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Gregorio Fernandez

Gregorio Fernandez
Born Dr. Gregorio Montemayor-Fernández
(1904-05-25)May 25, 1904
Lubao, Pampanga, Philippine Islands
Died March 11, 1973(1973-03-11) (aged 68)
Quezon City, Philippines
Cause of death heart attack
Resting place The Heritage Park
Nationality Filipino
Other names Doc Greg, Yoyong
Occupation Actor, Director, Screenwriter
Years active 1927–1971
Spouse(s) Pilar Padilla-Fernandez
Children Ma. Luisa "Merle" Fernandez
Maria Paz Fernandez
Maria Isabel Fernandez
Jose Fernandez
Naria Teresita Fernandez
Emmanuel Fernandez
Rodolfo "Rudy" Fernandez
Mary Anne Fernandez

Dr. Gregorio Montenemayor-Fernández (May 25, 1904 – March 11, 1973) also known as Gregorio Fernandez was a film actor and director, and father of Rudy Fernandez.

Dr. Gregorio Montemayor-Fernández was born in Lubao, Pampanga on May 25, 1904 to Eugenio Fernández y Araneta and Maria Montemayor. Yoyong practically grew up in the town with a rich Zarzuela tradition that exposed him early to the performance arts.

His wife, Pilar is a member of the showbiz clan of Padilla whose relative include Rommel Padilla, Rustom Padilla, Robin Padilla. A physician. Grandfather of Mark Anthony Fernandez, Rap Fernandez and Renz Fernandez. Father-in-law of Lorna Tolentino. And father of Rudy Fernandez.

He spent his primary years at the Lubao Elementary School, then enrolled at the Pampanga High School (1921–25). Choosing to be a dental surgeon, he went to the Philippine Dental College. To help finance his studies, he worked at as a tax agent for the Bureau of Internal Revenue. He also started making the rounds of production companies and became an actor for Tomas Lichauco's Mayon Photoplay Corporation after auditioning in March 1928.

The movie with Mayon was never finished as Lichauco left for the United States. Undaunted, Yoyong auditioned next for Jose Nepomuceno and won a leading role in a 1928 film. The silent film, “Anak sa Ligaw” started his long and productive career in Philippine moviedom, both as a successful actor and an even more accomplished film director.

Yoyong still managed to make his parents happy by finishing his dentistry course in 1929 and passing the board that same year. After a short private practice in Lubao, he decided he could not resist the lure of the spotlight and went on to pursue a full-time career in acting. He did not find it difficult landing his next role given the resounding success of his first film. Yoyong's next assignment was a starring role in another silent-- “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” with Sofia Lotta, under the direction Faustino Lichauco of Mayon Photoplay. The picture was never released though, so Yoyong moved on to team up with Sofia yet again in the movie version of the popular Tagalog poem of Florentino Collantes, “Ang Lumang Simbahan”.


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