PILAR PILAPIL
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Considered among the country’s most striking faces, Pilar Pilapil was and is a great beauty to behold. But for many reasons.
Born in October 1950, Pilar Delilah Veloso Pilapil grew up in Liloan, Cebu. The sixth of ten siblings, she grew up with a grand aunt who doted on and spoiled her.
She was a bundle of joy who danced for the family. In school, Pilapil already begun acting. Each day she blossomed into a beautiful young lady boys pined for and most girls wanted to become.
It was in 1967 when her world got bigger. At 16 years old, she won the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe crown, giving her the right to represent the country in the grand Miss Universe stage.
While she didn’t win the prestigious crown, Pilapil captured the attention of her nation with her mystery and charisma.
Returning home to Liloan, Pilapil was met with offers from modelling to acting. Fernando Poe Jr. himself sent a production manager to Cebu to ask her to take part in a film.
Feeling unprepared, it took her a year to tell herself that she can be good at it, finally doing the film a year later.
Pilapil’s television career took off: She was in the comedy “Tisoy,” the drama “Alaala” and had her own musical show “This Girl Pilar.”
Throughout the ‘70s, Pilapil was everywhere and was already becoming a household name. Her first film was “El Nino” in 1968 opposite Andy Poe as her leading man, directed by Fernando Poe, Jr. Soon after, Pilapil became a sought-after actress who worked in over a hundred films and appeared in television shows.
It was in 1973 when her career took second place as she gave birth to a daughter she named Pia.
Among her numerous awards are Best Actress at the 1970 Manila Film Festival for the movie “Imelda, and Uliran” and another Best Actress Award for “Napakasakit Kuya Eddie” during the 1987 Gawad Urian Awards.
Pilapil’s love life also became public fodder. Despite her popularity, she sought love and suffered its complications. She slipped into a turbulent emotional and psychological disposition and shrouded her anxiety through parties, relationships and travelling.
At the same time, she had to keep up with her beauty queen roots, making sure she was beautiful all the time despite the inner turmoil. That was, until she found spiritual refuge.
In 1995, Pilapil had herself rebaptized as a born-again Christian. The year after, she became a missionary doing evangelism work – something she considers her biggest achievement – sharing the word of God and finding healing, restoration and deliverance.
In 1998, she organized a rally in Liloan, seeing an opportunity for evangelism and prayer as well as to provide participants counseling, medical and dental attention, film showing, and gospel concerts over the weekend.
She eventually put up the Pilar Pilapil Foundation, which primarily aids battered and abused women.
In 2002, she married Pastor Bernie Penas.
Still very much active in the entertainment industry, Pilapil has recently graced television shows such as “Pangako Sa ‘Yo,” “A Love to Last” and “The Blood Sisters.” Currently, she portrays the role of Divina Salvador in ABS-CBN’s morning drama, “Nang Ngumiti ang Langit.”
A few recent summers also the untiring Cebuana conduct acting and personality development workshops in Cebu.