Something About Ms. Sofia
My Story The Early Years
Soledad (Sol, Solly) Relato Ballon was born on March 11, 1940, better known by her screen name Sofia Moran, is a Filipina actress, singer and recording artist. Sofia is credited with over 70 Philippine and foreign films during 1967-1974.
Ms. Moran's (Soledad) modest upbringing in the town of Nabua, Camarines Sur was a very simple, yet
Soledad (Sol, Solly) Relato Ballon was born on March 11, 1940, better known by her screen name Sofia Moran, is a Filipina actress, singer and recording artist. Sofia is credited with over 70 Philippine and foreign films during 1967-1974.
Ms. Moran's (Soledad) modest upbringing in the town of Nabua, Camarines Sur was a very simple, yet very fruitful life. Her loving Mother, Josefa (Relato) was determined to ensure that her daughter had a future and decided they move to the capital, Manila after graduating from Nabua College. While living in Pasay City, she opened and operated a Pet store, where shortly after she met Danny (Dante) Magdaluyo, a local Executive for his family's businesses enterprise. Danny was very smitten by her beauty and sophistication at young age, and began courting her for several years. Solly and Danny married on May 6, 1960, and within a year of their marriage, Dante (Danny) Jr. was born. then Christina (1961) and Marco (1962).
During early1965, her husband Danny Sr. left the Philippines to pursue business opportunities abroad, and after several years, both Solly and her husband became estranged and distant, and their communication less common. After a couple of years, Soledad made a choice to get back in the workforce as the lone bread-winner for her young children.
My Career (1967 - 1974)
Soledad Ballon Magdaluyo was introduced to show business after a close friend convinced her to accompany her to an open audition for extras at Sampaguita Pictures. They were both hired on the same day, after couple of trials, she met Luis Gonzales, a contract actor who recommended Soledad to be a "bit player" in his movie.
Her film caree
Soledad Ballon Magdaluyo was introduced to show business after a close friend convinced her to accompany her to an open audition for extras at Sampaguita Pictures. They were both hired on the same day, after couple of trials, she met Luis Gonzales, a contract actor who recommended Soledad to be a "bit player" in his movie.
Her film career began in 1967 shortly after Joseph Estrada, then the country's biggest box-office draw and action star, gave Soledad her first major break in show business and introduced her as Sofia Moran in a major action film produced by Estrada.
Sofia was immediately featured in Valiente Brothers, starring Estrada, Jess Lapid and Jun Aristorenas, the biggest action stars in the country, famously Directed by Augusto Buenaventura.
In the same year Fernando Poe, Jr. heard a buzz in the show business industry of a beautiful and sophisticated ingenue with a natural flair for acting, and immediately included Sofia as his leading lady in his classic action movie, Roman Montalan (1967), also starring the legendary Vic Silayan.
Sofia Moran made a remarkable 74 movies between 1967 and 1974 sharing the lead and starring next to the biggest leading male movie stars in the business to include Tony Ferrer, Eddie Garcia, Zaldy Zshornack, Vic Vargas and Bernard Bonnin.
Sofia Moran - A Timeless Cinematic Beauty
International fame
daring the cinematic industry
daring the cinematic industry
In 1971, Moran co-starred in the cult film Women in Cages with Pam Grier. The film was directed by the legendary Gerardo De Leon, later honored a National Artist of the Philippines, and produced by Oscar Honorary recipient, Roger Corman. The movie generated a huge cult following and was featured in the Planet Terror portion of the 2007 film Grindhouse directed by Oscar awardee, Quentin Tarantino.
In August 2007, Grindhouse Director Quentin Tarantino said of the film, "I'm a huge, huge fan of Gerry de Leon.... the film Women in Cages is just harsh, harsh, harsh," he said, and described the final shot as one of "devastating despair." Sofia generated critical international reviews from her role as Theresa in Women in Cages and was nominated as Best Actress in a Supporting Role during the 1971 Metro Manila Film Festival
daring the cinematic industry
daring the cinematic industry
daring the cinematic industry
Sofia Moran became known in the 1970's as one of the major actors starring in films representing both the liberation as well as exploitation of the Philippines Film Industry in scenes with daring and bold scenes such as her films in "Huwag Kang Makiapid" (1971) and "Marupok" (1970),[5] as well as the article by Michael Flores, Bodies of Work in Philippine Cinema.
iconic role
Her most memorable films were Sofia starred in many of the Philippines’ historical movie classics, notably the remake of a Philippine cinema classic, Siete Infantes de Lara (1973) as Princess Gismenia, co-starred with the legendary and award-winning filmmaker, and National Artist of the Philippines, Manuel Conde.
las vegas style performances
During the 1970s up until her migration to the United States (Las Vegas), Sofia was busy with her Las Vegas-style Live performances in Manila entertainment venues, such as the legendary Victoria Peak, as well as within the islands in the Philippines, Southeast Asia and major cities in Japan (Tokyo, Osaka).
Sofia Moran in Pictures: A Stunning Display of her iconic career
AFTER SHOWBIZ - Sofia to Soledad
After retiring from film, Moran lived in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Atlantic City, New Jersey, with her husband, Dante A. Magdaluyo. Magdaluyo worked as a casino pit manager at Caesars Atlantic City. Moran has homes in Nabua, Camarines Sur, Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada. Her husband, Dante, died on February 24, 2019, at Santa Maria Josefa Foundation Hospital in Iriga City, Camarines Sur.Ms. Moran is Catholic and she volunteers and supports the work of her parish, Holy Cross Catholic Church in Nabua, Camarines Sur and the Catholic Women's League in Naga City. Every year, she coordinates Nabua's annual Fiesta of Nuestra Senora de Angustia as the main Benefactor of the religious group.
