Amalia Fuentes

Amalia Fuentes
Born
Amalia Amador Muhlach

(1940-08-27)August 27, 1940
DiedOctober 5, 2019(2019-10-05) (aged 79)
Resting placeLoyola Memorial Park - Marikina, Philippines
OccupationsActress, writer, director, producer
Years active1956–2013
Spouses
(m. 1965; div. 1969)
Joey Stevens
(divorced)
Children2 incl. Liezl Sumilang
Parent(s)Alvaro Muhlach Sr. (father)
Concepcion Amador (mother)
Isagani Fuentes (stepfather)[1]
RelativesAga Muhlach (nephew)
Nino Muhlach (nephew)
AJ Muhlach (nephew)
Alonzo Muhlach (grandnephew)
Albert Martinez (son-in-law)
FamilyAlvaro Mulach (brother)
Alexander Mulach (brother)[2]
Alfonso Martinez (grandson) Alissa Martinez (grand daughter)
Signature

Amalia Amador Muhlach (born August 27, 1940 – October 5, 2019), commonly known as Amalia Fuentes (Tagalog: [ɐˈmalja ˈfwɛntɛs]), was a Filipino actress and filmmaker whose career spanned six decades. She was the Queen of Philippine Movies in the 1960s and one of the top box-office draws of the 60s and 70s. Fuentes was one of the richest Filipino actresses in history and has received nine FAMAS Award for Best Actress nominations, winning one for Ibulong Mo Sa Hangin (1966).[3]

Career

In 1956, Fuentes and fellow actor Juancho Gutierrez won Sampaguita Pictures' Mr. & Ms. Number One contest.[4] Sampaguita Pictures launched Amalia and Juancho into full stardom in the 1956 film Movie Fan. They were initially paired as a "love team" – popular in Philippine cinema – by Sampaguita Pictures, and both starred in Rodora (1956), Sonata (1957), Pakiusap (1959), Ang Senyorito at Ang Atsay (1963) among others. She was also paired as love team with Romeo Vasquez in Pretty Boy (1957), Bobby (1958), Ako Ang May Sala (1958) and Bilanggong Birhen (1960) among others.

She starred in such notable films as, Estela Mondragon (1960) starring Carmen Rosales, Amy, Susie, Tessie (1960) with Susan Roces, Tessie Agana, Joey, Eddie, Lito (1961) starring Jose Mari Gonzales, Eddie Gutierrez, Lito Legaspi, Dayukdok (1961) with Carmen Rosales, Luis Gonzales, Barbara Perez and Amaliang Mali-Mali (1962) with Luis Gonzales.

Fuentes wrote the screenplay for the films Tatlong Kasaysayan ng Pag-ibig (1966), and Ito ang Aming Kasunduan (1973). She starred in and directed Mga Reynang Walang Trono (1976). Fuentes has her own production company, AM (Amalia Muhlach) Productions.[5] She produced several movies, most notable of which are: Whisper to the Wind (1966), Baril at Rosaryo (1967), and Pwede Ako Pwede Ka Pa Ba? (1976). Her last acting role was for the ABS CBN teleserye Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala (2013) with Judy Ann Santos.[6]

She won Best Actress Awards from Famas in 1966 for Ibulong Mo Sa Hangin and in the 1973 Manila Film Festival for the movie Pagibig Mo Buhay Ko!

Fuentes was a member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). She appeared in more than 130 films.

Personal life

Fuentes was born Amalia Amador Muhlach in Bicol. Her family has Spanish (Asturian), German and Chinese roots. Her father, Álvaro Muhlach Agüera, was born in Barcelona, Spain, to Alejandro Muhlach Agüera and Enriqueta Agüera Iglesias, who were from Santander and Comillas, respectively both in Cantabria, but their ancestry originated from Asturias; Alejandro's father is a descendant of German settlers in Spain. Her mother Concepción Borja Amador was born in Xiamen, China, to a Chinese father and a Bicolano mother from Goa, Camarines Sur. She was educated in Davao Central College.

Her father died during the war and as the eldest child, she became the family breadwinner. Her two younger brothers, Alex and Alvaro, are also actors. Amalia married fellow actor Romeo Vasquez in 1965 in Hong Kong but they separated in 1969. They had a daughter, Liezl Sumilang (wife of actor Albert Martinez).[7][8]

After her divorce from Vasquez, Amalia married Joey Stevens, an American businessman with whom she adopted a son, Geric Stevens. In the aftermath of the People Power Revolution, Stevens' bank accounts were frozen due to allegations of him being a crony of ousted president Ferdinand Marcos, upon which Fuentes participated in at least one pro-Marcos rally out of spite to the administration of Corazon Aquino.[9] She divorced Stevens after 28 years of marriage, citing infidelity. Stevens died in 2012.[10][11][12]

After retiring from films in 2013, she suffered a stroke while on vacation in South Korea.[13]

Death

Fuentes died on October 5, 2019, due to cardiac arrest and multiple organ failures.[14] She and family are buried at Loyola Memorial Park.

