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Nida Blanca's tomb in Loyola Memorial Park, Marikina
On November 7, 2001, Blanca was found murdered; beaten and stabbed 13 times in the back seat of her car in the parking lot of Atlanta Centre in Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila where she worked for the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, attending screenings and rating movies twice a week, at the time of her death.
The prime suspect was Blanca's husband Rod Strunk whom the prosecutors said had hired a hitman to kill her because Blanca had disinherited him from her will. Investigators found that Blanca had up to in properties, including a Greenhills, San Juan condominium worth and a house in California worth. If Blanca had annulled her marriage, Strunk would get nothing. But if Blanca died before she was able to terminate her marriage, under the law, Strunk being the legal spouse would be entitled to a portion of his estranged wife's inheritance even though Blanca's will stated that all her properties would go to her daughter.
The case rested on the statements of witnesses and Philip Medel, a self-confessed killer who surrendered to PNP Task Force Marsha on November 19, 2001, and confessed that Strunk had hired him to kill Blanca. Medel recanted his testimony four days later, claiming the police had tortured him into confessing. The prosecutors said medical examinations had found no evidence to back his claim of torture.
Despite Medel's recantation, Strunk remained the prime suspect according to Philippine prosecutors, based largely on circumstantial evidence and statements of new witnesses. Strunk was in the U.S. in 2003 when he was charged with the murder of Blanca. He left the Philippines in January 2002 to visit his mother who was dying at the time and never returned. He was later arrested at his home and detained at the Sacramento County Jail after the Philippine government filed an extradition request against Strunk to stand trial in the Philippines. The U.S. court denied the extradition request and Strunk immediately was released from jail. The Philippine government had filed a second extradition case against Strunk but did not receive any official response from the United States government.
Strunk committed suicide on July 11, 2007 by jumping from a second-floor balcony of the Tracy Inn in Tracy, California where he had been staying for the previous three days.
Kaye Torres lamented in 2008 that after seven years, the criminal case is still pending trial. She stated that she is convinced Philip Medel is guilty of the crime.
Philip Medel remained the suspect and was held in jail until his death on April 7, 2010 at the age of 62. Medel died of sepsis caused by pneumonia at the Philippine General Hospital.
The pending murder case on Nida Blanca was featured in the Philippine television documentary series Case Unclosed as its sixth episode titled "Nida Blanca Murder Case."
Legacy
The MTRCB named a conference room after her during a ceremony in 2017.Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Ref: |
| 1951 | Prinsipe Amante sa Rubitanya | ||
| 1951 | Amor mio | ||
| 1951 | Venus | ||
| 1952 | Tia Loleng | ||
| 1952 | Korea | ||
| 1952 | Digmaan ng damdamin | ||
| 1952 | 2 sundalong kanin | ||
| 1952 | Haring Solomon at Reyna Sheba | ||
| 1952 | Tenyente Carlos Blanco | ||
| 1952 | Babaeng hampaslupa | ||
| 1952 | Romansa sa nayon | ||
| 1953 | Tumbalik na daigdig | ||
| Squatters | - | ||
| Batangueña | - | ||
| Hijo de familia | - | ||
| Hiyasmin | - | ||
| 1954 | Dalaginding | ||
| 1954 | Waray-waray | Upeng | |
| 1954 | Galawgaw | Pilar | |
| 1954 | Luneta | ||
| 1954 | Tin-edger | ||
| 1955 | Darling ko | ||
| 1955 | Saydwok Bendor | ||
| 1955 | Ang ibong Adarna | ||
| 1955 | Indian pana | ||
| 1955 | Ikaw kasi | ||
| 1955 | Talusaling | Julieta | |
| 1956 | Handang matodas | Luping | |
| 1956 | Easy ka lang, padre! | ||
| 1956 | Aling Kutsero | ||
| 1956 | Medalyong perlas | ||
| 1958 | Wala Kang Paki | ||
| 1958 | Rosalina | ||
| 1958 | Anak ni Waray | ||
| 1958 | Limang dalangin | ||
| 1959 | Baguio Fever | ||
| 1959 | Tayo'y magsaya | ||
| 1960 | Navy Blues | ||
| 1961 | My Serenade | ||
| 1961 | Bakit ka nagtampo | ||
