Mona Lisa

Gloria Lerma Yatco (June 22, 1922 – August 25, 2019), better known by her stage name Mona Lisa, was a Filipino film actress. Known by the screen name Fleur de Lis before and during World War II, along with LVN's first leading actress Mila del Sol and Fernando Poe. The film, directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa, is also remembered because Mona Lisa's appearance made history as she became the first actress to appear in a Filipino film wearing a bathing suit.

After WWII, she came back to the limelight as Mona Lisa, top billed with Teddy Benavidez in Kalbario ng Isang Ina (1946) and Siyudad sa Ilalim ng Lupa (1949) opposite Fernando Royo.

Mona Lisa paired with some of the Philippines' finest actors of the 1940s such as Ricardo Brillantes in Batang Lansangan, Pag-ibig at Patalim (1948) opposite Teddy Benavidez and Hanggang Langit (1947) with the Philippine actor known as "The Great Profile" Leopoldo Salcedo.

In the mid-40s, Mona Lisa paired several times with action/drama actor Fernando Poe in movies like Intramuros (1946), The 13th Sultan and Sagur, both in 1949.

Before the war struck Manila, Mona Lisa paired with famous debonair actor of the 40s Serafin Garcia in the movie Tinangay ng Apoy in 1940 and second lead only to the Philippines' newest screen siren of the early 1940s Paraluman opposite Fernando Poe.

Mona Lisa portrayed a war-shock civilian in 1952's Ulila ng Bataan opposite Sampaguita Pictures girl wonder Tessie Agana and Buhay Alamang (Paglukso'y Patay), along with Sampaguita actor Fred Montilla combined with premier actress Anita Linda also in 1952.

She resumed her film career in 1970 after an absence of nearly two decades, and remained active in the industry where she got a Best Supporting Actress Award for Insiang, and another Best Supporting Actress Award for the Metro Manila Film Festival in 1977 consecutively, where she portrayed a sex hungry mother of Insiang played by Hilda Koronel.

Some of her films from the mid to late 70s were as a supporting actress to lead actors such as Rio Locsin in Risa Jones: Showgirl! (1979), Atsay (1978) with Nora Aunor, Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak (1978) with Vilma Santos and Bembol Roco, Mananayaw (1978) with Chanda Romero and Phillip Salvador, Hindi Kami Damong Ligaw (1976) with Charito Solis, and Itim (1976), in which she plays the mother of the character interpreted by a then promising talent and rising star, Charo Santos.

Her last movie, Mother Ignacia, in which she plays a nun in a Catholic church, was released in 1998.

A book on her life and career in show business written by her granddaughter, Mona Lisa: A Portrait (From the Memoirs of a Grandmother), was published in 2013 by ABS-CBN Publishing Inc.

Death Lisa died in her sleep on August 25, 2019, at her home in Manila, three years after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, at the age of 97.

Filmography Film Year Title Role 1930 Bago Lumubog ang Araw 1937 Ang Pagbabalik 1938 Walang Pangalan Mga Sugat ng Puso Makiling Dasalang Perlas Bukang Liwayway Bahay Kubo Ang Magmamani 1939 Giliw Ko 1940 Dilim at Liwanag Tinañgay Na Apoy Datu-talim 1941 Paraluman Luksang Bituin Puting Dambana Palaris Bayani ng Buhay Ang Viuda Alegre 1942 Princesa Urduja 1946 Intramuros: The Rape of a City Kalbario ng Isang InaBarong-barong 1947 Bisig ng batas Hanggang langit Maria Kapra 1948 Batang Lansangan Matimtiman Pag-ibig at Patalim Sunset Over Corregidor Outrages of the Orient Krus ng Digma Forbidden Women Princess Apamena Beast of the East 1949 Siyudad sa Ilalim ng Lupa 1949 Sagur 1949 The 13th Sultan 1949 Naglahong Tala 1950 Sundalong Talahib 1951 Dugo ng Bataan 1952 Buhay Alamang 1952 Ulila ng Bataan 1953 Blood of Bataan Lolita Zalasar 1970 Romantika 1970 Romantiko 1974 La Paloma: Ang kalapating ligaw Soledad 1974 Isang Gabi... Tatlong Babae! 1975 Mga Uhaw na Bulaklak 1975 Araw-araw, Gabi-gabi 1976 Hindi Kami Damong Ligaw 1976 Uhaw Na Bulaklak, Part II 1976 Insiang Tonya 1976 Itim Aling Pining 1977 Electrika Kasi, Eh! 1978 Mananayaw 1978 Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak Diding 1978 Atsay Lola 1979 Sino'ng Pipigil sa Pagpatak ng Ulan? 1979 Risa Jones: Showgirl 1980 Tanikala 1981 Alfredo Sebastian 1982 Oro, Plata, Mata Lola Desta 1982 Cain and Abel Senora Pina 1983 Hulihin ang... Mandurugas 1983 Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan ang Nakaraan Tia Salud 1984 Soltero Old lady at the condominium 1984 This Is My Country Turing's mother 1986 Napakasakit, Kuya Eddie 1987 Paano Kung Wala Ka Na? Mrs. Ledesma 1987 1 + 1 = 12 + 1 (Cheaper by the Dozen) 1989 Barbi: Maid in the Philippines 1989 Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita Nanay Belen 1991 Umiyak Pati Langit Doña Elena 1991 Huwag Mong Salingin ang Sugat Ko Mrs.Regala 1994 The Elsa Santos Castillo Story: The Chop Chop Lady Adelina Santos 1996 Pagsubok sa Hirap at Ginhawa 1998 Mother Ignacia Mother Ignacia (elder years) 2003 Kiskisan Bining 2005 Camiling Story Jenny

Television Year Title Role Remarks 1988 A Dangerous Life Francisca Monzon 1992 Maalaala Mo Kaya Episode: "Dapithapon" 2000 Episode: "Tirador" Kakabakaba 2001 GMA Telesine: Pariwara Maalaala Mo Kaya Episode: "Gitara"

Awards and nominations Year Award-giving body Category Work Result 1976 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Insiang 1977 FAMAS Awards Best Supporting Actress Insiang 1983 FAMAS Awards Best Actress Cain and Abel 1986 Gawad Urian Awards Best Supporting Actress This Is My Country 1999 Gawad Urian Awards Lifetime Achievement Award 2005 Golden Screen Awards Gawad Lino Brocka Lifetime Achievement Award National Commission for Culture and the ArtsPama-As Gintong Bai Award