Accolades

Awards and nominations received by Amalia Fuentes
Organizations Year[a] Recipient(s) Category Result Ref.
Box Office Entertainment Awards 1970 Amalia Fuentes Box Office Queen Won
FAMAS Award 1965 Kulay Dugo ang Gabi Best Actress Nominated [3]
1966 Sapagkat Ikaw Ay Akin Nominated
1967 Ibulong Mo sa Hangin Won
1968 O! Pagsintang Labis Nominated [3]
1970 Kapatid Ko ang Aking Ina Nominated
1972 Divina Bastarda Nominated
1973 Babae... Ikaw ang Dahilan! Nominated
1974 Pag-ibig Mo, Buhay Ko Nominated
1975 Isang Gabi... Tatlong Babae! Nominated
2017 Amalia Fuentes Lifetime Achievement Award Won [15]
Gawad Pasado 2017 Amalia Fuentes Lifetime Achievement Award Won [16]
Manila Film Festival 1973 Pag-ibig Mo, Buhay Ko Best Actress Won [17]
Star Award for Movies 2016 Amalia Fuentes Ulirang Artista Lifetime Achievement Award Won [18][19]
The EDDYS 2019 Amalia Fuentes Icon Award Won [20][21]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Note(s)
2008 Kahit Isang Saglit
2013 Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala Dr. Maria Balaguer

Film

Year Title Role
1955 Prince Charming
1956 Rodora
Movie Fan
1957 Hahabul-Habol
1958 Madaling Araw
1959 Kahapon Lamang
Ipinagbili Ko Ang Aking Anak
1960 Isinakdal Ko Ang Aking Ama
1961 Joey, Eddie, Lito Amy
1962 Pitong Puso
1963 Esperanza at Caridad Caridad
1964 Mga Daliring Ginto
1965 Dream Girl
1966 Tatlong Kasaysayan ng Pag-ibig I-Betty, II-Cynthia, III-Tina
Ikaw... ang Gabi at ang Awit (Arrivederci Roma)
1967 Baril at Rosaryo
1968 Gaano Kita Kamahal
Sa Manlulupig Di Ka Pasisiil
1969 Adriana Adriana
Kapatid Ko Ang Aking Ina
Lorela Lorela
1970 Mga Batong Buhay Arminda
1971 Europe Here We Come!
1972 Huwag Mong Angkinin Ang Asawa Ko!
1973 Sa Aming Muling Pagkikita
1974 Durugin Ang Mga Diyablo Sa Punta Fuego
1974 Urduja
1975 Isinumpa
Lulubog Lilitaw sa Ilalim ng Tulay Amalia Marinella Fuentebella
May Lalaki sa Ilalim ng Kama Ko
1976 Ang Boyfriend Kong Baduy
Babaing Hiwalay sa Asawa
1977 Huwag Pipitas ng Bubot Na Bunga
1978 Buhay: Ako sa Itaas, Ikaw sa Ibaba
1979 Pagmamahal Mo Buhay Ko
1980 Aguila Isabel
Palaban
1981 Dirty Games
1982 My Only Love Camille
1983 Indecent Exposure
1984 Paano Ba ang Magmahal?
1987 Asawa Ko Huwag Mong Agawin Dr. Alice Paredes
1990 Higit Na Matimbang ang Dugo
1996 Reputasyon

Notes

  1. ^ Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.

References

  1. ^ "Kapamilya Family Tree:The Muhlach Family". Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  2. ^ "Kapamilya Family Tree:The Muhlach Family". Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Lo, Ricky (October 11, 2019). "Last misty-eyed look at Amalia Fuentes". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on February 9, 2025.
  4. ^ Dolor, Danny. "Juancho and Amalia in 2 Sampaguita films". Philstar.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  5. ^ Panaligan, Jojo (August 26, 2020). "Preserving our film heritage". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on February 6, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  6. ^ http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-22532776_ITM"Still Fiery After All These Years" Archived January 30, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Actress Liezl Martinez, wife of actor Albert Martinez, passes away". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  8. ^ San Diego, Bayani Jr. "Actress Liezl Martinez dies of cancer; 47". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  9. ^ Dumaual, Mario V. (June 4, 1986). "The biggest showbiz story since the fall of FM". National Midweek. Vol. 1, no. 25. Lagda Publishing Inc. pp. 42–43. Amalia [Fuentes] has talked to us several times about her sentiments and our own reading is that she participated in only one of the [loyalist] rallies to get back at the government.
  10. ^ "Amalia Fuentes regrets not forgiving husband Joey Stevens before his death". GMA News.
  11. ^ "PEP EXCLUSIVE: Amalia Fuentes says she's "finally free" of former husband Joey Stevens". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on October 6, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  12. ^ "PEP EXCLUSIVE: Amalia Fuentes regrets not forgiving husband Joey Stevens before his death". Philippine Entertainment Portal.
  13. ^ Stroke, Veteran Actress Amalia Fuentes Seen For the First Time After (June 21, 2017). "Veteran Actress Amalia Fuentes Seen For the First Time After Stroke". Philippine News. Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  14. ^ "Amalia Fuentes, pillar of Philippine cinema, dies". Rappler. October 5, 2019. Archived from the original on October 6, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  15. ^ Afinidad-Bernardo, Deni Rose M. (December 29, 2017). "FULL LIST: FAMAS 2017 winners". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on May 22, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  16. ^ "Amalia Fuentes, ginawaran ng Lifetime Achievement Award ng Gawad Pasado". GMA News Online (in Filipino). May 5, 2017. Archived from the original on March 19, 2026. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  17. ^ "Amalia Fuentes, Tony Mabesa pass away". SunStar. October 12, 2019. Archived from the original on March 19, 2026. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  18. ^ "IN PHOTOS: Star-studded PMPC Star Awards for Movies 2016". Rappler. March 7, 2016. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  19. ^ Garcia, Leony (February 24, 2016). "32nd Star Awards for Movies nominees unveiled". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  20. ^ "Movie icons, pararangalan sa 3rd Eddys". Philippine Entertainment Portal (in Filipino). May 27, 2019. Archived from the original on November 19, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  21. ^ Asis, Salve V. (May 27, 2019). "Unsung heroes sa likod ng camera pararangalan, mga batikan at tinitingalang artista bibigyan ng pagkilala sa 3rd Eddys". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on March 19, 2026. Retrieved March 19, 2026.