Blast from the Past: Pia Moran, Ms. Body Language
Article by Gypsy Baldovino, originally published in the Manila Bulletin, Nov 25, 2007
If the showbiz of the 80s would be defined by a star dancer, it's got to be Pia Moran.
Pia was dubbed as Miss Body Language because her body just literally sizzled when she grooved. Fortunately, her looks also matched the title to a tee for she was also petite, lithe and very pretty.
"I have no special secret in dancing, but according to my mom, bata pa lang daw ako, sayaw na ako nang sayaw, " she said. "Actually, my first passion was singing. Mataas ang boses ko."
Pia entered the movie business out of natural curiosity. "It was in 1980 while I was working at
However, Pia's exposure as a literal public figure started in 1978, when she worked as a live figurine for a department store's display window. "Talagang parang mannequin ako. 'Pag gumalaw lang, saka malalaman na tao pala."
Her prowess as a dance diva was discovered by showbiz folks in her first showbiz party. "It was at Julie Ann Fortich's birthday party. Nahihiya pa nga ako, kasi ang daming artista. Among them was FPJ (Fernando Poe Jr.). Kasabay ko sila Tet Antiquera sa dance floor, tapos iniwan na nila ako sa gitna. Ayun, dance-to-death naman ako."
At her prime, Pia was among the favored leading lady of the biggest male stars, be it on sexy flicks like "Naiibang Hayop" and "Uhaw sa Kalayaan" or in drama, like the classic "Totoy Boogie." But Pia, being a true livewire, delivered well doing comedy, the likes of "Estong Tutong, Ikalawang Yugto" (1983) with Chiquito, "The Cute, the Sexy N' the Tiny" (1982) with Weng Weng, "Nang Umibig Ang Gurang" (1982) with Dolphy, "Sinisinta Kita," "Boni & Klayd", "Sekreta Ini" (1984) & "Wrong Rangers" (1984) with Redford White, "Soldyer!" (1979) with Cachupoy, "A Man Called Tolonges" (1981) with Dyords Javier, and "Darling, Buntis Ka Na Naman" with Nora Aunor and Mat Ranillo.
She was also a favorite leading lady of action stars like Ramon Revilla Sr. in "Nardong Putik," Jess Lapid Jr. in "Billy the Kid and the Sunshine Gid" (1984), and Rudy Fernandez in "Tatak Munti" (1985) & "Alex San Diego: Wanted" (1983).
Pia was so successful she was able to produce her own television series, "Probinsiya" on Channel 13. She also dabbled in restaurant business. But everything fizzled on thin air when she met that fateful car accident in 1992.
"Nabangga ko yung tao," she said. "On-the-spot, patay. Sabi nila, may death wish daw yung matanda. Naku, tinulungan ko 'yon, dinala ko sa ospital kahit puro bubog ako."
But the accident's biggest casualty was Pia herself. "I went through three different operations pero nasira ng doktor ang aking mukha. Wala naman akong magawa kasi hindi pa uso ang mga demanda noon."
"Masakit. Malungkot na malungkot ako," she said. "Depressed ako. Nag-drugs nga ako eh. But I was just at home. Hindi ako nagwala. I was just sad because I wasn't able to fulfill everything for my family. Until now, I was looking for an answer why it happened. Mabait naman akong tao."
Her love of family has always been her strongest motivation. "Wala sa akin yung fame. Noon, I wasn't conscious that I was popular. I was just thankful that I have a job to help my family."
Pia, who was Susan Casino in real life, wasn't born with a silver spoon. "Mahirap lang kami. I was the breadwinner. My father was an intellectual, pero hindi sinuwerte. Walang naipamana sa amin. My biggest compliment came from him who, in his deathbed, thanked me for raising my family. Sabi n'ya sa akin,'sorry kung di ko naibigay yung para sa isang ama."
"Ang pagtulong ko, walang hinihintay na kapalit. Ang gusto ko lang, bigyan mo ng halaga. With God's grace, napagtapos ko ng pagka-doktor yung bunso namin. Nakabili rin ako ng bahay. Hindi rin nawaldas ang kabuhayan."
In 2003, ABS-CBN paved the way for Pia's television comeback via "Maalaala Mo Kaya." This was followed by various TV guestings, most notably, in ABC 5's "Shall We Dance?," a celebrity dance competition.
