Lilian Velez-Clímaco (March 3, 1924 – June 26, 1948) was a Filipina film actress and singer. Her 1948 murder by fellow actor Bernardo "Narding" Anzures scandalized the post-war Philippines.
Lilian Velez | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lilian Velez (1924-03-03)March 3, 1924 Cebu City, Philippine Islands |
| Died | June 26, 1948(1948-06-26) (aged 24) Quezon City, Rizal, Philippines |
| Resting place | Manila North Cemetery |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1935–1948 |
| Spouse | José Clímaco |
| Children | Vivian Climaco Ocampo |
Born in Cebu to a composer, Velez first came into the limelight when she won an amateur radio singing contest in the mid-1930s. Prior to the outbreak of World War II, her singing career thrived, and she popularized one of her father's songs, Sa Kabukiran. Velez also won the heart of Jose Climaco, the manager of the radio station which had sponsored the contest which won her fame. They were married in 1942 and had one daughter named Vivian V. Climaco (May 4, 1944–September 19, 2021).
Her film career began upon the resumption of Filipino film production after the end of the war. She joined Filippine Films, and with her husband as director, starred in such films as Binibiro Lamang Kita, Ang Estudyante, and Sa Kabukiran, inspired by the song that had earlier earned her fame. Her leading man in these films was Narding Anzures, a former child star.
Her last film appearance when she joined in LVN Pictures, after the success of her previous films produced by Filippine Films, which she starred in her first & last movie appearance which is "Enkantada" ,with her new leading man, Jaime de la Rosa, released in 1948, which would be unexpectedly finished her career before her murder happened on the same year.
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Enkantada (Sa Mahiwagang Pulo) | LVN Pictures, with her first & last appearance with Jaime De la Rosa and in LVN pictures alone |
| 1947 | Sa Kabukiran | Philippine Pictures Inc., also being composed by his own father, Manuel Velez; directed by her husband, Jose Climaco; her last appearance with Narding Anzures; and lastly, made her the most successful movie film ever produced. |
| 1947 | Ang Estudyante | Philippine Pictures Inc., second appearance with Narding Anzures |
| 1946 | G.I Fever | Philippine Pictures Inc. |
| 1941 | Binibiro Lamang Kita | Filippine Films, first being paired with her first on-screen partner, Narding Anzures |
| 1940 | Inday | Filippine Films |
| 1939 | Naglahong Dambana | Filippine Films |
Velez had three brothers named Theodoro (a popular craftsman), Cecilio and George (or Jose or Joseph) and two sisters named Gloria and Aida.
After the success of Sa Kabukiran, LVN Pictures decided to cast Jaime de la Rosa as Velez's leading man in her next film. The decision caused distress on the part of Anzures, who had seemingly become obsessed with the married Velez. At 1:00 am of June 26, 1948, Anzures paid an unexpected visit to the Quezon City home of Velez. Upon his arrival, he stabbed Velez to death and a housemaid who had come to her mistress's assistance. The crime was committed within view of Velez's toddler daughter Vivian, who was unharmed during the incident. Anzures was promptly arrested, tried and convicted for the murders. The crime and the subsequent trial was a cause célèbre in Manila. Anzures later died in jail from tuberculosis; his exact motives for the murder were never fully determined. She was buried at Manila North Cemetery[citation needed]
In 1995, the murder of Lilian Velez was the subject of a high-profile film directed by Carlo J. Caparas. Starring award-winning actress[1] Sharon Cuneta as Velez and Cesar Montano as Anzures, the film was one in a string of "true-crime" films churned out by Caparas in the mid-late 1990s.