Gloria Romero’s daughter Maritess Gutierrez (in black blouse) joins other people (above) close to the late actress as they view her remains on Jan. 27, two days after her death at the age of 91. Romero, whose real name is Gloria Anne Borrego Galla, was a leading star in the first Golden Age of Philippine cinema in the 1950s who had a prolific career even until her senior years. Among her films are “Hong Kong Holiday” (1957), a production set in the titular location; the “ugly duckling” variation of “Kurdapya” (1954); and “Dalagang Ilocana” (1954), for which she won the first of her two Famas best actress awards. A great dramatic performer who was also adept in comedy, Romero stood out in rom-coms that played with social conventions. Her most iconic role, however, is that of Imelda Marcos in “Iginuhit ng Tadhana,” the 1965 movie that helped launch the presidential campaign of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. His son and namesake President Marcos, in his message on Monday paying tribute to Romero, recalled meeting her for the first time on that film set and described the actress as “always a great lady with the dignity of a true star.” —LYN RILLON
MANAGING RICE SUPPLY
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and representatives of grocery chain operator MerryMart Consumer Corp. (above) sign on Friday an agreement to sell rice through the Department of Agriculture’s “P29 Rice” and “Rice-for-All” programs. Other efforts by the DA to make the staple more affordable to consumers include the reselling of rice imports at Kadiwa stores such as the outlet at Elliptical Road in Quezon City. Earlier this month the DA had pegged rice imports at the maximum retail price of P58 per kilo. But the product continues to be sold at higher prices in other public markets. The DA is expected to enforce this week a resolution declaring a food security emergency on rice to help stabilize prices, although a farmers’ group has warned about the impact of that order on private retailers. —JORDEENE B. LAGARE AND LYN RILLON
GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), deploying its patrol vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua on Thursday, observes China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 3304 some 200 kilometers off the coast of Zambales province after tailing that intruding ship. Despite the PCG’s vigilance, the CCG maintained its presence in that area where it had deployed three other ships that day. On Saturday, US maritime expert Ray Powell monitored nine other CCG vessels in Philippine waters. The sight of Chinese ships nearer the coast of Luzon has become a noticeable pattern in its incursions, apart from their control of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal and Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, and their hostile actions in other parts of the West Philippine Sea. —SCREENGRAB FROM PCG VIDEO
