Armando Goyena(1922-2011)

Armando Goyena was born Jose Goyena Revilla, Jr., in Manila. His parents, Jose Revilla, Sr. and Florentina Goyena, were from high society. Goyena married model and socialite Paquita Roces in 1951, and they sired 8 children, three of whom entered show business after their father (Maritess Revilla, Tina Revilla, and Johnny Revilla). The eight children have married into illustrious names, including Palanca, Araneta, Yabut and Araneta. A graduate of De La Salle College where he took up commerce, Goyena proceeded to manage a soda fountain in Manila, where one day playwright Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero walked in to have coffee. Guerrero then invited Goyena to join a production of Filipino Players. He found himself performing before army veterans in an open-air benefit performance of 'Wanted: A Chaperone' (1946). Guerrero cast him in other productions, such as 'Condemned' (1946), and 'Wow! These Americans' (1947), and even created a one-actor play for him entitled 'What a Guy!' (1948). He also acted for Lamberto V. Avellana and his Barangay Theater Guild, appearing in 'Joan of Lorraine' as Dunois, in 'Summer and Smoke' as John, and in 'A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino' as Tony Javier. Goyena approached Doña Sisang (Narcisa de Leon), LVN producer who was his mother's friend, so he could enter the movies. After a long wait, he was finally given the role of an army lieutenant, a second lead to Leopoldo Salcedo in 'Puting Bantayog' (1948). After several more second-lead roles, he was given his first starring role in Maria Beles (1949). After his next movie, 'Prinsesang Basahan' (1949), LVN firmed up his loveteam with Tessie Quintana. Together they made 15 films in all and the movies were all hits: Sa Tokyo ikinasal (1948); Ibigin mo ako, lalaking matapang (1949); Virginia (1949); Tenyente Carlos Blanco (1952); Tiya Loleng (1952)_; Amor mio (1951); and Damong ligaw (1954). Goyena was the first Filipino counterpart to Captain Marvel, in the original 'Kapitan Kidlat' (1953), with Evelyn Villar; this was followed by a sequel the following year, Kidlat... ngayon! (1953). Goyena had made a total of 44 movies before he decided to quit in 1958. His last film was Casa grande (1958), alongside a powerhouse cast like Nida Blanca, Nestor De Villa, Manuel Conde, Perla Bautista and Vic Diaz. After a 30-year hiatus, Goyena agreed to appear in the film Mahal kita, walang iba (1992) starring Kris Aquino and Christopher De Leon. He also agreed to appear in 'Pagdating ng panahon (1998)_, directed by Eric Quizon and starring Quizon and Aiko Melendez. Goyena played a crucial role in the film Yamashita: The Tiger's Treasure (2001), and Indiana Jones-type adventure with Albert Martinez and Bb Gandanghari. After a storied career with masterful performances, he finally got nominated and won the FAMAS award for Best Actor, a fitting tribute to a leading man everyone called "Golden Boy of Philippine Movies." Goyena's last film appearance was in the semi-musical Annie B. (2004), a remake that lacked the box-office success of its original Nora Aunor starrer. Goyena died in March 10, 2011, reported cause of death Pulmonary Embolism. He left behind a family of eight illustrious children and 29 grandchildren.