"On December 16, I will be gracing the show again," said Pia. "My recent guesting there was so sentimental because I felt I still mattered. Naiyak ako talaga kasi ang gaganda ng reviews. Sabi nila, 'Pia Moran is Pia Moran.' But kidding aside, talagang naiyak din ako kasi ang sakit ng katawan ko. Dalawang beses akong napilay sa dance rehearsals namin."
At home, Pia is at peace with herself, with her mother and a brother tending a sari-sari store and a small piggery. "Happy ako ha. Saan ako pupunta? Single naman ako. Kahit naka- jeep lang ako o wala akong make-up, wala akong pakialam. I'm not bitter at all."
In her life's journey, her most important realization is to be accepting of everything. "Dati, wala ako. Tapos, nagkaroon. Tapos, nawala. Ang importante tanggapin mo kung ano ang nangyari sa iyo, with grace in your heart."
Former sexy actress nabbed in drug raid
Author: ABS-CBNNews.com
Column: Entertainment
Moran denied being involved in the alleged drug trade in the area, saying that she was only there to pick up a cellular phone she pawned.
"Pumunta ako doon para kunin lang ang celfone ko. Tapos may pumasok na taga-PDEA, nakatayo lang ako doon," she said.
Probers, however, doubted her alibi.
"Nagsangla ka ng celfone sa isang lugar na kilala bilang shabu strip. Pera nga kaya ang nakuha niyang kapalit noon?" said Derek Carreon, an official of PDEA.
Moran admitted that she has been an "off and on" drug user for the past five years. She, however, insisted she has nothing to do with the drug trade.
"If I want to use, I use. Pero hindi ibig sabihin, often, everyday na," she said.
The PDEA has already released four of those arrested for lack of evidence. But Moran remained in detention with a recommendation that she will undergo drug rehabilitation. With a report from Ryan Chua, ABS-CBN News
Kasama sa mga nahuli sa drug buy-bust operation ng PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) sa Novaliches, Quezon City, si Pia Moran, ang actress-dancer na namayagpag ang career noong early ’80s.
Sa interview kay Pia, pinabulaanan nito ang balita na gumagamit siya ng shabu. Nagkataon lang daw na naroroon siya sa ni-raid na shabu den dahil kinukuha niya ang cell phone na kanyang sinangla.
Noong kasikatan ni Pia, Vilma Santos look-alike ang tawag sa kanya. Ang galing sa pagsasayaw ang naging puhunan niya para makapasok siya sa showbiz. Kumita sa takilya ang mga pelikula na pinagtambalan nila ni Redford White sa Bukang-Liwayway Films, ang Boni & Klayd at Sinisinta Kita.
Naging superstar si Pia sa Japan dahil kinabaliwan siya ng mga Hapones. Nagkaroon siya ng disco/bar sa P. Tuazon Avenue sa Cubao mula sa mga kinita niya sa pagtatrabaho sa Japan.
Nasira ang mukha ni Pia nang magkaroon siya ng car accident. Pinag-usapan ang paggamit niya ng prohibited drugs pero in denial siya. Kasabay ng mga drug issue ang pagkawala ng mga negosyo na kanyang ipinundar.
Noong August 1999, kumalat ang sex video ni Pia at ng isang foreign national. Ang balita, ang droga ang kapalit kaya pumayag si Pia na makunan ang kanilang pagtatalik.
Nag-guest noon si Pia sa S-Files. Live ang guesting kaya buong-buo na napanood ang reaksyon niya nang ipapanood sa kanya ang bahagi ng sex video. Ito ang eksaktong linya ni Pia habang pinanonood ang sex video: “Hindi ako ‘yan….pero parang ako…” hanggang pumatak ang kanyang luha.
Nabigyan ng pagkakataon si Pia na makabalik sa showbiz pero nabale-wala ito dahil imbes na maging maayos ang kanyang buhay, hindi nabura ang mga balita na patuloy siya sa paggamit ng bawal na gamot.
Susan Casino ang tunay na pangalan ni Pia at isinilang siya noong 1962. Forty-seven years na siya pero mas matanda ang itsura niya kesa sa kanyang edad dahil na rin sa mga pagsubok na pinagdaraanan.
Kung hindi pa nga sinabi sa mga news report na siya si Pia Moran, hindi na ito makikilala ng mga tao.
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