Rosa del Rosario (December 15, 1917 – February 4, 2006),

Rosa del Rosario

Rose del Rosario Stagner, better known by her screen name Rosa del Rosario (December 15, 1917 – February 4, 2006), was a Filipina film actress of Filipino-American descent.

She was born to an American father (Frank H. Stagner) and a Filipina mother from Pampanga (Aquilina del Rosario). She began studying at the age of seven and was enrolled in public schools. She attended Isabelo de los Reyes Elementary School until sixth grade. She studied at the Manila High School until tenth grade. She was an average student, although her grades fluctuated from time to time. She did odd jobs at bakeshops and sold cookies, siomai and empanada at the movie theaters, which enabled her to watch movie for free.

Her film debut was at the age of fourteen when she was cast as the daughter of Carlos Padilla Sr. and Alma Bella in the horror film Satanas (1932). She starred in her first major movie Ligaw na Bulaklak (1932) opposite Rogelio de la Rosa. 

She held the distinction of being the first actress to play the first Filipino superheroine on screen, Darna (1951), followed by Darna at ang Babaing Lawin (1952). Among her memorable movies were Doktor Kuba (1933, with Patrocinio Carvajal), Minda Mora (1929) and Zamboanga (1937) both with Fernando Poe Sr., Nang Magulo ang Maynila (1937, with Domingo Principe), Himala ng Birhen sa Antipolo (1947, with Rogelio de la Rosa), Caprichosa (1947, with José Padilla Jr.), Tandang Sora (1947, with Leopoldo Salcedo), Kumander Sundang (1949, with Efren Reyes) and Rosario Cantada (1951, with Ben Perez). She also starred in Hollywood films such as Border Bandits (1946), an uncredited role in American Guerilla in the Philippines (1950) and Anna and the King of Siam.

She left the Philippines in 1956 and moved to Novato, California. She was married to John Samit and had two children named Geraldine and Terry. She was also the grandmother of two girls named Hannah and Sarah McEllistrim.

Del Rosario died of pancreatic cancer on February 4, 2006 in Modesto, California at the age of 88.