The golden age of Philippine cinema back in the 1950s seems like a bygone era. But the lasting impact it has on our film industry compels us to take a blast from the past and experience that era anew.
Anyone who has watched films from this golden era would easily recognize Tessie Agana, better known as the Shirley Temple of the Philippines and a child star whose works include Roberta, Kerubin, Ang Prinsesa at ang Pulubi, and many more.
This Nation’s Little Sweetheart has captured the hearts of many and together with her mother Linda Estrella, has carved out a name in an ever-evolving industry.
Even younger generations who took history and film classes don’t fall short of watching some of Agana’s iconic movie scenes in their trip down memory lane.
Now, decades later, cinephiles and bibliophiles alike can take part in an immersive experience and watch the golden age of Philippine cinema unfold through fresh lens.
The latest session of The Write Side of Bookshelf, Bookshelf PH’s monthly book club, will feature Mylene Agana Jao Richardson, the daughter of Tessie Agana, in a riveting narration of her mother’s life. Richardson’s book, The Legend of Tessie Agana: Beloved Child Star of the Philippines, is a fitting tribute to Philippine cinema and literature that creatives should take part of. This month’s event will be held at the SM Book Nook, a free library and community hub by SM Cares, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Supermalls.
Located on the third floor of SM Aura, Book Nook is home to more than 3,000 titles available for free to customers to promote a love for reading and learning. This is the first of such reading nooks that will open in various SM malls.
From her humble beginnings as a child actor in post-war Manila to her experiences on mental health and motherhood, daughter Mylene will detail Tessie Agana’s contributions to Philippine cinema and how it has ultimately influenced the majority of our films to take on family-centric storylines.
Readers and creatives can delve deeper into the artistic and cinematic direction and behind the scenes of creating a well-loved child star and the different characters she has played in over 40 films. Join this month’s book club session at Book Nook on Thursday, February 22, 2023, 4pm at SM Aura Book Nook featuring the life story of the child star from the Golden Age of Philippine Cinema, Tessie Agana.
