“A woman should write a book.”
It was a simple piece of advice from a former teacher, but for veteran actress Boots Anson-Roa Rodrigo, it would stay with her for years.
The teacher had told her that writing a book was one of three things a woman should accomplish in her lifetime. For someone who had already spent more than six decades in film, television, media, education and public service, the idea seemed fitting. Still, it would take time, reflection and one promise made in the final days of a dear uncle before the book would finally be completed.
At 81, Anson-Roa Rodrigo has officially launched “Grateful,” a memoir that looks back on a life lived both in the spotlight and in service of others. More than a recollection of her years as one of Philippine cinema’s enduring actresses, the book gathers the lessons, losses, reinventions and acts of faith that have shaped the woman many in the industry continue to call simply and fondly "Boots."
The memoir had an intimate, unofficial launch in January during her 81st birthday celebration. Its official book launch and signing were held during the Pandesal Forum at Kamuning Bakery Cafe on May 26, drawing friends and public figures who came to celebrate both the memoir and the woman behind it.
Joining Anson-Roa Rodrigo were Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte; Sen. JV Ejercito, whose father, former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada, founded the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, or MowelFund, in 1974; former senator Nikki Coseteng; Quezon City Fourth District Rep. Bong Suntay; veteran actress Bibeth Orteza and forum moderator Wilson Lee Flores.
The mention of MowelFund was especially meaningful. Anson-Roa Rodrigo remains one of the foundation’s most devoted leaders, having served as its president for many years and continuing to help guide its work as chairperson for the welfare of movie workers to this very day.
“At my age, 81, enjoying a second marriage with Atty. King Rodrigo, who is turning 87, I am especially grateful for waking up every morning,” Anson Roa-Rodrigo said.
“Many do not wake up the next day. But in my case, I open my eyes to another beautiful day and opportunities like this gathering. My prayer is that I continue to deserve the graces and gifts the Lord has showered on me,” added the actress, host and longtime advocate.
A promise kept “Grateful” was more than 10 years in the making.
The memoir might never have been written had it not been for the encouragement of the late Vicente Valenciano, the father of her cousin, singer Gary Valenciano. Long before the book was published, Valenciano had already believed that Roa-Rodrigo’s story deserved to be told beyond her achievements in film and television.
To him, hers was not simply the story of a screen personality. It was the story of a woman who had moved through different seasons of public life with discipline, grace and a continuing desire to be useful.
Still, the project remained unfinished for years.
Anson Roa-Rodrigo admitted that she had postponed writing the book for more than a decade as professional commitments and personal responsibilities took precedence. Like many things set aside for later, the memoir waited while life continued to demand her attention.
The turning point came during Valenciano’s final days.
“I am feeling guilty because I procrastinated for more than 10 years before I became serious about writing the book,” she recalled.
At his deathbed, she made him a promise.
“Tito Vic, whatever happens, come hell or high water, I will finish that book, and we will publish it.”
That promise eventually became “Grateful,” a memoir that chronicles not only a celebrated career but also a life marked by faith, reinvention, service and gratitude. In many ways, the book stands as a tribute to the man who first convinced her that her story was worth telling.
More than a personal project, it became the fulfillment of a commitment she had carried for years. It is proof, perhaps, that some promises may take time, but they are not always forgotten.
Beyond the screen For younger Filipinos, Anson Roa-Rodrigo may not immediately be associated with the glamorous leading lady who graced movie screens during the golden years of Philippine cinema.
Today, many know her as the steady presence behind Mowelfund, which continues to assist movie workers in times of illness, financial hardship and retirement. Others recognize her from television appearances, public affairs programs, civic work and her continuing presence in industry gatherings.
But that shift is precisely what makes her story larger than nostalgia.
Anson Roa-Rodrigo’s life reflects a rare kind of reinvention. While she built her name through acting in such critically recognized and well-remembered films as “Wanted: Perfect Mother,” “Santiago!” and “May Minamahal,” she never allowed herself to remain confined to one role.
In the 1980s, she served at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., as press attaché and cultural officer. While abroad, she studied journalism and public relations before moving into education, media, public service and nonprofit work.
Over time, her public identity widened. She became an actress, a television host, a columnist, even a lecturer at The Manila Times College, among other institutions, a cultural advocate and an industry leader. Through MowelFund, she also became a voice for the workers whose names rarely appear on marquees but whose labor has helped keep Philippine cinema alive.
That advocacy gives “Grateful” its present-day weight.
The book arrives not simply as a celebrity memoir, but as the story of a woman who has learned to move with the times while remaining rooted in the values that shaped her: faith, discipline, gratitude and service. It also offers younger readers a chance to understand Roa-Rodrigo not only as a familiar face from an earlier era but as someone who continues to work for the welfare of the industry that gave her a life’s work.
For Anson Roa-Rodrigo, gratitude is not merely a word that looks back. It is also a way of continuing.
At 81, she has reached an age where many would be content to be remembered for what they have already done. Instead, through “Grateful” and through her work with MowelFund, Boots Anson-Roa Rodrigo continues to show that a full life is not measured only by milestones, but by the grace with which one receives them — and the generosity with which one gives back.
Proceeds from book sales will go to MowelFund and its beneficiaries. “Grateful” is available online on Shopee, with signed copies in limited supply. Books are also available for pickup at the Mowelfund office or delivery through direct order arrangements posted on Roa-Rodrigo’s official book pages.