Perla Bautista

Career

Bautista, at the age of 17 when she joined LVN Pictures together with teenage stars like Bernard Bonnin, Luz Valdez, Marita Zobel and Hector Reyes among others. She was formally introduced in the movie Eddie Junior Detective (1958). She appeared such films like Malvarosa (1958) starring Charito Solis, Leroy Salavador, Casa Grande (1958) starring Nida Blanca, Venganza (1958) with Mario Montenegro, Black Beauty (1960) with Charito Solis, and Kilabot Sa Barilan (1960) starring Fernando Poe, Jr.

The first independent outfit Tagalog Ilang Ilang Productions under the late Atty. Espiridion Laxa built up the unique loveteam of Joseph Estrada-Perla Bautista in their first movie together Markang Rehas (1962), both won the FAMAS best actor and best actress trophies.

Bautista did films like De Colores (1968) starring Joseph Estrada, Amalia Fuentes, and Leopoldo Salcedo, and Crush Ko Si Sir (1971) starring Dante Rivero, Hilda Koronel and Jay Ilagan. She played as the mother of Nora Aunor in a classic film Minsa'y Isang Gamu-gamo (1976).

She did movie Ded Na Si Lolo (2009) with Elizabeth Oropesa, Roderick Paulate and Manilyn Reynes, directed by Soxy Topacio. Bautista played the title role in Indie film Hermana Fausta (2009). She top bills Ang Maestra, is about a retired teacher with an Alzheimer's disease and the horror pic Huling Habilin, is about an old woman's ghost seeking justice.

She was cast in the television series Apoy Sa Dagat starring Piolo Pascual, Diether Ocampo, and Angelica Panganiban.

Personal life

She is the fifth of eight children of Vicente Bautista and Carmen Marcial. She finished secondary education at the Torres High School and enrolled in Commerce at the Lyceum of the Philippines. She has one son, Jude.