Beloved actress, educator and scholar Rustica Cruz Carpio passed away in her home in Cavite Tuesday, February 2. She was 91.
Carpio is an internationally awarded actress who remained active in her 80s. She starred on stage, television and in film. She was directed by National Artist for Cinema Ishmael Bernal in “Nunal sa Tubig” in 1976. Carpio also appeared in two films of Cannes best director Brillante Mendoza: “Lola” (2009) and “Captive” (2012). Rustica was cited by local and international awards-giving bodies for her brilliant acting in the latter. She was Best Actress in Gawad Urian and received the Crystal Simorgh for Best International Actress at the Fajr International Film Festival in Iran and the Las Palmas International Film Festival Best Actress award in Spain.
An outstanding educator and scholar, Carpio earned an associate degree in commercial science with honors at the Philippine College of Commerce in Manila, now Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), where she also served as dean. She was an outstanding student who graduated magna cum laude from Manuel L. Quezon University, had Fulbright and International House scholarships at the New York University where she finished her masters degree in education, major in speech education in 1956. She attained the highest merit, meritissimus, at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) for her doctorate in literature.
She was also a Palanca Award-winning essayist, aside from being a playwright and director.
Carpio was born in Paombong, Bulacan in August 9, 1930.
