Her face was such that she could play innocent roles, or else, that of a worldly woman. She was considered the country’s answer to Elizabeth Taylor of Hollywood.

In 1967, Charito was the first winner of the Best Actress Award of the Asian Film Festival for her portrayal in "Dahil Sa Isang Bulaklak."

She also appeared in "Igorota," a story that centered on the ethnic group who constructed the 2000-year-old Banaue rice terraces. Here, she played the lead role of a mountain girl who falls in love with a man from the city. Ric Rodrigo played the role. In the film, she suffers humiliation from city folks who cannot accept her provincial lifestyle.

"Igorota" directed by Luis Nepomuceno Jr. was an ambitious attempt that was intended for international release and distribution. It was the first time for filmgoers to see a bare–breasted Charito in a climactic scene. Quaint customs, such as the slaughtering of a carabao in a traditional ceremony was shown, which was much talked–about. The film was nominated for several Filipino awards and represented the Philippines in international film festivals in the seventies. It was also an honor that Charito was the only Filipino actress ever invited to attend the Hollywood’s Oscar awards.

Prior to "Igorota," the first film to focus on the lifestyle of the Ifugao mountain tribe with all its authenticity was "Ifugao." It starred Efren Reyes and Leila Morena. Filmed on location, it featured Reyes in loincloth. He displays a silent–type Filipino machismo while Morena projects the presence of a lovely, demure and untainted maiden. The couple’s idyllic lifestyle is suddenly interrupted by the arrival of modern city folks. It is indeed unfortunate that this award–winning film of 1995 has no print existing as film preservation was never taken seriously by the Philippine movie industry.

Last Dec. 30, the country commemorated the martyrdom of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. This brings to mind the film, "Rizal Sa Dapitan" which was directed by Tikoy Aguiluz in 1997. Albert Martinez played the role of the ill–fated hero, while Amanda Page (where is she now???) who was better known for removing her clothes on screen, played the role of Josephine Bracken, an 18–year–old Eurasian orphan. In the film, she is, of course, fully clothed in the style of that century.

Movie critics were stunned by this historical film. Rizal arrives in Dapitan, in the province of Zamboanga on the southern island of Mindanao. He is exiled there by the Spanish colonizers for his anti–colonial writings and fictional novels. As it happens, he finds romance in his incarceration when Josephine arrives from Hong Kong with her stepfather who seeks treatment from the renowned ophthalmologist that is Rizal. When the man departs, his stepdaughter goes with him, but later on returns to Rizal. The lovers’ request to be married is denied by the local priest. Hence, the two lovers enter into a live–in relationship, considered scandalous in those early times.

Director Aguiluz’ thorough research on Rizal reveals many of his humanitarian traits, but also presents him as multi–faceted man with a sense of humor, an athlete, a passionate lover, an agnostic, as well as an individual with a bad temper as well.

In other words, Rizal is depicted as an imperfect human being, yet destined to become a national hero and martyr.