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Lolit Solis

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Lolit Solis
Born
Maria Lolita Arguelles Solis

(1947-05-20)May 20, 1947
Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines
DiedJuly 3, 2025(2025-07-03) (aged 78)
Occupation(s)Television host, showbiz columnist, talent manager
Years active1974–2025

Maria Lolita Arguelles "Lolit" Solis (May 20, 1947 – July 3, 2025) was a Filipino talk show host, entertainment news writer and talent manager.

Early life and education

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Solis was born on May 20, 1947, in Manila, Philippines.[1] She grew up in the squatters' area in Lardizabal, Sampaloc, near National University, where she attended one journalism seminar.[2]

Solis was a graduate of Mass Communication from the University of the Philippines Diliman.[3] During that time, she was a classmate of Joey de Leon, who later became one of her cohosts in Startalk.[2] She also studied political science in the same university but did not finish the degree.[4]

Career

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Solis first worked as a reporter covering the police beat in the 1970s before shifting to entertainment reporting for The Philippine Star.[5] In the 1980s, she also began managing actors, including Gabby Concepcion, Tonton Gutierrez, Christopher de Leon, Lorna Tolentino, Rudy Fernandez, Bong Revilla and Paolo Contis.[6][3]

In 1995, Solis became the host of the long-running GMA Network entertainment talk show Startalk until its conclusion in 2015.[7] She also wrote as a columnist for the tabloid Pilipino Star Ngayon[3] and The Philippine Star. In 2009 to 2010, she was a judge for the fifth season of the reality talent competition StarStruck.[8]

Solis also appeared in several films such as Lost Command (1988) and My Kontrabida Girl (2012). She also appeared in television series such as Daboy en Da Girl and Lyra.[9]

Controversies

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Manila Film Festival scandal

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Solis was involved in the 1994 Manila Film Festival scandal, wherein co-hosts Rocky Gutierrez and Miss Universe Mauritius Viveka Babajee announced the names of Solis' then-talent Gabby Concepcion and beauty queen Ruffa Gutierrez as Best Actor and Actress, instead of Edu Manzano and Aiko Melendez, who were the actual winners.[10] Another co-host, Gretchen Barretto, later revealed the scam, and accused Solis and Annabelle Rama as masterminds behind it.[11] Solis and six others were charged. Solis ultimately pleaded guilty to the offense of orchestrating the scam.[12] She was ordered to pay a fine[13] and placed under court supervision under probationary law.[14]

Solis subsequently stopped attending awarding ceremonies after the controversy, which she referred to as both a "nightmare and the biggest lesson in her life".[15] She also admitted to having attempted to commit suicide at the height of the scandal.[16]

Lawsuits

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In 1994, Solis sued Gabby Concepcion, accusing him of not paying her commissions and related fees during her wardship. However, he filed a counterclaim and won the case in 2004, with the Court of Appeals ordering Solis to pay him P700,000 in damages and litigation fees instead.[17]

In 2007, Solis was indicted along with Pilipino Star Ngayon entertainment editor Veronica Samio for libel in a P12 million-lawsuit by actors Sam Milby and Piolo Pascual after she alleged in her column on Pilipino Star Ngayon that the both actors were spotted sharing "sweet moments" together at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila. The case was withdrawn after Solis retracted her claims. In 2017, Pascual and Solis publicly reconciled.[18]

In 2022, Solis was expelled from the Professional Artist Managers Inc. (PAMI), of which she was a founding member, for breaching the organization's confidentiality agreement.[19] This followed a dispute between her and actress Bea Alonzo and Alonzo's talent manager Shirley Kuan over Solis's exclusion from an event of Alonzo's. Solis also said that she had also been sued for libel by Alma Moreno, which was eventually withdrawn.[20]

Personal life and death

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Solis was married to engineer-architect Angie Pasamonte but separated shortly after amid financial problems.[2] She had two daughters.[21] During her marriage, Solis lived in Pampanga before moving back to Manila. She eventually resided in Fairview, Quezon City.[2]

