Hilda
Koronel and Ralph Moore - Brought Together by Fate
TUESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2013 19:46 CYNTHIA DE CASTRO | AJPRESS
Hilda Koronel is one
of the best and most beautiful actresses in Philippine cinema.
Born Susan Reid to a Visayan mother and an American
serviceman father (whom she never
knew), she lived in the slums until she was discovered by Lea Productions at
the age of 12.
The multi-awarded actress has done so well in her career,
which has spanned over 40 films in four decades.
But while her movies have all been successful, Hilda has
not been as successful in love. After a
tough childhood and several failed romances, Hilda almost came to the point of
giving up on finding true love.
While Hilda’s love life seemed to be without direction, a
Filipino-American came to the Philippines on business -- the one who is destined to become her true love.
In an exclusive interview with Asian Journal (through Balikbayan Magazine) in California where they
have been living since 2006, Hilda and her husband, Ralph Moore, shared their
story.
Born and raised in America, Ralph has had an affinity with
the Philippines because his mother, Priscilla Dulay, is a native of Aringay, La
Union.
She immigrated to the US more than 50 years ago, pursuing
a career as a singer and as an astute businesswoman.
Following his mother’s steps in business, Ralph decided to
become an entrepreneur in the Philippines.
First sight
“In 1994, I just started a business in Manila and I lived
in a condominium in Greenhills. Everyday, I jogged around the Greenhills
Shopping complex. One day, as I turned around the corner, I almost knocked down
another jogger who was coming from the opposite direction. I was transfixed
when I saw her. She was so beautiful!
It’s like time stood still for me. Since I came from the States, I had
no idea who she was. I kept running around the Greenhills complex hoping to run
into her again, but she was gone. On the subsequent mornings I kept looking for
her, hoping to see her again,” recalled Ralph about their first meeting.
“I was living along Wilson in Greenhills at that time,”
shared Hilda, who didn’t really remember that first incident with Ralph.
Since he failed to see Hilda again after that first
encounter, Ralph put the matter behind him. But, an amazing thing
happened. Ralph shared: “About three
weeks later, I was in my home office in Greenhills, when my secretary excitedly
told me that Hilda Koronel was in the lobby, looking for the distributor of my
product which she liked. I had no idea
who Hilda Koronel was, but I went down to meet her. When I reached the lobby
and saw her, I gasped, ‘Oh my God! It’s her! The beautiful woman I’ve been
looking for!’”
Hilda wanted to inquire about Ralph’s product, a health
drink, which she liked.
“When I learned that Hilda is a very popular celebrity in
the Philippines and she liked my product, I asked her to be the endorser. We
began a business relationship, with Hilda getting shares in my company in
return for the endorsement of our product. Thus, we got together on a business
level. We didn’t date for four years.
Though I was attracted to her, I didn’t want to mix our business
relationship with romance. Besides, our personal lives were messy at that
time. We were then with different
people. I was still married, about to be divorced. And she was going through
some tough times herself. It just wasn’t the right time yet,” admitted Ralph.
The right time came four years after their first meeting.
“I remember when and where I got brave enough to even
think of getting romantic with her. It was in 1998. We flew up north, in
Ilocos, for a business presentation. We were supposed to leave the same day but
a typhoon came. We got stranded there for one week. In that week, I got to know
her personally. And at that time, we were both single. So, thanks to the storm,
our relationship developed into a [romantic one],” Ralph said.
Hilda pointed out that initially, there was some
hesitation on her part.
“I wasn’t really interested in going into another
relationship at that time. I had just separated. I felt I had enough of that. I
was just focused on raising my son,” she said.
But Ralph and Hilda soon realized they were meant for each
other. They got married in 2000 in the United States. They continued to live in
Manila after their wedding, to be near Hilda’s children: Leona, Isabel, Gabby,
and Diego and adopted daughters, Patricia and Ivy. She is now a proud
grandmother to four grandchildren.
Moving to the States
In 2006, while on vacation in California to celebrate his
mother’s birthday, Ralph got an offer that would change his life again.
“After a month here in LA, Hilda went home to Manila ahead
of me. Then, my mother and stepfather, David Hunt, offered me a position in
their real estate business. I decided
to take the offer so I called up Hilda to come back again after a few weeks.
When I picked her up at the airport, I told her, ‘Honey, you’re not going home
anymore.’”
Hilda was surprised but didn’t commit right away.
“I said, let’s talk about this. At that time, my girls
were all adults already and had lives of their own. But my only son, Diego, was
only 15 then and still studying in Xavier High School. But Ralph convinced me
that we will get Diego to live with us and everything will be all right. So,
after the first week, I finally agreed,” said Hilda.
The transition from living in the limelight in Manila to
living as a housewife in California was not easy.
