MANILA, Philippines — Gloria Romero, also known as the 'Queen of Philippine Cinema,' passed away on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the age of 91.Her daughter, Maritess Gutierrez, confirmed the news in a social media post, saying she died 'peacefully.''To our dearest family, relatives and friends: It is with great sadness to announce the passing of my beloved Mother, Gloria Galla Gutierrez aka Gloria Romero who peacefully joined our Creator earlier today January 25, 2025,' Gutierrez wrote.She added, 'In this time of loss, our family deeply appreciates the support, prayers, sympathy, all the lovely messages, and heartfelt condolences that we've received. She will surely be missed dearly.'The wake will be held at Arlington Memorial Chapels, Hall A, located on Araneta Avenue, Quezon City. On Sunday, January 26, the schedule is exclusive for family and friends, with a novena at 5 p.m. followed by a mass at 6 p.m. On January 27 and 28, public viewing will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., while the rest of the day from 1 p.m. onwards will be reserved for family and friends. A novena will take place at 5 p.m., followed by a mass at 6 p.m. on both days.Tributes poured in for the beloved actress, including one from veteran actress Lovely Rivero. In an Instagram post featuring photos of Romero, Rivero wrote: 'You will never be forgotten, Tita Glo. Rest well in God's loving embrace. A round of applause for a life well lived.'In her caption, Rivero added, 'Rest well, our Movie Queen, Tita Gloria Romero. Praying for the repose of her soul and for strength for @chefmgutierrez, Chris and the whole family during this very difficult time.'With a career spanning more than 70 years, she has appeared in over 250 motion pictures and television productions.She has won three FAMAS Awards: Best Actress for 'Dalagang Ilocana' (1954) and 'Tanging Yaman' (2000); and Best Supporting Actress for 'Nagbabagang Luha' (1988). She has also won two Gawad Urian Awards for Best Actress for 'Tanging Yaman' (2000) and Best Supporting Actress for 'Magnifico' (2003), as well as three Metro Manila Film Festival Awards: Best Actress for 'Tanging Yaman' (2000) and 'Rainbow's Sunset' (2018); and Best Supporting Actress for 'I Think I'm in Love' (2002).One of the major stars of the first Golden Age of Philippine Cinema, Romero has been awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award by government agencies and major award-giving bodies, including the Luna Awards in 2002, FAMAS, Gawad Urian (both in 2004), the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) in 2009 and Film Development Council of the Philippines in 2024.
