Chanda Villanueva Romero (born February 26, 1954 ) is a Filipino actress. She is mostly seen on GMA Network. She played supporting roles and leading roles in many films during the early and late 1970s. Her prolific work in sexy comedies and dramas caught the attention of many directors, and in the 1980s, showed her serious work as an actress in the Ishmael Bernal's Working Girls and Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin?, both in 1984. She showed a different side in what may be considered as her most underrated work in Kapag Tumabang ang Asin with Daria Ramirez, and Pag-ibig na Walang Dangal with Dindo Fernando and Charo Santos.

Biography

Chanda Romero is the daughter of Enrique Romero, son of Francisco Romero Jr. and Gloria Villanueva of Negros Oriental, and Remedios Valenzuela, daughter of Ramiro Valenzuela and Josefina de la Victoria of Cebu. Her father Enrique, also known as Bobby, was the paternal grandson of Francisco Domingo Romero Sr., presidente municipal of Tanjay, Negros Oriental from 1909 to 1916 and later a member of the Provincial Board of Negros Oriental, and Josefa Muñoz, daughter of Tanjay presidente municipal Don José Muñoz Teves and Alejandra Ines Calumpang. Her father was also the maternal grandson of Enrique Cayetano Villanueva, Sr., governor of Negros Oriental from 1916-1925 and later representative of the 2nd district of Negros Oriental from 1925 to 1931, and Francisca Baena Gómez, Negros Oriental Carnival Queen in 1909. Other relations include her mother's sister Milagros Valenzuela de Urgello, Cebu Carnival Queen in 1937; her grandfather's brother José María Emeterio Romero, the first Philippine ambassador to the Court of St. James's and later Secretary of Education; Eddie Romero, National Artist for Film; Jose Romero, Jr., former Philippine ambassador to Italy; Hector R.R. Villanueva, Press Secretary of Philippine President Fidel Ramos and later Postmaster-General of the Philippines during the Arroyo administration; among others.

Career

In the 1970s and the 1980s, she had a staple of films in which she starred with award-winning actresses such as Elizabeth Oropesa, Hilda Koronel, Gloria Diaz and Daria Ramirez. As a result, she caught the attention of directors Celso Ad Castillo, Ishmael Bernal, Danny Zialcita and Lino Brocka. Her leading men include Philip Salvador, Eddie Garcia, Christopher de Leon, Dindo Fernando, Joel Torre, etc. In the 1990s, her work in television also brought her success. Shows such as Villa Quintana. She was also praised for her role in the 1997 movie Ligaya Ang Itawag Mo Sa Akin which was directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna. Romero is a freelancer but does more projects in GMA Network. She has starred in ABS-CBN projects as well like the religious-centered drama series Kapalaran and the role of Vida Mojica in the Vietnamese-Filipino teleserye starring Maricel Soriano and John Estrada, Vietnam Rose. During 2012, she transferred to TV5 for the first time and became part of Kidlat as Minerva Megaton. As of 2013, Romero is with GMA-7.

Personal life

She married Jose Mari "Mayi" Alejandrino on October 25, 2013. On May 17, 2014, Chanda and Mayi professed their vows in a commitment ceremony at the Tierra de Maria Chapel in Tagaytay. Her mother died on July 6, 2020, as one of the casualties of COVID-19 in Cebu City.

Filmography

Film

Television / Digital Series

Awards and nominations