Virginia (1949) Tagalog Classic Movie.

Virginia (1949) is a melodrama with predictable themes and stereotyped characters seen in most movies from the big studios that were now slowly becoming film factories. People from Manila are rich and haughty while the people from the province are poor, and simple but live dignified lives. The story is set during the latter part of the Pacific war when the Americans began their offensive to take back the country from the Japanese. The rich family of Doña Tentay (Naty Bernardo) and her son Reynaldo (Armando Goyena), together with his cousin Mameng (Rosa Rosal) evacuate Manila and move to the province to escape the incessant bombing. There they encounter the pretty provincial lass, Virginia (Tessie Quintana), a corn vendor, and Reynaldo and Virginia fall in love. Virginia and her father (Florentino Ballecer) are also secretly hiding an American officer from the Japanese, Mr. Powell. Mameng is also in love with Reynaldo and tries her best to belittle and humiliate Virginia. At the war’s end, they return to Manila and Reynaldo is forced by an unexpected turn of events to marry Mameng. But Mameng is a spoiled society girl who not only dissipates Reynaldo’s fortune but is also unfaithful. Reynaldo loses his money and is forced to work as a taxi driver. One day he meets an accident and loses his sight. In the meantime, Mr. Powell, the American officer returns to the province and leaves all his property to Virginia. The roles are now reversed. Virginia is rich while Reynaldo and Mameng are dirt poor. Virginia learns about Reynaldo’s miserable situation and secretly has him cured. He regains his sight and confronts Mameng and her lover (Jaime Castelvi). A fight ensues and Mameng’s lover is accidentally killed. Reynaldo takes the blame but at the trial, a thoroughly repentant Mameng confesses to her role in this tragedy and takes poison. Reynaldo returns to the province and is reunited with Virginia.