NESTOR DE VILLA

Nestor de Villa BIOGRAPHY





Néstor de Villa is a Filipino actor. Aside from being a famous actor, he was also a gifted dancer where he was often paired with favorite onscreen partner Nida Blanca in both movies and television. His dancing talent led others to call him the "Fred Astaire of the Philippines."

De Villa was born Gines Francisco Soriano on July 6, 1928 in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. He made his first movie with LVN Pictures entitled Amor-Mio (My Love).

Nestor, was medical student at the University of Santo Tomas,when he was discovered by Susana de Guzman when his friends went with Celia Flor in her shooting.

Scriptwriter Nemesio Caravana, who was then doing the screenplay for the Rogelio de la Rosa-Lilia Dizon movie, Dimas, offered him a part in the film. Given that kind of encouragement from respected movie people, Nestor finally considered getting an audience with LVN matriarch Doña Sisang de Leon, who lost no time giving him a build-up contract. Among his early films were Rodrigo de Villa, Amor Mio and Dimas.

In 1952, he was teamed up for the first time with Nida Blanca in Romansa sa Nayon and their tandem was born. The list of films he subsequently did with Nida is long: Dalawang Sundalong Kanin (also with Pugo and Togo), Hijo de Familia, Tumbalik na Daigdig, Iskwater, Hiyasmin, Waray-Waray, Luneta, Tinedyer, Darling Ko, Ibong Adarna, Handang Matodas, Talusaling, Ikaw Kasi, Easy Ka Lang Padre, Bahala Na, Sebya, Mahal Kita, Kalyehera, Wala Kang Paki, Turista, Baguio Fever, Tingnan Natin, Ganyan Ka Pala, Medalyong Perlas, Anak ni Waray and My Serenade.

Nestor de Villa, however, also made films with other LVN leading ladies: Delia Razon in Dalagang Taring, Charito Solis in Big Shot, Ang Langit Ko’y Ikaw, Unos sa Laot, Dahlia and Villa Milagrosa, Carmencita Abad in Bayanihan and Luz Valdez in her launching movie, Chinita.

Nestor decided to drop out of medical school to the disappointment of his father, Emiliano Soriano, who wanted him to become a doctor. As a result of Nestor’s decision to quit his studies, the old man, who belonged to Nueva Ecija’s landed gentry, refused to speak to him for about a year. It wwas Dona Sisang who arranged for the reconciliation of the father and the son.

He was devoted to his film company until 1961, when LVN closed shop. He then transferred to Sampaguita Pictures where in 1962 he made his first movie, Tugtuging Bukid (Music in the Field), together with Gloria Romero.
After his stint in LVN, Nestor went on to do movies for other film companies and for a while even produced movies with Nida Blanca. Twice, he was nominated in the FAMAS for best actor – in Mga Yapak na Walang Bakas and in Siete Dolores. Later he, was also named Mr. Philippine Movies.

In 1967, he had an unsuccessful bid in politics and during the time that he was inactive in the movies and on TV, he spent most of his time doing photography, which eventually became a lucrative second career for him since his services as photographer became in demand for print ads. His photography studio was in the posh Bricktown near the old Quad in Makati and below it was the family-owned restaurant.

On ABS-CBN, he did The Nida-Nestor Show (at 8 p.m. every Thursday) for more than half a decade. A comedy show (it had different stories every week) that opened with a rousing dance number with Nida Blanca, this program gave Nestor de Villa the Best Male Performer award in the 1967 Citizens’ Award for Television (CAT).

In 2001, Nestor had another crack at television when he starred in the sitcom Biglang-Sibol, along with Celia Rodriguez, Delia Razon, Sylvia la Torre and a cast of young talents that included Alessandra de Rossi and Jeffrey Quizon.

On the big screen, he became active again in the ’80s and when Viva Films revived his team up with Nida in Forgive and Forget (also starring Sharon Cuneta and William Martinez). Other films he did for Viva were Cross My Heart (with Charito Solis, Sharon Cuneta, and Rowell Santiago), Saan Darating ang Umaga? (with Ms. Blanca and Maricel Soriano) and Like Father, Like Son (with Niño Muhlach, Leroy Salvador and Herbert Bautista.

For Regal he did Anak ni Waray vs. Anak ni Biday in 1984. I believe, however, that he gave his best performance around this period in the Mike de Leon movie, Hindi Nahahati ang Langit. Nestor’s last movie was Forevermore for Star Cinema two years ago.

