Atang de la Rama
(1902-1991)
Queen Of Sarsuela and Kundiman; First Filipina Film Actress
Atang de la Rama is the first Filipina Film actress who starred in the very first Filipino feature-length film, Ang Dalagang Bukid (1919). Prior to becoming an actress, she already made a name in zarzuelas and kundiman performing on several occasions and at some very important events. Her spirit of nationalism and patriotism was explicitly manifested during the American colonial period.
Birth and Early Life
Atang or Honorata de la Rama was born on January 11, 1902 in Pandacan, Manila. Orphaned at an early age, she grew up under the care of an elder sister who was married to a zarzuela composer where she got her first exposure to zarzuela. Atang is a talented woman. At the young age of 7, she already starred in some Spanish zarzuelas such as Mascota, Sueño de un Vals, and Marina. When she was fifteen years old, she played the role of Angelita in the zarzuela Dalagang Bukid in 1917 where she was fondly remembered and known for singing the song Nabasag Na Banga. She reprised her role for the film version of this zarzuela of the same title in 1919 becoming the first Filipino feature-length film directed by Jose Nepomuceno.
Life during the American Colonial Period
During the American colonial period in the Philippines with the emergence of new forms of entertainment and musical genres, Atang de la Rama fought for the dominance of the kundiman and the zarzuela, which is a musical play that focuses on Filipino contemporary issues such as usury, cockfighting, and colonial mentality. She would later become the lead star of over 50 zarzuelas and performed not only in locally renowned venues but also in open plazas and cockpits.
Queen of Kundiman and Zarzuela
Atang believed that art should be for everyone; not only did she perform in major Manila theaters such as the Teatro Libertad and the Teatro Zorilla but also in cockpits and open plazas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. She also made an effort to bring the kundiman and sarsuelas to the indigenous people of the Philippines such as the Igorots, the Aetas, the Mangyans, the Bagobos, and Lumads. She was also at the forefront of introducing Filipino culture to foreign audiences. At the height of her career, she sang kundimans and other Filipino songs in concerts in foreign places and cities such as Hawaii, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo.
De La Rama sang kundimans created by some of the most important composers of the time (the 1920s - 1930s). She popularized the songs "Bituing Marikit", "Madaling Araw", "Mutya ng Pasig" and "Anak Dalita". She also wrote lyrics for songs such as "Pag-asa", whose music was composed by L. Ignacio. During the Japanese occupation, she did her patriotic duty by carrying secret messages, often hidden in her hairdo, back and forth to Filipino guerillas.
Generations of Filipino artists and audiences consider Atang de la Rama's vocal and acting talents as responsible for much of the success of original Filipino zarzuelas like Dalagang Bukid, and dramas like Veronidia.
Atang As An Actress
Since her success playing Angelita in the first Filipino feature-length film the 1919 Jose Nepomuceno film Ang Dalagang Bukid, she starred in other films both silent and talking films such as Dugong Silangan (1930), Ay Kalisud (1938), Batong Buhay (1950) and Ang Buhay at Pag-ibig Ni Dr. Jose Rizal (1956) among others. She was so popular in her role as a simple servant turned coquette in "Ang Kiri" that it was immortalized in the 1939 Serafin de los Angeles film "Mahiwagang Binibini: Ang Kiri" reprising her role.
Other Works
She has also been a theatrical producer, writer, and talent manager. She was the producer and the writer of plays such as Anak ni Eva and Bulaklak ng Kabundukan.
She wrote skits in Spanish, English and Tagalog, including "Hele-Hele", "Kabayanihan" and "Milagros ng Birhen" to name a few.
She wrote short stories in Tagalog such as "Doon sa Dakong Timog", "Sa Malayang Lupain", "Nakukubling Tala" (under the pseudonym of Herminia de la Riva) and "Kahinahinayang na Pag-ibig" (under the pen name Matimtimang Laqui).
Atang also wrote four operatas, namely, "Bulaklak sa Kabundukan", "Aking Ina", "Anak ni Eva", "Puri at Buhay".
A civic-minded artist, de la Rama led several groups not only in culture and arts but also in politics namely Kaisahan ng Kababaihan sa Pilipinas, the Gagalangin Ladies Association, and the Red Cross Fund Drive and became an ardent supporter of such groups as Confederation of Labor Organization, the Home Nursing Association and the Girl Scouts of the Philippines. Later, she also supported other causes like the PETA Babaylan and Gabriela by giving inspiring lectures.
Awards and Recognition
For her achievements and contributions to the art form, she was hailed the Queen of the Kundiman and Sarsuela in 1979 at the age of 77.
In recognition of her contributions to the enrichment of the nation's cultural heritage, she has conferred the National Artist Award for Theater and Music on June 11, 1987.
Other awards, recognition and citations she received were:
Panitik ng Kababaihan (1950)
Kababaihan ng Lahi (1975)
Presidential Medal of Merit (1966)
Sagisag ng Lungsod ng Maynila (1964)
Diwa ng Lahi (1974)
Reyna ng Kundiman at Mutya ng Dulang Tagalog (1963)
Queen of the Kundiman and Prima Donna of Filipino Theater (1968)
Reyna ng Kundiman, Paglilingkod sa Bayan (1973)
Tandang Sora trophy (1977)
Walang Kupas Award (1982)
The Ateneo de Manila University Tanglaw ng Lahi
Last Years
During the remaining years of her life, she lived in Gagalangin, Tondo the birthplace of her husband Amado V. Hernandez who was also a National Artist for Literature whom she married in 1932.
Atang de la Rama died on July 11, 1991, of a lingering illness. She was given a state funeral and buried at the North Cemetery.
Sources:
https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/national-artists-of-the-philippines/honorata-atang-dela-rama/
http://topicalphilippines.com/People_Individuals/delaRama_Honorata.html
https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1418/today-in-philippine-history-january-11-1902-atang-de-la-rama-was-born-in-pandacan-manila
