FOREVER YOUNG: JULIE VEGA

Her funeral is the most attended funeral in Philippine history (aside from Cory, Ninoy, Ramon Magsaysay and FPJ). At the time of her death, she left behind a large body of unfinished work including an airing soap opera, an unpromoted debut music album, and singing engagements both in the Philippines and abroad.

Also, she was about to do her 2nd album, start hosting two television shows and as one of the mainstays of an upcoming teen-oriented talent show. Her name's -

JULIE VEGA

(turn up the volume to hear the intro)

Darling. On May 21, 1968, in Quezon City, Julie Pearl Apostol Postigo was born to dentist Julio Postigo from Zamboanga del Sur and Perla Apostol (nicknamed Pearl) from Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.

The beautiful meztiza girl, Julie Pearl was nicknamed Darling by her parents and 5 brothers James (nicknamed Jimmy), Jeffrey (nicknamed Joey, 1960–1983), Jonathan (nicknamed Noni), Joseph (nicknamed Toti), and Jerry (nicknamed Steve). She was also called Tata (which means youngest child in the Visayan language).

A Big, Big Child Movie Star. In 1974, while performing at a Christmas party at the Quezon Institute, where her mother then worked, the 6-year old Julie Pearl was discovered by renowned film and stage director Lamberto Avellana (1st National Artist for Film and Theater) and veteran actress Boots Anson-Roa. Julie Pearl was offered and became a commercial model of Purefoods hotdog and Band-Aid.

The following year, in 1975 she was introduced as Darling Postigo in her first film entitled "Ang Pag-ibig Ko’y Huwag Mong Sukatin" as the young daughter of Boots Anson-Roa and Dante Rivero.

Showing her good potentials in acting she got nominated as Famas Best Child actress from next movie "Mortal" with Dindo Fernando at the age of 7. She has done several movies as Darling Postigo in films like, "Mga Tinik Ng Babae" (as the young Alma Moreno), "Amorseko, Kumakabit, Kumakapit," an action movie with George Estregan and Vilma Santos and has done several other commercials like "Green Cross Alcohol", "La Germania" and a toothpaste commercials.

But it was until she joined the search for "Mga Mata Ni Angelita" (a popular DZRH Radio Drama) whom she competes with over 200 other child aspirants. Despite placing only third, her angelic beautiful face had been chosen to play the role of "Angelita." In her first major lead and breakthrough 1978 film "Mga Mata ni Angelita," she started using the screen name Julie Vega upon the recommendation of film producer and director Larry Santiago, who owned Larry Santiago Productions which produced the film. She was supported by an "All Superstar Casts" in the movie and turned out as a "Blockbuster" hit.

"Mga Mata Ni Angelita" won Julie as Famas Best Child Actress in 1979. Then came the remake of "Roberta" (1979), "Durugin si Totoy Bato" (1979) and movie adaptation of the popular comics series "Pompa" (1980), "Kape't Gatas" (1980) where she won as the Film Fest Best Child Performer and tied with Nino Muhlach, a sequel "Angelita, Ako Iyong Ina" (1980) with Susan Roces and "Anak Ng Atsay" (1980) with Nora Aunor.

In 1981, she did 3 movies, "Milagro sa Porta Vega," "Flor de Liza," and "Mga Basang Sisiw" where she was again nominated for Best Child Actress.

Rejecting Flor de Luna. The fact is "Flor de Luna" (the popular TV series on Channel 9) was first offered to Julie but they couldn't accept it because of an exclusive movie contract with Larry Santiago and her hectic schedules in making films, shows and schooling. Later on "Flor de Luna" was offered to her best friend Janice de Belen.

Anna Liza. She was 11 when the title role "Anna Liza" (aired on GMA network, 1979-1985) came her way. Barely 9 months later after turning down "Flor de Luna."

"Anna Liza" became a "household" name. By 6 o'clock in the evening, people nailed in their television from Sunday to Friday cried, laugh and fell in love with her. The screen name Julie Vega was never used in "Anna Liza." She was simply billed as "Anna Liza" as commanded by her producer Larry Santiago. Nevertheless, her legion of fans made the series a top rater until the end. Julie blossomed as a competent actress of her generation and begged as one of the most "Angelic Beautiful Faces" in Philippine showbiz.

