Marilyn Cahatol

Screen legend and humanitarian Rosa Rosal dies at 96

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Leah C. Salterio

<div></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763182801335584001346_1291524569668244_8555947171800268569_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt=""/>Philippine Red Cross/FacebookMANILA — Rosa Rosal, the award-winning actress revered as one of Philippine cinema’s golden age icons and later celebrated for her decades of humanitarian work with the Philippine Red Cross, has died. She was 97.</div>Rosal’s death was confirmed by the Philippine Red Cross on Saturday, November 15, though details were not immediately disclosed.&quot;For over 7 decades, Gov. Rosal devoted her life to the service of the Red Cross. She championed voluntary blood donation across the country, strengthened PRC’s welfare services, and used every platform she had to promote compassion, volunteerism, and the protection of the most vulnerable,&quot; PRC said in a Facebook post.For the most part of her life, Rosal lived her life for others. Devoting her life working for the Philippine National Red Cross for nearly seven decades, Rosal hardly thought about what was for herself. Instead, she spent her life reaching out to others and helping them in every way she could.She was tagged as the original femme fatale of Philippine cinema. The lady with the 22-inch waistline, Rosal was remembered for her enviable figure.Born Florence Lansang Danon on October 16, 1928, Rosal never imagined she would face the movie cameras one day.Back in 1946, shortly after the end of the World War II, Rosal was spotted by director-producer Luis Nolasco, while she was watching a film shooting on her way home. The man lost no time in signing her up to a film contract with the Nolasco Brothers Studio.Rosal made her big screen debut in “Fort Santiago” (1946), starring Leopoldo Salcedo. The following year, she teamed up with Salcedo in “Kamagong.” She subsequently played a number of other supporting parts in more films before she was given the big break.It was, however, at LVN Pictures, where Rosal was given her first starring role in “Biglang Yaman” (1949).Rosal was a daring actress, dauntless in her choice of roles. She didn’t mind playing villain roles, the other woman or the bad girl. As early as the 1950s, she donned sexy clothes on the big screen and had no qualms paying lip service to her leading men.It was back in 1950 when Rosal joined the Red Cross as one of the volunteer-members of its blood program. She organized the first blood donation drive at the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa City.Fifteen years later, in 1965, Rosal was elected to the Red Cross Board of Governors. She used prominence as an actress to organize fund-raising activities and saving lives.Through the years, when one mentions Rosal’s name, she was inevitably often associated with the Red Cross. She was consistently diligent in her volunteer work that she served as a legendary icon of Philippine volunteerism.She was often in tears when she saw people flocked to the office of Red Cross. She consistently helped in every big or small way.At the height of her film career and in the thick of her popularity, Rosal tied the knot with American-Polish pilot, Walter Gayda, a Clark Gable look-alike. It was a whirlwind romance in 1957. They met in Hong Kong. She was only 28 and he was 15 years older. After three months of courtship, they got married.The guy, however, couldn’t cope with Rosal’s soaring popularity, that even during their honeymoon in Hawaii, they were hounded by photographers. He left her after only five days.Their union, however, produced a daughter, Toni Rose.Rosal received acting accolades throughout her career. She was accorded the FAMAS Best Actress trophy for “Sonny Boy” (1955) and earned nominations in three other films – Gregorio Fernandez’s “Dagohoy” (1953) about valiant Boholano hero Francisco Dagohoy, Manuel Silos’ “Biyaya ng Lupa” (1959), the “best film” Rosal had made and Emmanuel Borlaza’s “Ang Lahat ng Ito Pati Na ang Langit” (1989).Rosal’s role in Lamberto Avellana’s “Anak Dalita” (1956) earned for her a citation from President Ramon Magsaysay. She was also acclaimed for Tony Santos’ “Badjao” (1956).Rosal received the Citizens Award in 1969 for appearing in the series, “Balintataw.”In the ‘80s and ’90s, Rosal worked with such actresses as Lorna Tolentino and Sharon Cuneta in “Nakagapos na Puso” (1984), directed by Leroy Salvador; Susan Roces and Dina Bonnevie in “Ang Lahat ng Ito Pati Na ang Langit” (1989).Rosal also acted in films of action star Rudy Fernandez in “Lagalag: The Eddie Fernandez Story,” directed by Romy Suzara (1994); dramatic actor Christopher de Leon and Kris Aquino in “Mahal Kita, Walang Iba,” directed by Ishmael Bernal (1992); and Judy Ann Santos in “Esperanza: The Movie,” directed by Jerry Lopez Sineneng (1999).Rosal’s last appearance on the big screen was in “Botelya” (2008), an indie film directed by Manny Palo that featured an all-star cast led by Alessandra de Rossi, with Caridad Sanchez, Anita Linda, Boots Anson-Roa, Angel Aquino, Pauleen Luna and Katrina Halili.At the start of the millennium, Rosal’s film appearances came few and far between. Instead, she welcomed offers to do teleseryes.She was cast in ABS-CBN’s “Saan Ka Man Naroroon” (2001), with Claudine Barretto, Rico Yan and Diether Ocampo; and “Ang Iibigin ay Ikaw” (2002), with De Leon, Richard Gomez, Alice Dixson and Lani Mercado.Rosal also joined the cast of “Narito ang Puso Ko” (2003), with Jolina Magdangal and Raymart Santiago; and “Vietnam Rose” (2005), with Maricel Soriano.In March 2010, Rosal was distraught when one of her two grandsons, died after accidentally falling from the fourth floor of the family’s condominium unit. Twenty-seven-year-old Edward James Gayda Lim was the son of Toni Rose Gayda and husband Moonie Lim.Rosal admitted, “My heart broke into a million pieces” when her grandson died. She went to the Red Cross everyday to be busy and get her mind off the pain. The Red Cross became her refuge and sanctuary. The people she saw around gave her comfort.Rosal devoted hours to helping other people even in TV shows like “Damayan” and “Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko.”In 1999, Rosal received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service because of the services she devoted to the Philippine National Red Cross. In a career that bridged art and advocacy, Rosal left a legacy not only as a screen legend but also as a humanitarian who dedicated much of her life to helping others.Funeral details are expected to be announced in the coming days.<div> </div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kf5YPEq3TA8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

Rosa Rosal, the award-winning actress revered as one of Philippine cinema’s golden age icons and later celebrated for her decades of humanitarian work with the Philippine Red Cross, has died.

Rosa Rosal, the award-winning actress revered as one of Philippine cinema’s golden age icons and later celebrated for her decades of humanitarian work with the Philippine Red Cross, has died.

Screen legend and humanitarian Rosa Rosal dies at 97

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Screen legend and humanitarian Rosa Rosal dies at 97

Leah C. Salterio

Published Nov 15, 2025 01:06 PM PHT

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Updated Nov 16, 2025 06:10 PM PHT

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