Alias: Baby Tsina (Digitally Enhanced)

Baby Tsina a famous underworld figure during the 50’s who acquired the nickname because of her ivory skin and slanting eyes. She led the police in a frenetic chase before she was convicted for murder. Ironically it was a crime she did not commit. While in jail though she underwent a transformation and led the other inmates in seeking for reforms in the local penal system. An engrossing film with superior performances from the entire cast.

Alyas Baby Tsina/Alias Baby China (1984) is based on the true legal story of Evelyn Duave Ortega, aka Baby Tsina (She was called this in court documents because she looked Chinese. Otherwise there are no references to anything Chinese in her story or the film.) Duave was found guilty of murder in 1971 and several appeals while on death row culminated in a Supreme Court decision seven years later that declared her innocent and released her from prison.

Director: Marilou Diaz-Abaya
Writers: William C. Leary (story), Ricardo Lee (screenplay)
Stars: Vilma Santos, Rez Cortez, Rolando Tinio, Zeny Zabala, Cecille Castillo, Chanda Romero, Len Santos, J.J. Zorillam, Gamaliel Viray, Raquel Villavicencio, Jograd de la Torre, Johnny Delgado, Dorothy Pal, Romy Romulo, Rago Apollo, Madeleine Nicolas, Phillip Salvador, Caridad Sanchez, Manjo Del Mundo, Manny Luna, Deborah Sun, Susan Bautista, Romeo Rivera, Maria Isabel Lopez, Dindo Fernando, Dexter Doria, Mary Walter, Vic Ordonez, Gil de Leon, Augusto Victa, Cris Daluz, Vangie Labalan, Becky Misa, Malou de Guzman, Nena Perez Rubio, Beverly Salviejo, Marie Barbacui, Evelyn Vargas, Gladys Reyes, Harlene Bautista