Teen Movie Star. When Julie Vega became a teenager, she was signed to Regal Films matriach Mother Lily Monteverde. She was then included among the so-called Regal "Cry Babies" and made 6 all "Box- Office" hit movies namely, "Where Love Has Gone" (1982), "Mother Dear" (1982), "To Mama With Love" (1983), "Don't Cry For Me Papa" (1983), "Dear Mama" (1984), and "Daddy's Little Darlings" (1984),

Seiko Films boss Robbie Tan also got Julie's service via film "Iiyak Ka Rin" (1983) with Edgar Mande in 1983. The same year, she got nominated as Famas Best Supporting Actress in her role for "Isang Bala Ka Lang" (1983) again with Fernando Poe Jr. "Lovingly Yours Helen, The Movie" (1984) was her last movie.

Anak ng Atsay (1979)- Stars Nora Aunor, Julie Vega and Dante Rivero

Durugin si Totoy Bato (1979) - Stars Fernando Poe, Jr., Charo Santos, Julie Vega and Roland Dantes / Won the Famas Best Child Actress Award- second in a row

Angelita... Ako ang iyong Ina (1980) -Stars Susan Roces and Julie Vega

Kape't Gatas (1980) - Stars Chiquito and Julie Vega

Pompa (1980) - Stars Julie Vega in the title role
based on a popular komiks serial by Elena Patron

Flor de Liza (1981) - Stars Eddie Rodriguez, Daria Ramirez, Julie Vega and Janice de Belen

Iiyak ka Rin (1983) - Stars Julie Vega, Edgar Mande, Rey PJ Abellana, Leni Santos

Don't Cry For Me, Papa (1983)- Stars Charito Solis, Liza Lorena, Ric Rodrigo, Snooky, Gabby Concepcion and Julie Vega

Isang Bala Ka Lang! (1983)- Stars Fernando Poe, Jr., Marianne Dela Riva
and Julie Vega

Roman Rapido (1983)- Stars Fernando Poe, Jr., Janice De Belen, Sheryl Cruz, Helen Vela and Julie Vega

Dear Mama (1984)- Stars Charito Solis, Gloria Romero, Laurice Guillen, Alicia Alonzo, Rey PJ Abellana and Snooky, Julie Vega, Janice De Belen

Daddy's Little Darlings (1984)- Stars Dolphy, Snooky, Maricel Soriano, Julie Vega, Janice De Belen, William Martinez, Albert Martinez, Edgar Mande, Rey PJ Abellana

First Love

Aside from acting, Vega also became a successful singer in her own right. She initially refused to pursue a singing career of her own, but after repeated proddings from her older brother Joey, who noticed her beautiful singing voice, she finally consented to doing so. She took formal voice lessons under renowned songwriter Cecille Azarcon to further hone her singing voice. With the training she received, she was able to sing many of the theme songs of the movies she appeared in like Dear Mama, Where Love Has Gone, Don't Cry for Me Papa, and Iiyak Ka Rin.

It was during one of her singing promotions for Where Love Has Gone that Julie Vega was discovered by Bong Carreon, who then offered her to be a recording artist for the then newly formed Emerald Recording Company owned by Carreon himself and his then wife, the famous Filipina singer Imelda Papin. Her debut single Somewhere In My Past, composed by Mon Del Rosario, was a major hit which became a certified gold record in only its first few weeks of release and would prove to be her most enduring hit and the one song she would be most identified with. The single’s success prompted Bong Carreon and Imelda Papin to launch Julie Vega as a full-time solo artist by coming up with the latter’s 1985 debut album "First Love," which included Somewhere In My Past and produced her further hit songs like Someone Special, The Memory Will Remain, and the title track itself.

According to Julie herself, she particularly liked singing because it is through this medium that she is able to best express her inner thoughts and feelings. This became especially true after the tragic loss of her brother Joey, to whom she was particularly very close to. Joey was stabbed to death in a car by hired killers, who mistook him for another person they were hired to look for and then kill, while hanging out with his friends in 1983. His untimely death at the age of 22 proved to be devastating for the young Julie, who was then made to repeatedly wish to join him in death. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Vega)

Sudden Death

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