New book tells the story of a former Filipino child star through her daughter’s eyes

Photos from mylene.richardson/Instagram;mylenerichardson.com

If one could write a biography of unsung heroes in life, mothers would be in the spotlight without a doubt. And for Scottsdale, Arizona resident and writer Mylene Agana Richardson, the masterful way she honors her mother is literally one for the books.

But this isn’t your average memoir though as Richardson reveals the fascinating life and career of her mother Tessie Agana, who was only eight years old when she stepped into the limelight and eventually earned the titles “Shirley Temple of the Philippines” and “The Nation’s Little Sweetheart.”

Richardson’s debut book “The Legend of Tessie Agana: Beloved Child Star of the Philippines” released today, Sept. 20, doesn’t just document her mother’s rise to fame or the glitz and glam of show business. It is also a heartwarming literature of family and resilience amid Tessie Agana’s dementia.

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“The process of writing this book was an eye-opener in every way, and my mother and I have rebuilt a more fulfilling relationship. We have learned to embrace the past and celebrate the present,” says Richardson, who is actually one of nine children.

An accolade for Tessie Agana

While a star in the ’50s, Agana’s contributions to the industry didn’t go unnoticed. In 2022, she was bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), often known as the Philippines’ Oscars.

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Growing up in the public eye had caused Agana to experience depression and isolation, which then led to the bold decision to move to the US. Upon migrating, Agana lived a normal teenage life, complete with crushes on stars like Rock Hudson and Elvis Presley.

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The author’s connection

Despite being a newbie author who decided on writing the book to let her sons discover their family history, the Manila-born Richardson captures her mother’s portrait with details that make a case for more people to “engage with their family history.”

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She dedicated years of interviewing family members and friends and injecting them into this distinct narrative. While the writing process took longer than anticipated, Richardson felt closer to her mother as she also embarked on this journey of self-discovery.

“What I found fascinating is when I started learning more about (my mother and grandmother’s) lives through these interviews, I started learning more about myself and unraveling a little bit more of those layers and peeling off the layers about myself,” she says.