Here is the biography of Maria Theresa Sanchez Muñoz:
Maria Theresa Sanchez Muñoz was born in 1928 to Miguel Muñoz and Feliza Sanchez, the eldest of six siblings. She was dark-haired and pretty, and spoke only English and Spanish, but not Tagalog. Maria studied at St James Academy and graduated from Lyceum University of Manila with a degree in AB History.
Before graduating, Maria was married for four years to an American, and they had premature twins who died. She was scared and the brief marriage was a difficult chapter in her life. After returning to Manila, Maria worked at dzBB radio station, where she was hired as the new host of "Homemakers' Club of the Air" and later transferred to dzPI, hosting a rival show called "Women's Club of the Air".
Maria's earnings were a huge sum in the 1950s, and she became the newest "Camay" girl. She went back to school to finish her history course and then accepted a teaching job that paid Ph. P5.00 an hour, which was a pathetic sum compared to her radio fees. Maria eventually became the highest-paid radio talent, earning Ph. P75 a minute.
In 1952, Maria joined the cast of "Rosalinda", starring Rodolfo Ruiz and produced by Philippine Artists Management, which launched her as the Philippines' version of Elizabeth Taylor. She then moved to Sampaguita Studios to co-star with Pancho Magalona in "Kasaysayan ni Rudy Concepcion" (1952),where Maria portrayed Elsa Oria.
Maria continued to appear in movies one after another, including "Teksas, ang manok na nagsasalita" (1952),"Tulisang pugot" (1952),and "El indio" (1953). She also started her television career, becoming the first Filipino woman to appear on television and the first production manager under Koko Trinidad.
Maria broke new ground with dramatic television shows, including "Sorry, Wrong Number", a one-woman teleplay directed by Gerardo de Leon. She also appeared on the Philippine television show "Balintataw". Maria continued to appear in an eclectic array of films, including "Mad Doctor of Blood Island" (1968),"Lilet" (1971),"Destination Vietnam" (1968),and "The Evil Within" (1970).
Maria played mother to Tirso Cruz III in two films, "Now" (1985) and "Till We Meet Again" (1985). She also joined the international cast of "_A Fei jing juen" (1991)_, playing the mother of Hong Kong actor Leslie Cheung. Maria's last film appearance was in the Sharon Cuneta film "Madrasta" (1996).
Maria currently lives alone in her own condominium unit in San Juan, sometimes visited by writer-friends Nestor Torre and Behn Cervantes. She is the aunt of Filipino soap actors Leandro Muñoz and Carlo Muñoz.