“I missed my maids and my driver,” Hilda laughed.
“I miss my other children. I was so lonely. The first
three years were the hardest.”
“Although I did housework when I was a child, I have been
used to having household help since I became an actress. So, nanibago talaga ko
sa buhay America, where you have to do everything yourself. In fact, when they were getting my
fingerprints at the immigration, they noticed I had so many calluses. I told
them, ‘that’s because I have no maids here. I have been doing the laundry, the
dishwashing, etc., which made them laugh,’ revealed Hilda.
Admitting to spending a lot of time shopping, Hilda likes
her semi-retired lifestyle for the past years.
“I like my quiet life. Not too much stress. I don’t miss
the limelight. It’s not harassed. I’m just relaxing and having a great time
with my husband. All my kids are now professionals. My only son is now 21 and
taking up Nursing. So, most of the time, it’s just me and my husband. You know,
when you get to be at a certain age, you prefer to live simply. I’m not stressed out. I just take care of my
husband, my son, and my pets.”
The comeback movie
After six years of absence in the movies, Hilda recently starred
in the blockbuster movie, The Mistress (along with John Lloyd Cruz and Bea
Alonzo) from Star Cinema.
Coming back home for several weeks for the filming of the
movie, Hilda and Ralph enjoyed their homecoming.
“It was fun going back home. We enjoyed eating Filipino food every day,” said Hilda who only
went home once since 2006 for her daughter Leona’s wedding.
Asked about the changes he saw in the homeland in his last
visit, Ralph said: “More buildings. The Global City was awesome. It’s so
beautifully planned. I love the people, so friendly and warm, unlike here. And
of course, the food. I think Filipino food is the best in the world.”
Hilda said: “Iba talaga doon. I miss the people, their
warmth. And I got to do what I couldn’t do here often. I had my hair done a
lot. We had massages every night. We went shopping at tiangges. Masaya talaga
sa atin.”
With the success of The Mistress, Hilda has been asked
when her next movie will be.
“Every year, I have been getting offers for movies. But I
actually prefer to be choosy. After 43 years, I think I don’t want to make a
lot of movies now. Maybe once in a while, if the script is really good. I don’t
want something that will be too hectic. Not too much crying.”
“It’s too much for her, when the scenes call for a lot of
crying,” revealed Ralph.
“That’s because I don’t do Vicks. You know, putting some
Vicks Cold rub near the eyes to make you cry. I really get into the character I
am portraying. So when the role calls for a lot of crying and anguish, I get
drained physically and emotionally. It is very tiring,” Hilda explained.
Family life
Asked if her children have tried to follow her footsteps,
Hilda was quick to shake her head and say no emphatically.
“It’s not something that I encourage. It’s a very hard
life. Very tiring and stressful. If you don’t have the stomach for it, it’s not
something you should make a career of. I started in showbiz when I was 12. It’s
been more than 40 years. I don’t want my kids to go through some of the stuff I
went through.”
Knowing how difficult and uncertain the life of an actress
can be, Hilda has put great value on education. Despite her flourishing career
and very hectic film schedule, Hilda made sure she finished college. She has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree
in International Studies from Maryknoll College (now Miriam College). And she instilled in her children the same
priorities.
“I’m very close to my children and grandchildren. I have
had no contact with my father since I was a child. And my mother didn’t want to
connect with him anymore. So I only had the side of my mother for a family but
they were very few,” said Hilda. “Family is my number one priority. I love my
kids and being lola to my apos,” she added.
When at home, Hilda likes to be in the kitchen. “I’m very
domesticated and I love to cook, especially Filipino food. My children all cook
and bake, like me. I have recipes from my aunts, mom, friends that I collect,
like tightly guarded secrets,” she said.
Ralph said: “I often tell her, ‘Please don’t cook
anymore.’ Because I can’t stop eating what she cooks especially her prawns with
taba ng talangka with lots of garlic, and her food for the gods. They are
really good!”
Since Hilda and Ralph got together, they have been
inseparable. “We always travel together. You see, I don’t like traveling alone.
I don’t enjoy flying so I want Ralph with me, holding my hand throughout the
flight,” Hilda said, as she laughed.
Reflecting upon their love story, Ralph said he realized
that perhaps the only reason God took him to the Philippines and stayed there
for 15 years was to find Hilda and be with her.
“I thought the business was the reason why I came to the
Philippines. But eventually, the business closed down. When I came back home to
America, all I brought back with me was Susan (Hilda). I think I came for her,
because when I came back, I just had her. God put us together,” shared Ralph.
Perhaps the lyrics from the song, The Broken Road by
Rascall Flatts best describes the love story of Ralph and Susan “Hilda” Moore.
“Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you!”
(Published in Balikbayan Magazine, December 2012-January
2013 issue)
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