Olivia Cenizal(1926-2008)

Gloria Maigi was born in 1926 into a musical family in Imus, Cavite. She was married early, having eloped at age 19, to composer Josefino Cenizal, who was working for the Premiere Productions. Accompanying her husband to these functions, she often bumped into the filmmakers Santiago brothers. Gloria was beautiful and brainy. At the urging of Cirio H. Santiago, she appeared in the film Palahamak (1955), directed by Artemio Marquez. Premiere, heretofore without a viable female lead, soon found they had a leading lady to rival the other studios' females. She was given the screen name "Olivia" because of her resemblance to Hollywood actress Olivia de Havilland. Her husband's name, she retained. Ms Cenizal was often cast as a princess or deity, although she could prove her dramatic mettle as well. Other film appearances include Minera, Ha Cha Cha, Pangako ng Puso, Pandango ni Neneng (with Rogelio de la Rosa), and Pitong Maria (all 1955); Desperado, Margarita, Prinsipe Villarba and Haring Espada (all 1956); Libre Comida, Bicol Express and Prinsipe Alejandre (all 1957); Man on the Run (1958), with Zaldy Zshornack; Water Lily (1958), with José Padilla; and Obra Maestra (1958). Ms Cenizal sang in her movies too, and in real life she played the cello. She stopped making movies in the 1970s but resurfaced to do cameo roles in 1990s films. In 1989 she joined the cast of Pahiram ng Isang Umaga, starring Vilma Santos and Eric Quizon.