Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo counts her blessings in memoir

May 24 ------ Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo is the epitome of someone who lives in faith, gratitude and service. She may have her fair share of hits and misses in life, but she remains unperturbed, knowing that God is in full control of everything. “My prayer consists of thanking God and asking Him that I may always deserve His grace. Prayer, to me, is the simple act of lifting my mind, heart and being to the Lord, and making my every living moment a prayer to Him,” she shared.

Born Maria Elisa Cristobal Anson during wartime to parents, post-war matinee idol Oscar Moreno (whose real surname is Anson) and pharmacist Belen de Leon Cristobal, Boots was destined to create a huge influence on those she meets in showbiz and public service. The veteran actress has been blessed with a thriving career in the entertainment industry.

She recalled, “In 1963, at 18, Channel 5 invited me during my senior year at the University of the Philippines (UP) to host ‘Dance-O-Rama,’ a nightly TV dance and entertainment show featuring young talents, bands, and emerging personalities. “Here, I met my co-host, Pete Roa, whom I married after a year.” She turned down the hosting offer twice, but her mother intervened and advised her to give it a try. She later became a host of “Student Canteen,” “Magandang Tanghali” and “Sunday Sweet Sunday.”

Her debut movie was “El Perro Gancho,” in which she played Eddie Rodriguez’s leading lady in 1968. This initial foray into acting led her to over a hundred films, such as “Wanted: Perfect Mother,” “Tanikalang Dugo,” “P.S. I Love You,” “May Minamahal,” “Mano Po,” “Blue Moon” and “Until She Remembers.” She explained that her latest role resonates with the challenges of aging and mental health. “It delved into a same-gender relationship in an LGBTQ era. The role extricated me from my comfort zone and proved to be out-of-the-box. It stretched my limits as an actress amidst the ‘shock value’ that prevailed in my audience.”

Boots went on an 11-year hiatus from showbiz when she served as Press Attaché, Cultural Officer and Special Assistant to the Ambassador at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. and resided and worked in Virginia with her family until 1993. She said, “I was blessed with a highly successful screen and TV comeback, and I have not stopped since then.” Over the years, her circle of friends has included Vilma Santos, Charo Santos-Concio, Helen Gamboa, Eula Valdez, Nova Villa, Mitch Valdez, Cesar Montano, Dingdong Dantes and Alden Richards.

At 81, Boots overflow with zest, love and passion. Her bucket list includes acting onstage the lead role of an overbearing matriarch in Federico García Lorca’s “La Casa de Bernarda Alba,” and doing a “Mamma Mia” song and dance number with long-time friends Helen and Charo in full costume.

If her life story were to be turned into a movie, she wants it to be titled “Serviam’ (I serve)” starring either Charo or Helen, with Angel Locsin portraying the young Boots. She finished writing a book titled Grateful, which she unveiled during her recent birthday celebration at Club Filipino. “My memoir is my way of saying thank you and giving back to the Lord and to mankind the many blessings and gifts bestowed on me. The book reflects on the different phases of my life and how, in pain and joy, successes and failures, I remain constantly grateful for God’s continuous grace,” she explained. Her memoir also includes finding love again in Atty. Francisco “King” Rodrigo, Jr., whom she married in 2014, in a wedding officiated by His Eminence Cardinal Luis “Chito” Tagle at the Archbishop’s Palace in Mandaluyong City.

Proceeds of Grateful will go to Mowelfund, which Boots has been serving since 1993 as a volunteer, executive director, president, board member and now, chairman. “I am grateful for everything that I am and have. All these are God-given. Nothing of this is mine,” she remarked.

Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo counts her blessings in memoir

Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo is the epitome of someone who lives in faith, gratitude, and service. She may have her fair share of hits and misses in life, but she remains unperturbed, knowing that God is in full control of everything. “My prayer consists of thanking God and asking Him that I may always deserve His grace. Prayer, to me, is the simple act of lifting my mind, heart and being to the Lord, and making my every living moment a prayer to Him,” she shared.

Born Maria Elisa Cristobal Anson during wartime to parents, post-war matinee idol Oscar Moreno (whose real surname is Anson) and pharmacist Belen de Leon Cristobal, Boots was destined to create a huge influence on those she meets in showbiz and public service. The veteran actress has been blessed with a thriving career in the entertainment industry.

She recalled, “In 1963, at 18, Channel 5 invited me during my senior year at the University of the Philippines (UP) to host ‘Dance-O-Rama,’ a nightly TV dance and entertainment show featuring young talents, bands, and emerging personalities. “Here, I met my co-host, Pete Roa, whom I married after a year.” She turned down the hosting offer twice, but her mother intervened and advised her to give it a try. She later became a host of “Student Canteen,” “Magandang Tanghali” and “Sunday Sweet Sunday.” Her debut movie was “El Perro Gancho,” in which she played Eddie Rodriguez’s leading lady in 1968. This initial foray into acting led her to over a hundred films, such as “Wanted: Perfect Mother,” “Tanikalang Dugo,” “P.S. I Love You,” “May Minamahal,” “Mano Po,” “Blue Moon” and “Until She Remembers.”

She explained her latest role resonates the challenges of aging and mental health. “It delved into a same-gender relationship in an LGBTQ era. The role extricated me from my comfort zone and proved to be out-of-the-box. It stretched my limits as an actress amidst the ‘shock value’ that prevailed in my audience.” Boots went on an 11-year hiatus from showbiz when she served as Press Attaché, Cultural Officer and Special Assistant to the Ambassador at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., and resided and worked in Virginia with her family until 1993. She said, “I was blessed with a highly successful screen and TV comeback, and I have not stopped since then.” Over the years, her circle of friends has included Vilma Santos, Charo Santos-Concio, Helen Gamboa, Eula Valdez, Nova Villa, Mitch Valdez, Cesar Montano, Dingdong Dantes and Alden Richards.

At 81, Boots overflows with zest, love and passion. Her bucket list includes acting onstage the lead role of an overbearing matriarch in Federico García Lorca’s “La Casa de Bernarda Alba,” and doing a “Mamma Mia” song and dance number with long-time friends Helen and Charo in full costume.

If her life story were to be turned into a movie, she wants it to be titled “Serviam’ (I serve)” starring either Charo or Helen, with Angel Locsin portraying the young Boots. She finished writing a book titled Grateful, which she unveiled during her recent birthday celebration at Club Filipino. “My memoir is my way of saying thank you and giving back to the Lord and to mankind the many blessings and gifts bestowed on me. The book reflects on the different phases of my life and how, in pain and joy, successes and failures, I remain constantly grateful for God’s continuous grace,” she explained. Her memoir also includes finding love again in Atty. Francisco “King” Rodrigo, Jr., whom she married in 2014, in a wedding officiated by His Eminence Cardinal Luis “Chito” Tagle at the Archbishop’s Palace in Mandaluyong City.

Proceeds of Grateful will go to Mowelfund, which Boots has been serving since 1993 as a volunteer, executive director, president, board member and now, chairman. “I am grateful for everything that I am and have. All these are God-given. Nothing of this is mine,” she remarked.

Source: philstar.com