decided that the family will stay in the Philippines for good. Gloria and her siblings became successful as they grow to adulthood, the eldest Louise became a nurse, her late brother Tito Galla (1938–1979), became a popular actor, and the youngest Gilbert is a US based doctor. Career in film acting As a young girl from the province, it was her childhood dream of becoming an actress. She was a movie fan of movie stars and real-life couple Tita Duran and Pancho Magalona. In an interview, she said that she once told her high school teacher that she will be a movie star. Before becoming a huge star she started as a bit player, her very first movie was an extra in the 1949 movie Ang Bahay sa Lumang Gulod under Premiere Productions. But it was in Sampaguita Pictures that she was given a big break. She was introduced by her uncle, Nario Rosales, who was the studio’s Chief Editor. She initially portrayed the daughter of real-life couple Cesar Ramirez and Alicia Vergel, in Madame X (1952), and producers introduced her with a stage name "Gloria Romero". Romero got her first lead role in Monghita (1952) opposite Oscar Moreno. Afterward, Romero constantly topbilled box office hit films. She was often paired with Luis Gonzales in a loveteam. One of their iconic movies together was a movie that chronicles the lives of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda Marcos in the movie Iginuhit ng Tadhana: The Ferdinand E. Marcos Story (1965). starring a young Bongbong Marcos who played himself and Vilma Santos-Recto who played Marcos’ eldest child Imee Marcos. The film was later followed by Pinagbuklod ng Langit, which was released in 1969. During the 1950s, the first female onscreen rivalry in Philippine cinema was born, her famous rival was LVN Pictures movie queen and veteran actress Nida Blanca. Despite being screen rivals, they became good friends offscreen. Some movies that Romero and Blanca starred together was the blockbuster comedy film of 1984 Anak ni Waray vs. Anak ni Biday, this film reunites them with their perennial love teams Luis Gonzales and Nestor de Villa, the cast also includes Maricel Soriano and Snooky Serna. They also played mothers to matinee idol Aga Muhlach in the 1985 Lino Brocka classic Miguelito: Batang Rebelde. Romero received her first major acting award in the Filipino Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences (FAMAS)