Lilian Velez
Encyclopedia
Lilian Velez was a Filipino
film actress
and singer. Her 1948 murder
by a fellow actor scandalized post-war Philippines
.
to a composer
, Velez first came into the limelight when she won an amateur radio
singing contest in the mid-1930s. Prior to the outbreak of World War II
, her singing career thrived, and she popularized one of her father's songs, Sa Kabukiran. Velez also won the heart of Jose Climaco
, the manager of the radio
station which had sponsored the contest which won her fame. They were married in 1942 and had one daughter.
Velez's film career began upon the resumption of Filipino film production after the end of the war. She joined LVN Pictures
, and with her husband as director, starred in such films as Binibiro Lamang Kita, Ang Estudyante, and Sa Kabukiran, inspired by the song that had earlier earned her fame. Her leading man in these films was Bernardo "Narding" Anzures
, a former child actor
.
as Velez's leading man in her next film. The decision caused distress on the part of Anzures, who had seemingly become obsessed with the married Velez.
On the night of June 26, 1948, Anzures paid an unexpected visit to the Quezon City
home of Velez. Upon his arrival, he stabbed Velez to death and a housemaid who had come to her mistress's assistance. The crime was committed within view of Velez's toddler-daughter Vivian, who was unharmed during the incident.
Anzures was promptly arrested, tried and convicted for the murders. The crime and the subsequent trial was cause celebre
in Manila. Anzures later died in jail from tuberculosis
; his exact motives for the murder were never fully determined.
. Starring Sharon Cuneta
as Velez and Cesar Montano
as Anzures, the film was one in a string of "true-crime" films churned out by Caparas in the early 1990s.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
film actress
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and singer. Her 1948 murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
by a fellow actor scandalized post-war Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Career
Born in CebuCebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
to a composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, Velez first came into the limelight when she won an amateur radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
singing contest in the mid-1930s. Prior to the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, her singing career thrived, and she popularized one of her father's songs, Sa Kabukiran. Velez also won the heart of Jose Climaco
José Clímaco
José Clímaco was a Filipino film director.As a budding composer and director, Climaco spent part of the 1930s studying filmmaking in Hollywood. Upon his return to Manila, he became the manager of a radio station. He met his wife, Lilian Velez, when she won first place in a singing contest sponsored...
, the manager of the radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
station which had sponsored the contest which won her fame. They were married in 1942 and had one daughter.
Velez's film career began upon the resumption of Filipino film production after the end of the war. She joined LVN Pictures
LVN Pictures
LVN Pictures, Inc. is one of the biggest film studios in the history of Philippine cinema and its foremost establishment in motion picture post-production until 2005...
, and with her husband as director, starred in such films as Binibiro Lamang Kita, Ang Estudyante, and Sa Kabukiran, inspired by the song that had earlier earned her fame. Her leading man in these films was Bernardo "Narding" Anzures
Narding Anzures
Narding Anzures was a Filipino film actor and convicted murderer.The son of actors Miguel Anzures and Rosa Aguirre, Anzures had starred in pre–World War II films as a child actor...
, a former child actor
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
.
Personal life
Velez had a brother, Theodoro, a craftsman, and a daughter, Vivian Velez. Vivian made an appearance at the end of Velez's 1995 film biography.Murder
After the success of Sa Kabukiran, LVN Pictures decided to cast Jaime de la RosaJaime de la Rosa
Jaime de la Rosa was a Filipino pre-war and postwar actor better known as Jimmy in Philippine showbiz.-Early life:Tommy de la Rosa was the first screen name he used, later changing it to Jaime...
as Velez's leading man in her next film. The decision caused distress on the part of Anzures, who had seemingly become obsessed with the married Velez.
On the night of June 26, 1948, Anzures paid an unexpected visit to the Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
home of Velez. Upon his arrival, he stabbed Velez to death and a housemaid who had come to her mistress's assistance. The crime was committed within view of Velez's toddler-daughter Vivian, who was unharmed during the incident.
Anzures was promptly arrested, tried and convicted for the murders. The crime and the subsequent trial was cause celebre
Cause célèbre
A is an issue or incident arousing widespread controversy, outside campaigning and heated public debate. The term is particularly used in connection with celebrated legal cases. It is a French phrase in common English use...
in Manila. Anzures later died in jail from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
; his exact motives for the murder were never fully determined.
1995 film biography
In 1995, the murder of Lilian Velez was the subject of a high-profile film directed by Carlo J. CaparasCarlo J. Caparas
Magno "Carlo" Jose Caparas , widely known as Carlo J. Caparas, is a Filipino comic strip creator/writer-turned director and producer, who is best known for creating Filipino superheroes and comic book characters such as Panday, Bakekang, Totoy Bato, Joaquin Bordado, Kamagong, Kamandag, Elias...
. Starring Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, better known as Sharon Cuneta, is a popular and multi-awarded Filipino singer, actress and TV host dubbed as Megastar of Philippine Entertainment, fondly called Mega by fans and people from the entertainment industry....
as Velez and Cesar Montano
César Montano
Cesar Manhilot, known by his screen name Cesar Montano, is a multi-awarded Filipino actor and film director.He started in show business as a stuntman. He played roles in numerous B movies...
as Anzures, the film was one in a string of "true-crime" films churned out by Caparas in the early 1990s.