Carmen Rosales: Movie Star Guerilla Fighter
The world needs to know about this kick-ass Filipina movie star.
When we think of the glamorous movie stars of the 1940s, gun-wielding guerilla fighters are not usually what we imagine.
But Carmen Rosales is an exception.
A Star is Born
Born Januaria Constantino Keller in 1917, the half-Swede half-Filipino was one of the Philippines’ first bonafide movie stars. After trying her luck as a radio singer in the early 1930s, the humble dressmaker from the northern province of Pangasinan eventually landed her first major break, leading to a long and fruitful career in the Philippine entertainment industry.
Mameng, as she was fondly called, starred in her first movie in 1938 and adapted the screen name Carmen Rosales after her hometown. She was known for her natural grace and sweet singing voice and often played the romantic leading lady in light comedy musicals and dramatic movies popular during that time. By 1949, Rosales became one of the highest-paid actresses and undoubtedly one of the most sought-after stars of Philippine Cinema.
A Dark Turn
However, Carmen’s life was not all about the glitz and glamour of being a movie star. Her fate came into a dark turn when World War II hit the country. As ominous as it sounds, one of her movies was still playing in theaters when the Japanese army marched into the archipelago.
During the Japanese invasion of Manila, her husband, popular radio personality Ramon Novales was killed at the hands of Japanese forces. Novales’ involvement with guerilla fighters ultimately led to his death. After her husband’s demise, Carmen decided to continue his fight and eventually joined the underground resistance movement herself.
The Guerilla Movie Star
Her exploits as a guerilla fighter for the Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon (People’s Anti-Japanese Army) were a far cry from her days in showbiz. Still, her cause to fight the Japanese oppression was more significant than her stardom. Carmen’s weapon of choice a .45 caliber gun and was even considered one of the movement’s skilled sharp-shooters. Carmen also shed her glamorous image as a guerilla fighter and would don a fake mustache to hide her identity during deadly missions. At one point, she was even part of a dangerous mission that captured and killed a Japanese conspirator.
As she fled to the southern province of Cavite to evade Japanese soldiers, the Japanese army eventually arrested Carmen. High-ranking Japanese officials forced her to make the pro-Japanese propaganda film entitled Tatlong Maria (Three Marias). A refusal to make the film would result in her death and the people from her town, as well.
Carmen did not shy away from hiding her guerilla fighting days. Her movie Guerilyera, released in 1946, showed Carmen as a guerilla fighter much like herself. The film was said to be heavily inspired by Carmen’s experiences. Her courage and patriotism further endeared her to Filipino audiences. As a way to recognize her contributions during the war, a district in her hometown of Rosales, Pangasinan, was named after her.
Post-war Life
When the war ended, Carmen returned to the movies, and her star continued to shine bright as ever. She went on to top-bill in more films in her career that lasted well into the 1960s. She died of kidney malfunction at the age of 74 in 1991.
Carmen Rosales lived an extraordinary life. From her humble beginnings to her days as the Queen of Philippine Cinema, to being a guerilla fighter — Carmen Rosales is proof that women can be beautiful while being a bad-ass, in a heroic, patriotic sense.
References:
https://filipiknow.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Carmen-Rosales.jpg?ezimgfmt=ng:webp/ngcb40
https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2005/03/06/269261/carmen-rosales-genuine-superstar
