Push Admin

Actresses who astounded with “ssspectacular,” “ssstunning” portrayals of Darna’s archnemesis Valentina

Article (news)

Bea Kalaw

<p>Legendary Pinoy comics superheroine Darna has fought loads of bad guys, but her most iconic archenemy of all is the powerful villainess, Valentina.</p><p>Just by hearing “Valentina,” Pinoys can already conjure an image of her – you guessed it – chilling head of snakes and wickedness. Comics legends Mars Ravelo and Nestor Redondo definitely did something right when they put Darna, an inspiring heroine, against Valentina, another strong woman to be her first nemesis. The rivalry stuck generation after generation, making Valentina probably the most recognizable female supervillain in the country.</p><p>Valentina’s cursed past especially captures audiences and even storytellers, who constantly reimagine and retell her story. We’ve been given a chance to see real-life versions of the character too with the various portrayals of actresses in films and TV shows.</p><p>If you haven’t met the Valentinas over the years, get to know them in this feature!</p><div> </div><div><strong>Cristina Aragon</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><img alt="Cristina Aragon" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/darna/2022/07/31/Cristina-Aragon-1.JPG"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><small><em>Photo credit to </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=790858207955165&amp;set=pcb.790861534621499"><em>Mars Ravelo&#x27;s Darna the Superheroine FB Page</em></a></small></div><p>Actress Cristina Aragon played the snake-crowned villainess in the 1951 “Darna” film, making her the first-ever Valentina in history.</p><div> </div><div><strong>Celia Rodriguez</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><img alt="Celia Rodriguez" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/darna/2022/07/31/Celia-Rodriguez-2.JPG"/></div><p>The 1973 film “Lipad, Darna, Lipad!” cast multi-awarded Filipina actress Celia Rodriguez to take on the iconic role of Valentina. In her version, Valentina was a zoologist with a specialization in reptiles like snakes.</p><div> </div><div><strong>Melissa Perez Rubio</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><img alt="Melissa Perez Rubio" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/darna/2022/07/31/Melissa-Rubio-3.JPG"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><small><em>Photo credit to </em><a href="http://video48.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-eighties-1110-melissa-perez-rubio.html"><em>Video48</em></a></small></div><p>As Valentina’s story is a unique one on its own, a film solely about her was made in 1989. Entitled “Valentina,” the titular role was given to Melissa Rubio. Being the film’s protagonist, we get to see more of Valentina’s backstory and her own struggles and journey in life.</p><div><strong>Pilar Pilapil</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><img alt="Pilar Pilapil" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/darna/2022/07/31/Pilar-Pilapil-5.JPG"/></div><p>The next actress to play Valentina in a Darna film was Pilar Pilapil in 1991. Actress and former beauty queen Pilar portrayed a striking yet fashionable Valentina, who also cared for a pet snake named Vibora</p><div> </div><div><strong>Pilita Corrales</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><img alt="Pilita Corrales" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/darna/2022/07/31/Pilita-Corrales-6.JPG"/></div><p>Asia&#x27;s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales also dipped her toes in the slithering shenanigans of Valentina. In the 1994 film “Darna: Ang Pagbabalik!,” Pilita’s Valentina also had a daughter, Valentine, played by Cherie Gil.</p><div> </div><div><strong>Jodi Sta. Maria </strong></div><p>Yes, Jodi Sta. Maria also portrayed the famed role of Valentina once in 2006. In ABS-CBN’s fantasy-drama anthology “Komiks Presents,” Jodi played the goddess of snakes in the series’ “Valentina” episode.</p><div style="text-align:center"><img alt="Jodi Sta. Maria" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/darna/2022/07/31/Jodi-sta-maria-4.JPG"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><small><em>Photo credit to rbchanco IG</em></small></div><p>What made her version different from most adaptations was Valentina had goodness within her. She dealt with the unfortunate curse of having snakes as her hair and the ability to control and communicate with them.</p><div> </div><div><strong>Melissa Ricks</strong></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z8di7juJESI" title="Zoila" s="" Valentina="" Highlights="" Wansapanataym="" width="1280"></iframe></div><p>ABS-CBN anthology series “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/wansapanataym" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>Wansapanataym</u></strong></em></a>” made a take on Valentina’s story with her as a young woman with good intentions, but a cursed fate. They aired an episode in 2010 starring Melissa Ricks as Valentina.</p><div> </div><div><strong>Janella Salvador</strong></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/INGXMzzLWwk" title="Kilalanin si Janella Salvador bilang Regina! | Darna Teaser" width="1280"></iframe></div><p>The serpent queen shall rise again this 2022 in ABS-CBN’s fantaserye “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/darna" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>Mars Ravelo’s Darna</u></strong></em></a>” and the prized role will be played by multi-talented actress Janella Salvador. She will be having her grand television comeback playing a modern Valentina who is also a lawyer and vlogger.</p><p>“<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/darna" target="_blank"><u><strong>Mars Ravelo’s Darna</strong></u></a>” will air on August 15 on <u><strong><a href="https://kapamilyachannel.com/" target="_blank">Kapamilya Channel</a></strong></u><strong><u>,</u></strong> A2Z, Jeepney TV, and TV5 and will also be available on <u><strong><a href="https://kapamilyaonlinelive.com" target="_blank">Kapamilya Online Live</a></strong></u>, <u><strong><a href="https://app.iwanttfc.com/Mkr3OdLk6ab" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></strong></u>, and The Filipino Channel.</p>

Meet the talented actresses who astounded us with their portrayals of Darna’s greatest archnemesis Valentina through the years in this feature!