In 2022, she was hospitalized.[22] She later shared that she had been regularly undergoing dialysis.[23] She died from a heart attack on July 3, 2025, at the age of 78.[24][25]

Works

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Film

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Year Title Source
1985 I Can't Stop Loving You
1988 Lost Command
1992 Kailangan Kita
2012 My Kontrabida Girl [26]
2015 The Last Pinoy Action King

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1974–1975 Katuwaan Sa Siyete Host Herself
1975–1976 The Star with Lolit Solis
1976–1982 Newsday Segment anchor
1986–1987 Scoop Host
1991–1992 Sine Silip
1995–2015 Startalk
1996–1997 Lyra Marcia Supporting cast
2002–2003 Daboy en Da Girl Manay Charing
2009 Starstruck V Council Herself
2010 Survivor Philippines
2015–2016 CelebriTV Host

Radio

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Title Notes
Dobol A sa Dobol B Starpok / Istorbo! segment host
Star Patrol Host

References

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  1. ^ Fernando, Jefferson (July 4, 2025). "Saluting Lolit Solis: The fearless voice of Philippine showbiz". Daily Tribune. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Tariman, Pablo A. (December 26, 2011). "What Lolit Solis is to me". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c Alpad, Christina (July 4, 2025). "Lolit Solis passes away at 78". The Manila Times. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  4. ^ Salterio, Leah C. (July 5, 2025). "Lolit Solis would defend friends until the end". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  5. ^ San Jose, Christian (July 4, 2025). "Lolit Solis Didn't Fear Death". Rolling Stone Philippines. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  6. ^ "Lolit Solis: A life filled with color and controversy". GMA News. July 4, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  7. ^ Olea, Jerry (June 22, 2022). "Lolit Solis recalls Manila Film Festival 1994 scam with affection for artists she angered". PEP.ph. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  8. ^ "Remembering Lolit Solis: Celebrities mourn passing of veteran showbiz columnist". GMA News. July 4, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  9. ^ "Lolit Solis, veteran showbiz writer, talent manager, 78". The Philippine Star. July 4, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  10. ^ Guerrero, Eileen (June 28, 1994). "Seven Charged in Philippine Movie Scandal". AP News. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  11. ^ "1994 Manila Film Festival: The Scandal that Rocked Showbiz". Pep.ph. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  12. ^ "Lolit Solis on 1994 Manila Film Fest scam: 'It was a nightmare for me'". Inquirer.net. November 20, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  13. ^ Sison, Bebot Jr.; Suerte Felipe, Cecile (July 2, 2002). "Court junks raps vs Ruffa". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  14. ^ Hitosis, Jet (June 24, 2020). "Manila Film Festival 1994: The Scandal that Rocked Showbiz". PEP.ph. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  15. ^ Matriano, Kate (November 20, 2018). "Lolit Solis on 1994 Manila Film Fest scam: 'It was a nightmare for me'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  16. ^ Requintina, Robert (November 25, 2022). "Lolit Solis admits to suicide attempt". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  17. ^ "Lolit owes Gabby P700K, a 2004 court ruling says". GMA News. May 27, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  18. ^ "High profile libel complaints in Philippine showbiz". GMA News. May 18, 2024. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  19. ^ "THROWBACK: The colorful life of Lolit Solis in the entertainment industry". ABS-CBN. July 4, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  20. ^ "A look back at the life of Lolit Solis". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 4, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  21. ^ Requintina, Robert (July 4, 2025). "End of an era: Showbiz media icon Lolit Solis passes away at 78". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  22. ^ "Lolit Solis undergoes dialysis after being hospitalized". PEP.ph. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  23. ^ Ang, Martin Joseph (September 26, 2022). "'Baka next time naka-wheelchair at tungkod': Lolit Solis on her health condition". Yahoo Philippines. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  24. ^ Pasajol, Anne (July 4, 2025). "Lolit Solis, talent manager and controversial showbiz figure, dead at 78". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  25. ^ Peralta-Malonzo, Third Anne (July 4, 2025). "Lolit Solis passes away at 78". SunStar. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  26. ^ "CAST MEMBERS: "My Kontrabida Girl"". PEP.ph. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
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