De Villa made his screen comeback along with Nida Blanca in two movies with Viva Films: Forgive and Forget, which also starred Sharon Cuneta and William Martinez, and Saan Darating ang Umaga (Where Will the Morning Come), a heavy family drama which also starred Maricel Soriano and Jaypee de Guzmán.

De Villa died of prostate cancer on February 21, 2004, having remained active in films up to the very end.


Paul Soriano, the boyfriend of Toni Gonzaga is his grandson from Jeric Soriano.
Another son, Joby is a minister.His wife is Marilu Cacho.

Sources: newsflash and wikipedia.

Selected Filmography

1. Forevermore (2002) .... Alejandro
2. "Sa dulo ng walang hanggan" (2001) TV series .... Gov .Federico Bustamante

3. Ligaw-ligawan, kasal-kasalan, bahay-bahayan (1993) .... Totoy

4. Prinsesang gusgusin (1987)
5. Like Father, Like Son (1985) .... Albert
6. Hindi nahahati ang langit (1985) .... Ariston
7. Anak ni Waray, anak ni Biday (1984)
... aka Anak ni Waray vs. Anak ni Biday (Philippines: Tagalog title)
8. Saan darating ang umaga (1983) .... Noel
... aka Saan darating ang umaga? (Philippines: Tagalog title)
9. Forgive and Forget (1982) .... Nelson
10. Mother Dear (1982)

11. Magkapatid na Jesse at James (1967)
12. Wow na wow (1967)
13. Espiya kontra espiya (1966)
14. Familia Galawgaw (1966)
15. Huwag kang sumingit (1966)
16. Mabilis paa't kamay (1966)
17. Sound of Bwisit (1966)
18. Everybody Dance (1965)
19. Utos ni Tale hinde mababale (1965)
20. Naku yabang (1964)
21. Si Doray naman (1964)
22. Yeba Chiquicha (1964)
23. Bukas ay akin, Ang (1963)
... aka Tomorrow Is Mine (Philippines: English title)
24. Asiang ng La Loma (1963)
25. Limbo Rock (1963)
26. Magtiis ka darling (1963)
27. Jam Session (1962)
28. Oy akin yata yan (1962)
29. Sikat na siga pa (1962)
30. Tugtuging bukid (1962)
31. Lawiswis kawayan (1961)
32. Walang sisihan (1961)
33. Bakit ka nagtampo (1960)
34. My Serenade (1960)
35. "Nida-Nestor Show" (1960) TV series
36. Pitong gabi sa Paris (1960)

37. Surrender - Hell! (1959) .... Major Bulao
... aka Blackburn's Guerrillas (USA)
... aka Blackburn's Headhunters (USA)
38. Baguio Fever (1959)
39. Tayo'y magsaya (1959)
40. Wala kang paki (1959)
41. Anak ni Waray, Mga (1958) .... Delfin
42. Austerity Love (1958)
43. Casa grande (1958)
44. Tingnan natin (1958)
... aka Let Me See (Philippines: English title: literal title)
... aka Let's Find Out (Philippines: English title: literal title)
45. Villa milagrosa (1958)
46. Kalyehera (1957)
47. Bahala na (1957)
48. Ganyan ka pala (1957)
49. Sebya, mahal kita (1957)
50. Turista (1957)
51. Aling kutsero (1956)
52. Big Shot (1956)
53. Easy ka lang, padre (1956)
54. Handang matodas (1956) .... Delfin
55. Medalyong perlas (1956)
... aka Pearl Necklace (International: English title: literal title)
56. 1 2 3 (1955)
57. Dalagang taring (1955)
58. Darling ko (1955)
59. Ibong Adarna, Ang (1955)
60. Ikaw kasi (1955)
61. Talusaling (1955)
62. Luneta (1954)
63. Singsing na tanso (1954)
... aka Silver Ring (Philippines: English title: literal title)
64. Tin-edyer (1954)
... aka Teenager (Philippines: English title: literal title)
65. Waray-waray (1954) .... Delfin
66. Dalawang pag-ibig (1953)
... aka Two Love (Philippines: English title: literal title)
67. Hijo de familia (1953)
68. Hiyasmin (1953)
69. Squatters (1953)
70. Tumbalik na daigdig (1953)
71. 2 sundalong kanin (1952)
... aka Dalawang sundalong kanin (Philippines: Tagalog title)
72. Amor mio (1952)
... aka My Love (Philippines: English title: literal title)
73. Haring Solomon at Reyna Sheba (1952)
74. Romansa sa nayon (1952)
75. Tenyente Carlos Blanco (1952)

Researched by:

Cathy

Tags:
entertainment, Philippine movie actors , Philippine movie actresses Nestor de Villa