Pilar Pilapil was born on October 12, 1950, and was crowned Binibining Pilipinas-Universe in 1967. She was only 17 years old that time. She was born Pilar Delilah Pilapil in Liloan, Cebu, Philippines. They are ten and she is the youngest among six girls. Pilar had a daughter named Pia Piapil, the father of which was Doy Laurel. In 1986 she married a Spanish journalist Michel Ponti at the Manila Cathedral but eventually, they divorced. In 1995, she became a born again Christian and married Pastor Bernie Penas in 2002.
After her return from the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in 1967, she had various movie offers and her first movie appearance was with Andy Poe as her leading man in the film, El Nino in 1968. The movie was under the direction of the former action king Fernando Poe, Jr. This paved the way for more movie appearances such as “Dolpe de Gulat,” in 1969, “Imelda: Ang Uliran,” in 1970 which brought her a Best Actress Award from the Manila Film Festival and “Napakasakit Kuya Eddie,” in 1986 which gave her a Gawad Urian Award in 1987.
Pilar had also a try in politics, running as a senatorial candidate independently but unfortunately lost. It was in 2006, when she released an autobiography “The Woman Without a Face,” highlights her personal and showbiz life in the book. She then went into a much needed break from her acting career. She was busy attending to her own Foundation which she named Pilar Pilapil Foundation, which catered to abused and battered women.
Pilar amusingly talked about then comedy king Dolphy, who was actually her first true love, and she even decided she will marry someday. She was only 17 years old then, and they were like madly in-love with each other, that he asked her to elope with him. They were together for a year. They eventually broke up because her parents disapprove of the relationship. The reasons range from the big age gap and they did not really have the chance because Pilar was heavily guarded by his brothers after it became obvious that they are having a relationship. It was Pilar’s father who really had to stop the both of them.
In her book, she talks about almost everything under the sun. It sold over 10,000 copies and is on its second run. Pilar came back on the TV screen via the blockbuster “Ina, Kapatid, Anak,” blockbuster series over ABS-CBN, which starred Kim Chiu and Maja Salvador to name a few. After the show concluded, she was again included in the “Muling Buksan Ang Puso,” together with veterans Coney Reyes, Agot Isidro, Cherie Gil, Tirso Cruz III among others.
Pilar had also experienced near death, when she was robbed in her car a few years back, and she fought back at the culprits. Amazed with the grace of God, she survived the ordeal having gotten several stab wounds in different parts of her body.
