Sofia Moran

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Sofia Moran
Sofia Moran in Manila 2016
Born
Soledad Ballon

(1940-03-11) March 11, 1940 (age 84)
NationalityFilipino-American
Other namesSol, Solly
Occupation(s)Actress, Singer, Record Artist, Philanthropist
Years active1967–present
Spouse
Dante A. Magdaluyo
(m. 1960; died 2019)
Children3
Websitehttps://sofiamoran.org/

Soledad (Sol, Solly) Ballon Magdaluyo (born March 11, 1940), better known by her screen name Sofia Moran, is a Filipina actress, singer and record artist, credited with over 60 Philippine and foreign films. The Philippine actress began her film career in the Philippines in 1967 shortly after Joseph Estrada, then the country's biggest box-office draw and action star, gave her a first break and introduced her as Sofia Moran in his major film in 1968. She was born as Soledad Ballon in Nabua, Camarines Sur.

Career[edit]

Sofia (1968) Manila, Philippines
taken in her town of Nabua, Camarines Sur 2018

Sofia was immediately featured in Valiente Brothers, starring Joseph Estrada,[1] Jess Lapid Sr., and Jun Aristorenas,[2] the biggest action stars in the country in 1968, and famously Directed by Augusto Buenaventura.  

Sofia Moran made a remarkable 64 movies between 1967 and 1974 sharing the lead and starring next to the biggest leading male movie stars in the business to include Joseph Estrada, Fernando Poe Jr.,[3] Tony Ferrer, Eddie Garcia, Zaldy Zshornack, Vic Vargas[3] and Bernard Bonnin.[4]

Her most memorable films were Sofia starred in many of the Philippines’ historical movie classics, notably Siete Infantes de Lara (1973) as Princess Gismenia, co-starred with the legendary and award-winning filmmaker, Manuel Conde.

During the 1970s up until her migration to the United States (Las Vegas), Sofia was busy with her Las Vegas-style Live performances in Manila entertainment venues, such as the legendary Victoria Peak, as well as within the islands in the Philippines, Southeast Asia and major cities in Japan (Tokyo, Osaka).

In 1971, Moran co-starred in the cult film Women in Cages with Pam Grier. It was featured in the Planet Terror portion of the 2007 film Grindhouse directed by Quentin Tarantino. In August 2007, Grindhouse Director Quentin Tarantino said of the film, "I'm a huge, huge fan of Gerry de Leon.... the film Women in Cages is just harsh, harsh, harsh," he said, and described the final shot as one of "devastating despair." Sofia generated critical international reviews from her role as Theresa in Women in Cages  and was nominated as Best Actress in a Supporting Role during the 1971 Metro Manila Film Festival

Sofia Moran became known in the 1970's as one of the major actors starring in films representing both the liberation as well as exploitation of the Philippines Film Industry in scenes with daring and bold scenes such as her films in "Huwag Kang Makiapid" (1971) and "Marupok" (1970),[5] as well as the article by Michael Flores, Bodies of Work in Philippine Cinema.[6]

Filmography[edit]

Filmography
Year Film
1967 Alamid
1967 Pambihirang Pito
1967 Roman Montalan
1967 Pambihirang Tatlo
1967 Magnificent Bandit
1967 Kidlat Meets Gringo[3]
1967 Eagle Commandos
1967 Buhay Marino
1967 Baril at Rosaryo
1967 Walang Hari sa Batas
1968 Valiente Brothers
1968 Tigre Gitano
1968 The Magnificent Zorro
1968 Quinto de Alas
1968 Palos Strikes Again
1968 Leon Guerrero: Laban sa 7 Kilabot
1968 Kapwa walang panginoon
1968 Giyera patani
1968 Daredevil
1968 Dambana ng Kagitingan
1968 Cuadro de Jack
1968 Agents wen Manong
1968 Magnificent Karatista
1969 Dolpe de Gulat
1969 Liquidation Squad
1969 Ang ninong kong Nazareno
1969 Seven Deadly Roses
1969 Kalinga
1969 Ronquillo Brothers
1969 Palos Fights Back!
1969 Franco Negro
1969 Musmos na mandirigma
1969 Target, Hongkong
1970 San Diego
1970 Marupok
1970 Baligtaran
1970 Pigilin mo ang Umaga
1971 Isla de Amor
1971 Arkong Bato
1971 Sophia
1971 Huwag kang makiapid
1971 Inday
1971 Castigo
1971 Playpen
1971 Ang mga Palaban
1971 Women in Cages as Theresa (uncredited)
1971 San Cristobal
1971 Sigaw ng Katarungan
1972 Batwoman and Robin as Catwoman
1972 The Smugglers
1972 Parehas ang Laban
1972 Walang impiyerno sa Matatapang
1972 Bandolera
1972 Secret Witness
1972 Los compadres
1973 Karateka Boxer
1973 I Shall Return
1973 Siete Infantes de Lara as Princesa Gismenia
1973 Kingpin
1974 No Tears for the Brave
1974 Dial 717
1974 Napahiya ka, 'No?
1974 The Magic Fighters

Personal life[edit]

Sofia with husband, Dante

After retiring from film, Moran lived in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Atlantic City, New Jersey, with her husband, Dante A. Magdaluyo. Magdaluyo worked as a casino pit manager at Caesars Atlantic City.[7]

Moran has homes in Nabua, Camarines Sur, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Las Vegas, Nevada. Her husband, Dante, died on February 24, 2019, at Santa Maria Josefa Foundation Hospital in Iriga City, Camarines Sur.

Moran is Catholic. She volunteers and supports the work of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Nabua and the Catholic Women's League in Naga City. Every year, she coordinates Nabua's annual Fiesta of Nuestra Senora de Angustia.

Further reading[edit]

  • Quirino, J. (1973). Like Dew in April and Other Stories. Philippines: National Book Store.
  • Zafra, J. (1995). Twisted. Philippines: Anvil.

References[edit]

  1. ^ King, Amy K. (2016). ""Just like Back Home—Only Different!": Plantation Exploitation in 1970s Women-in-Prison Movies Filmed in the Philippines". The Global South. 10 (2): 48–69. doi:10.2979/globalsouth.10.2.04. ISSN 1932-8648. JSTOR 10.2979/globalsouth.10.2.04. S2CID 149083052. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  2. ^ Cowie, Peter (1977). World Filmography, 1968. Tantivy Press. p. 493. ISBN 978-0-498-01569-4. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Cowie, Peter; Elley, Derek (1977). World Filmography: 1967. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press. p. 449. ISBN 978-0-498-01565-6. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  4. ^ Aros, Andrew A. (1977). An Actor Guide to the Talkies, 1965 Through 1974. Scarecrow Press. p. 495. ISBN 978-0-8108-1052-5. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Liberation and Exploitation: On Sex Flicks and the Filipino, Before, During, and After Martial Law". Esquiremag.ph.
  6. ^ Flores, Patrick D. (2000). "Bodies of Work: Sexual Circulations in Philippine Cinema". Humanities Diliman: A Philippine Journal of Humanities. 1 (1). ISSN 2012-0788. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  7. ^ Slagle, Alton (17 June 1991). "Cloud hangs over holiday". Daily News. Newspapers.com. Retrieved 1 December 2020.

External links[edit]