Monang Carvajal

Carvajal was born in Manila in 1898, the daughter of Spanish Zarzuela actors Don Jose Carvajal and Patrocinio Tagaroma de Carvajal. By the age of 4, she was appearing on stage, appearing alongside her parents. In her teens, she was touring the bodabil circuit together with Manuel Silos as a comedy duo known as "Monang & Sano." Silos would later become a prominent film director.[1]

Carvajal made her film debut in 1920, in the silent film El Trust de los Tenorios. Soon, she found herself frequently cast in horror films, often as a monster, a witch (mangkukulam) or some other supernatural being.[1] Along her roles in this vein were in such films as Sumpa ng Aswang (1935), Gamu-Gamong Naging Lawin (1937), Halimaw (1941), and Malaya, Mutya ng Gubat (1948).

Carvajal was also adept as a film comedian as well, appearing in comic roles in Ay Monang (1939), Victory Joe (1946), and Principe Amante (1950). In 1962, she would be nominated for a FAMAS Best Supporting Actress award for her role in El Filibusterismo, Gerardo de Leon's film version of Jose Rizal's second novel. Thirty-two years earlier, Carvajal had appeared in a silent film version of Rizal's first novel, Noli Me Tangere.[1]

Carvajal maintained an active film career until nearly the end of her life, appearing in Mga Bilangong Birhen (1977). She died from cancer at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in June 1980.

Her brothers, Jose Carvajal[2] and Alfonso Carvajal,[3] as well as her daughter Perla, her granddaughter, Baby Delfino, and great-granddaughter, Alma Concepcion, all had careers as actors in the Philippines' film industry.

Monang Carvajal's son Ernesto and grandson Maurice were film make-up artists who specialized in prosthetics.

Monang Carvajal's nephew, Carlos K Carvajal, is an internationally known choreographer and director. He is the present co-artistic director of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival 2015.

Monang Carvajal's grand niece, Celina Carvajal [aka Lena Hall] won the 2014 Tony Award for best actress in a Broadway musical for her role as Istzak in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch."

• Lena Pareja (1994). "Philippine Film". In Nicanor Tiongson (ed.). CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art. VIII (1st ed.). Manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines. p. 217. ISBN 971-8546-31-6.

• Monang Carvajal at IMDb