On the recent 60th anniversary of Regal Entertainment, Roselle Monteverde vowed to continue the legacy that Mother Lily started. “The whole of Regal is here to serve this industry and the Filipino audience worldwide,” Roselle emphasized. “We will uphold our commitment moving forward, continuing the legacy of Mother Lily Monteverde.”
Roselle Monteverde, mother of the late Mother Lily, felt very fortunate to have been mentored by her mom through the 30 years she has been with Regal. “My siblings, represented by my brother Dondon Monteverde, my sister Sherida Monteverde, and my brother Goldwyn Monteverde, strongly decided to carry on the legacy of Mother Lily,” Roselle told the guests.
Roselle also reflected on the challenges ahead. “I’m facing a big challenge – how to ensure that we not only live through her memories and achievements but also fortify this in the coming decades and generations?
“There’s a reason why we’re here together today. The bigger reason is that we love what we do. We are here because we want to grow and live in this industry, which has been our life, just like Mother’s.”
She continued, “Through all of us here, I was always told, ‘Ito ang pamilya.’ What Mother really built was her family in the entertainment industry. It wasn’t just Regal; Mother nurtured the entire Philippine film industry.”
Roselle expressed gratitude to everyone who attended the event at Valencia, Regal’s popular address where many of their events, media conferences, and even Mother Lily’s wake were held. “I’m delighted to see everyone here – friends from showbiz, media people, and artists who supported Regal for so many years.
“We cannot just let it go away, especially when we know seeds have been planted since she started as a housewife in the entertainment industry more than six decades ago,” she said. “As a movie fan, a distributor of foreign films, and finally a movie producer, her greatest achievement was taking care of not only Regal but the entire entertainment industry.
“She would always say, ‘Hindi dapat pabayaan ang pelikulang Pilipino.’ She nurtured that with education, love, and compassion until her achievements became deeply rooted in many people’s lives.”
Roselle is undeniably thankful to her parents, Leonardo and Lily Monteverde. “Mother Lily always said, ‘Kayo ang aking pamilya.’ We will continuously support each other and ensure that not only Regal but the whole entertainment industry lives on forever. That is the great Mother Lily legacy, and that is now our Regal legacy.”
In memory of the Regal founder, the Monteverde siblings donated P1 million to Mowelfund. “Mother Lily dedicated her whole life to the Philippine film industry,” said Dondon Monteverde. “We hope this amount will significantly help the Mowelfund Film Institute in funding its projects. In this way, the legacy of Mother Lily lives on.” The check, dated September 21, 2024, was given at Valencia, Quezon City.
Meanwhile, Roselle’s elder child, lawyer Keith Monteverde, recently assumed the position of Executive Vice President (EVP) at Regal Entertainment. “I love watching Filipino movies in theaters,” Keith shared. “Before, we had a small screen or theater at the back, and that was the first time I saw ‘Shake, Rattle, and Roll’ with my lola. It wasn’t just a big moment for me because my lola introduced me to my love for the movies. Growing up in the Philippines during the 80s and 90s, I got the chance to watch many iconic movies, both produced by Regal and other companies.”
However, Keith acknowledged that times have changed. “Movies are not as easy to produce as they used to be. But at Regal, we firmly believe Filipino films deserve to be shown on the biggest screens in cinemas. We continue to find our place in theaters, along with many of our friends and partners who are here today. Together, they help us push the industry forward.”
Keith highlighted the three films presented by Regal, noting that they were the last films approved by his grandmother. “I’m incredibly proud of these three films. I just want to thank everyone for making this possible.” As a lawyer, Keith is particularly looking forward to the first film in the lineup. “My legal life wasn’t really as raunchy, but with pleasure, I’d like to introduce ‘Guilty Pleasure’.”
Directed by Connie Macatuno and written by Noreen Capili, “Guilty Pleasure” also marks the debut of Lovi Poe’s C’est Lovi Productions, as a co-production venture with Regal. Lovi topbills the film with JM de Guzman, Jameson Blake, Lorraine Wong, Dustin Yu, Sarah Edwards, and Angelica Lao.
The second film is the big-screen debut of the young love team Seth Fedelin and Francine Diaz in “My Future You,” directed by Crisanto Aquino. Lastly, Jodi Sta. Maria makes her Regal Films debut in the horror thriller “Untold,” directed by Derick Cabrido and written by Enrico Santos. The cast also includes Gloria Diaz, Mylene Dizon, Juan Karlos Labajo, Joem Bascon, TJ Valderrama, Sarah Edwards, and Liana Valentin.
