Veteran actress Lolita Rodriguez dead at 81

Lolita Rodriguez in a critically-acclaimed film Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang where she played Kuala, a mentally unstable homeless woman.

MANILA, Philippines – Lolita Rodriguez, Lolita Marquez Clark in real life passed away at 81 last Monday, November 28, 2016 at 9:40 a.m. (California time) where she stayed for the hospice care in Genesis Care Center in Hemet, California. The actress suffered stoke last September, said by her multi-genre grandchild singer Radha Cuadrado.

Lolita Rodriguez was born in Majayjay, Laguna on January 29, 2016. She’s a daughter of her American father, William Charles Clark and Carmen Marquez who is a Filipina. She was married to the late actor Eddie Arenas and got divorced later. They had three children named after her favorite golf sport, Maria Dolores (Birdie), Eduardo Jr. (Bogey) and Maria Carmen (Par).

After retiring on films, Lolita chose to stay in Hemet, California with her American husband.

According to an Inquirer.net report, Rodriguez was fondly known being the original baby of the filmmaker of Lino Brocka during her time and being a favorite actress to work with of Nora Aunor and Hilda Koronel. It was also said that Hilda and Lolita never worked on screen together even though they are both favorites of Lino Brocka.

“I’ve never really acted with Lolita,” Hilda said in an Inquirer report. “But I loved her body of work. I looked up to her when I was starting in the industry. She was my model…of what I wanted to be as an actress.” She added in the same report.

Hilda also said that it was her dream to do film with Lolita.

Lolita Rodriguez was playing as an extra when she was discovered by the Sampaguita Pictures and made several films after that. And among those films where she won the best actress awards were Ina ka ng Anak Mo (You’re the Mother of your Child), Stardoom, and Kasalanan kaya? (Was it a sin?).

She was also known for playing her role in a Lina Brocka’s landmark film, “Tinimbang ka Ngunit Kulang (Weigh but Found Wanting).

It was said by Radha Cuadrado in the Philippine Star report that Lolita Rodriguez will be buried at Diamond Park, near Hemet.

Radha was quoted as saying as she described her grandmother as “nurturing and thoughtful”.