| 1961 | Pitong gabi sa Paris | ||
| 1961 | Walang sisihan | ||
| 1961 | Sikat na, Siga pa | ||
| 1961 | Awat na Adyang | Adyang | |
| 1962 | Jam Session | ||
| 1962 | Gulo kung gulo | ||
| 1962 | Bulung-bulungan | ||
| 1962 | Oy... Akin yata 'yan | ||
| 1963 | Sa atin ang daigdig | ||
| 1963 | Limbo Rock | ||
| 1963 | Ang Babaeng Sputnik | Babaeng Sputnik | |
| 1963 | Adiang Waray | Adiang | |
| 1963 | Sosaything Tindera | ||
| 1963 | Away na | ||
| 1963 | Asyang ng La Loma | ||
| 1963 | Ecu tatacut! | ||
| 1963 | Isputnik vs Darna | ||
| 1963 | Naku... Yabang! | ||
| 1963 | Yeba!!! Chi! Qui! Chai! | ||
| 1964 | Utos ni Tale hinde Mababale | ||
| 1964 | Bumunot ka't Lumaban | ||
| 1964 | Patsamba-tsamba | ||
| 1964 | Everybody dance | ||
| 1964 | Pulis walang kaparis | ||
| 1964 | Si Doray naman... | Doray | |
| 1964 | Walang duwag na Bisaya | ||
| 1964 | Mabilis... Paa at kamay | ||
| 1964 | Pampatay Kaliwa at Kanan...! | ||
| 1964 | Pamilya Galawgaw | ||
| 1965 | Magkapatid na Jesse at James | Jesse | |
| 1965 | The Sound of Buwisit | ||
| 1966 | Huwag kang sumingit | ||
| 1966 | Utos Ni mayor | ||
| 1966 | Wow na Wow!! | ||
| 1966 | Adyang Batibot | Adyang Batibot | |
| 1966 | Shake Baby Shake | ||
| 1967 | Together Again | ||
| 1967 | Ayaw ni mayor | ||
| 1968 | Tiririt ng maya, tiririt ng ibon | ||
| 1969 | Goin' to a Go-Go | ||
| 1969 | Pag-ibig masdan ang ginawa mo | ||
| 1970 | Tulak ng bibig, kabig ng dibdib | ||
| 1970 | Tayo'y mag up, up and away | ||
| 1970 | Laugh Story | ||
| 1971 | Family Planning | ||
| 1971 | At the top | ||
| 1971 | Laff Story | ||
| 1971 | The Red Flag is up | ||
| 1980 | John & Marsha'80 | Marsha | |
| 1980 | The Quick Brown Fox | ||
| 1981 | Familia Antik | ||
| 1982 | My Heart Belongs to Daddy | ||
| 1982 | Forgive and Forget | Nelly | |
| 1982 | Dancing Master 2: Macao Connection | ||
| 1983 | Always in my heart | Rose | |
| 1983 | Saan darating ang umaga? | Lorrie Rodrigo | |
| 1984 | The Best of John en Marsha sa Pelikula | Marsha | |
| 1984 | Da Best of John & Marsha | Marsha | |
| 1984 | Anak ni Biday vs anak ni Waray | ||
| 1984 | Sa hirap at ginhawa | ||
| 1985 | John & Marsha'85 | Marsha | |
| 1985 | Public Enemy No.2: Maraming Number 2 | ||
| 1985 | Miguelito | ||
| 1985 | Like Father, Like Son | ||
| 1986 | Magdusa ka! | Victoria "Toyang" Salvador | |
| 1987 | Prinsesang gusgusin | ||
| 1987 | Family Tree | ||
| 1987 | Kid, huwag Kang susuko | ||
| 1987 | Ako si Kiko, ako si Kikay | ||
| 1988 | Ibulong mo sa Diyos | ||
| 1988 | Guhit ng Palad | ||
| 1988 | Sa akin pa rin ang bukas | ||
| 1989 | Impaktita | ||
| 1989 | Elvis & James | ||
| 1989 | Rosenda | ||
| 1990 | Too Young | ||
| 1990 | Mundo man ay magunaw | ||
| 1990 | Hot Summer | ||
| 1990 | Pangako ng Puso | ||
| 1991 | Darna | ||
| 1991 | John en Marsha ngayon'91 | ||
| 1992 | Tayong dalawa | ||
| 1992 | Kamay Ni Cain | ||
| 1992 | Shake Rattle & Roll IV | ||
| 1992 | Mahal kita, walang iba | ||
| 1992 | Aventures of Gary Leon at Kuting | ||
| 1993 | Ligaw-Ligawan Kasal-kasalan bahay-bahayan | ||
| 1993 | Pido Dida 3: May Kambal na | ||
| 1993 | Humanda ka Mayor!Bahala na ang Diyos | ||
| 1993 | Di na Natuto | ||
| 1994 | Pinagbiyak na Bunga-Lookalike | Dorie | |
| 1994 | Geron Olivar | Aling Corazon | |
| 1994 | Kadenang Bulaklak | Elsa Abolencia | |
| 1994 | Vampira | Nena | |
| 1994 | Deadly Brothers | ||
| 1995 | Ipaglaban Mo: The Movie | Magdalena | |
| 1995 | Ikaw pa... Eh love kita | Korina's aunt | |
| 1995 | Hataw na | Connie Tejeros | |
| 1996 | April Boys: Sana'y mahalin mo rin ako | Inay | |
| 1996 | Madrasta | Fides | |
| 1996 | Ang TV Movie: The Adarna Adventure | Cedes | |
| 1997 | Batang PX | Cedes | |
| 1997 | Babae | Lola Adora | |
| 1997 | Minsan lang magmahal | Auring | |
| 1998 | Ikaw pa rin ang iibigin | Dr. Tagle | |
| 1998 | Mother Ignacia:Ang uliran | ||
| 1998 | Hiling | Lola Melyang | |
| 1998 | Sana pag-ibig na | Linda Perez | |
| 1999 | Mula sa puso: The Movie | Carmen | |
| 1999 | Soltera | Sandra's Mother | |
| 2000 | Yakapin mo ang umaga | Pacita | |
| 2000 | Biyaheng Langit | Lola Amor | |
| 2001 | Abakada...Ina | Matilda | |
| 2001 | Love text | Cielito | |
| 2001 | Ano bang Meron ka? | Mother Tering | |
| 2002 | Kung ikaw ay isang panaginip | Fairy |