Amalia Fuentes

Amalia Amador Muhlach (August 27, 1940 – October 5, 2019), commonly known as Amalia Fuentes , 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. She was the first recipient of Box Office Queen Award in 1970 from the Guillermo Mendoza Scholarship Foundation.

Career In 1956, Fuentes and fellow actor Juancho Gutierrez won Sampaguita Pictures' Mr. & Ms. Number One contest. 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. 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.

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).

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. She divorced Stevens after 28 years of marriage, citing infidelity. Stevens died in 2012.

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

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

Accolades

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

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