Dolzura Cortez
Ma. Dolzura Cortez | |
|---|---|
| Born | Maria Dolzura Cortez |
| Died | 1992 |
| Cause of death | AIDS |
| Known for | First publicly Filipino AIDS victim |
Ma. Dolzura Cortez (died 1992) was a Filipino AIDS victim. She was the first Filipino with AIDS to publicly discuss her life and her experience living with HIV/AIDS.[1][2] Cortez responded to a newspaper ad looking for a person living with HIV/AIDS who was willing to have their life serialized in print and later developed into a movie.[3]
Her life story was made into the 1993 Filipino film Dahil Mahal Kita (English "Because I Love You: The Dolzura Cortez Story"), directed by Laurice Guillen, screenplay by Ricardo Lee, starring Vilma Santos, Christopher de Leon, Charito Solis, Maila Gumila, Mikee Villanueva, and Jackie Aquino.
Profile
[edit]Born somewhere in Mindanao, Cortez, through a publicized newspaper story, revealed that at age 14, she first went into a relationship with an army corporal—a married man—"twice her age"; they had three children. She then migrated to Angeles City, Pampanga, where their relationship became complicated.[4]
She later worked at decent jobs and with the help of an Australian businessman, she continued pursuing her education and started a business through a bar in Ermita, Manila. While managing a bar, she gave birth to two more children, each from her foreign contacts—a Qatari and a Bahraini—one of them believed infected her with HIV.[4]
Her failure to seek refuge in her hometown later forced her to live her remaining days in San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.[4] It was where Cortez, responding to a request by journalist Ceres Doyo of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, shared her story with the public,[4] becoming the first person with AIDS (PWA) to openly admit suffering from the disease.[5]
Cortez died in the same hospital[6] on October 12, 1992, at age 31.[4] According to the Department of Health, she was the 50th person in the country to die with the disease.[5]
Impact of her published story
[edit]Biographical film
[edit]OctoArts Films bought the rights for her biographical film,[4] a romance drama which later titled Dahil Mahal Kita (The Dolzura Cortez Story).[6] Vilma Santos, as Cortez wanted in one of the latter's conversations,[4] portrayed the title role.[6] The film's theme song, revived from the eponymous single by the Boyfriends, was recorded by Ogie Alcasid.[4]
The movie was released as an entry of the 1993 Manila Film Festival, which began on June 25.[6]
The film was screened in the Singapore International Film Festival in 2004.[7]
| Cast (main) |
Vilma Santos Christopher de Leon Charito Solis |
| Director | Laurice Guillen |
| Writer | Ricky Lee |
| Cinematographer | Totoy Jacinto |
| Film editor | Ike Jarlego |
| Musical scorer | Nonong Buencamino |
Overview
[edit]The film mainly focuses on Cortez's love story since her teenage years,[6] and recounts how she publicly appeared for the first time and raised consciousness about HIV/AIDS, with its intent to challenge the idea of distinguishing right and wrong.[8]
According to Guillen, the film mainly aimed to make teenagers aware of and have understanding of the disease.[6]
Accolades
[edit]In 1994, the film won awards in the 12th Annual Academy Awards of the Film Academy of the Philippines,[9] and in the annual Gawad Urian Awards.[8]
| Year | Award-giving body | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Gawad Urian Awards | Best Actress | Vilma Santos | Won | [8] |
| 12th Annual Academy Awards | Won | [9][8] | |||
| Best Picture | Dolzura Cortez Story | Nominated | [10] | ||
| Best Director | Laurice Guillen | Nominated | [10] | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Charito Solis | Nominated | [10] | ||
| Best Musical Score | Nonong Buencamino | Won | [9] | ||
| Best Scriptwriter | Ricardo Lee | Won | [9] |
References
[edit]- ^ Doyo, Ma Ceres P. (1993). Journalist in Her Country: Articles, Essays & Photographs, 1980-1992. Anvil Pub. pp. 44–52. ISBN 978-971-27-0320-1.
- ^ Balgos, Cecil C. A. (2001). Drugs, Death, and Disease: Reporting on AIDS in Southeast Asia. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. p. 26. ISBN 978-971-8686-33-1.
- ^ Zaldivar, S. B. (February 1995). "Health care personnel's critique on the Philippines' first movie on AIDS". AIDS Care. 7 (1): 95–98. doi:10.1080/09540129550126894. ISSN 0954-0121.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Wijangco Estacio, Athle (June 27, 1993). "Dahil Mahal Kita: An Inspiring, Dramatic Story". Manila Standard (Sunday Standard Magazine). Manila. pp. 8–9, 14. Retrieved June 25, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ a b Calalo, Arile; Burgos, Bobby (October 22, 1992). "'Migrants' from CL, Manila; 300 Pasay bar girls AIDS carriers". Manila Standard. Manila. p. 16. Retrieved June 25, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d e f "Dolzura film not just about AIDS, but love as well". Manila Standard. Manila. June 24, 1993. p. 17. Retrieved June 25, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ Torre, Nestor (April 15, 2004). "Viewfinder: Singapore film fest honors Laurice Guillen with retrospective". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Makati. p. A32. Retrieved June 25, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d Sloan, Jane (2007). Reel Women: An International Directory of Contemporary Feature Films about Women. Lanham, Maryland, United States: Scarecrow Press, Inc. p. 168. ISBN 978-1-4616-7082-7. Retrieved June 25, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d Philippine News Agency (April 26, 1994). "Santos, Salvador win in filmfest". Manila Standard. Manila. p. 19. Retrieved June 25, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c "FAP awards given tonite". Manila Standard. Manila. April 23, 1994. p. 18. Retrieved June 25, 2024 – via Google Books.