On March 16, 2025, actress Carla Abellana announced through Instagram that her grandmother Delia Razon had passed away at the age of 94.
Carla posted a card with a photo of a young Delia during her days as an LVN star, with the caption: “Celebrating the life of Lucy May G. Reyes ‘Delia Razon’ August 8, 1930 – March 15, 2025.”
Many replied to the post to convey their condolences to Carla and her family, including actresses Coney Reyes, Ina Feleo, Lovely Rivero, Rita Daniela, Chynna Ortaleza, and Jackie Lou Blanco, singers Jaya, Timmy Cruz, and Jona, actor Pancho Magno and basketball coach Charles Tiu.
Visual artist and creative director Gissele Bautista also replied to Carla’s post and said of Delia, “I often had conversations with her whenever we’d be at the doctor’s clinic at the same time. She often said hi whenever she would see me. She was most gracious and I loved our conversations. I didn’t know she was Delia Razon until my parents told me….”
Delia was among the most popular actresses during her time as a contract artist of LVN Pictures, the movie studio owned by her discoverer Doña Narcisa “Doña Sisang” de Leon. Delia belonged to the special group of artists mentored by Doña Sisang herself; the group included cinema icons Charito Solis, Nida Blanca, Luz Valdez, Armando Goyena, Mario Montenegro, among others.
Born Lucy May Grytz in Iloilo to a German-American father and a Spanish-Filipina mother, her mini bio in the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) stated that she was an avid movie fan. While the young Lucy was visiting Sampaguita Pictures (LVN’s rival), she was said to have caught the attention of the production team. Lucy was selected to be a talent or “extra” in Sampaguita’s “Awit ng Bulag.” She was also cast as a talent in LVN’s “Malaya (Mutya ng Gubat)” which starred movie queen Mila del Sol. Doña Sisang noticed Lucy’s beauty and potential and offered her a multi-picture contract. The grand dame of LVN gave Lucy the screen name Delia Razon. Delia made 59 films with LVN, 15 of which with Mario Montenegro. In 2009, Delia received a Lifetime Achievement Award from FAMAS.
From 1948 to 2010, Delia appeared in around 79 films and TV shows. She continued in show business even after she married Aurelio Reyes and became mom to three children, one of which is Rea Reyes.
Rea starred in the drama series “Anna Liza” where she met her future husband Rey “PJ” Abellana. Their daughter is GMA actress Carla. Rea is no longer active in show business, which leaves Carla as Delia’s sole legacy in the industry.
On March 17, 2025, Carla posted more photos of her “Mamang.” These photos included Delia’s glamorous studio portraits, family photos and a thank you-letter written by Carla to her grandmother when she was a little girl. In the caption, Carla described Delia as “the strongest, bravest, fiercest and most beautiful.”
In many respects, Delia was truly an independent woman long before the term was coined. We remember that we contacted Delia via telephone to interview her about Doña Sisang for a magazine feature. In spite of the sudden request, Delia was very warm and, like what Gissele shared, very gracious.
We will never forget what Delia said when we asked her what she learned from Doña Sisang. She said that aside from being professional and punctual, the LVN producer admonished her and her contemporaries like Nida Blanca to save their money and build their own homes before they got married. “Para raw hindi kami memenosin ng mapapangasawa namin,” Delia explained to us.
It was an advice that Delia followed. It is a dose of wisdom that women should carry to this day: have your own income and do not rely on anyone for financial support.
Thank you so much, gracious and wise, Miss Delia Razon.
