Delia Dueñas Smith (July 17, 1966 – May 31, 1985), better known as Pepsi Paloma, was a Filipino-American dancer and actress in the Philippines. She was one of the popular Softdrinks Beauties introduced in the 1980s along with Sarsi Emmanuelle and Coca Nicolas. She was known for films such as Brown Emanuelle (1981), The Victim (1982), Krus sa Bawat Punglo (1982), Virgin People (1983), Snake Sisters (1983), Naked Island (1984), Matukso kaya ang Anghel? (1984) and Room 69 (1985).
Born Delia Dueñas Smith, Paloma was the eldest daughter of Lydia Dueñas, a native of Borac, Northern Samar, and an American letter carrier, Kenneth Smith, who abandoned his family when the children were still young. When she was 14 years old, a talent scout named Tita Ester brought Paloma to talent manager Rey dela Cruz in 1980 for a possible film career. In 1981, she made her debut in the movie Brown Emmanuelle. She was given the stage name Pepsi Paloma and was promoted as one of the members of the so-called “soft drink” beauties together with Coca Nicolas and Sarsi Emmanuelle.[2]
Rape case and aftermath
After appearing in a handful of films, Paloma was involved in a highly publicized scandal when she accused comedians Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and Ricardo "Richie D'Horsie" Reyes of rape. According to Paloma's account, she and fellow actress Guada Guarin were drugged, brought to a room at the Sulô Hotel in Quezon City, and then raped. Actor and senator Tito Sotto, who is also Vic's older brother, soon became involved, compelling Paloma to drop the charges by allegedly intimidating her with a gun. Sotto had drawn up an Affidavit of Desistance and obtained her signature, although some newspaper reports stated that it was Pepsi's mother who signed the document on her behalf.[3] Had the suspects been convicted of the charges, they would have faced the death penalty—execution by electric chair, the same fate that befell three of four convicted rapists in actress Maggie de la Riva's case two decades prior.[4] According to a retracted article by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, it was also around this time that Paloma was reported missing and was found being held captive by convicted felon Bienvenido "Ben Ulo" Mendoza, a relative of the Sottos. Despite his arrest and confession, there is no record that Ben Ulo was ever charged with any crime connected with the abduction of Paloma.
Although the three suspects initially denied Paloma's accusations, they later issued a public apology, on their knees on live TV,[2] and in an article published by the People's Journal on October 13, 1982, saying "We hope that you will not allow the error we have committed against you to stand as a stumbling block to that future which we all look forward to. We, therefore, ask you to find it in your heart to pardon us for the wrong which we have done against you". Due to the signed Affidavit of Desistance, Paloma did not pursue her complaint and the case did not go to court.
Death
On May 31, 1985, Paloma was found dead in her apartment, in an apparent suicide by hanging. According to police investigation, the rape case was one factor of her suicide. A diary, citing monetary problems and anxieties over her relationship with her mother and her boyfriend, was found in her bedroom, although the authenticity of the journal entries have been questioned, especially by her manager Babette "Babe" Corcuerra, who claims she was actually earning well.[4] The mysteries surrounding the case and Paloma's death were alleged to be immortalized in the popular Eraserheads song "Spoliarium". She was buried at Olongapo Memorial Park in Zambales.[5][6]
Aftermath
Despite the suspects' earlier apology, Tito Sotto has maintained his position against any involvement in the whitewashing of the rape case and alleges that the scandal was a gimmick by Paloma's party for publicity. Sotto said that he was not involved as a perpetrator in the rape of Paloma and he denied using his position in government to influence the court decision. Sotto became Vice Mayor in Quezon City in 1988 before being elected as a Senator in 1992.[7][8] In 2018, the elder Sotto requested The Philippine Inquirer to remove published articles available online mentioning the Pepsi Paloma Case damaging to his current reputation as a Senator.[9][10]
References
^"Gravetour of the Famous E81 Pepsi Paloma (Delia Smith) Olongapo Memorial Park - Zambales". YouTube.com. Graveyard Pinoy TV. May 22, 2021.
^ ab"Where Are They Now: Pepsi Paloma and the Other "Softdrink Beauties" of the '80s". Esquire. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
^"Pepsi Paloma and Tito Sotto's disco days". The Manila Times. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
^ ab"33 Years After She Died, We Still Remember the Myth of Pepsi Paloma". Esquire. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
^"The Mysterious Life And Death of Pepsi Paloma". FilipiKnow. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
^"BOLD STARS OF THE 80s #3: THE CRUEL WORLD OF PEPSI PALOMA". March 14, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
^De Jesus, Topel V. (March 3, 2016). "Tito Sotto denies whitewashing Pepsi Paloma rape case". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
^"Tito Sotto: Pepsi Paloma scandal was a 'gimmick'". ABS-CBN News. March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
^"INQUIRER.net statement on the Pepsi Paloma stories". Retrieved February 28, 2019.
^"Beware The Streisand Effect: a Short Explainer for Sen. Tito Sotto". Esquire. June 18, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
January 13, 2023
pepsi, paloma, this, philippine, name, middle, name, maternal, family, name, dueñas, surname, paternal, family, name, smith, delia, dueñas, smith, july, 1966, 1985, better, known, filipino, american, dancer, actress, philippines, popular, softdrinks, beauties,. In this Philippine name the middle name or maternal family name is Duenas and the surname or paternal family name is Smith Delia Duenas Smith July 17 1966 May 31 1985 better known as Pepsi Paloma was a Filipino American dancer and actress in the Philippines She was one of the popular Softdrinks Beauties introduced in the 1980s along with Sarsi Emmanuelle and Coca Nicolas She was known for films such as Brown Emanuelle 1981 The Victim 1982 Krus sa Bawat Punglo 1982 Virgin People 1983 Snake Sisters 1983 Naked Island 1984 Matukso kaya ang Anghel 1984 and Room 69 1985 Pepsi PalomaBornDelia Duenas Smith 1966 07 17 July 17 1966 1 Manila PhilippinesDiedMay 31 1985 1985 05 31 aged 18 Quezon City Metro Manila PhilippinesCause of deathSuicideOccupation s Actress entertainerYears active1980 1985 Contents 1 Career 2 Rape case and aftermath 3 Death 4 Aftermath 5 ReferencesCareer EditBorn Delia Duenas Smith Paloma was the eldest daughter of Lydia Duenas a native of Borac Northern Samar and an American letter carrier Kenneth Smith who abandoned his family when the children were still young When she was 14 years old a talent scout named Tita Ester brought Paloma to talent manager Rey dela Cruz in 1980 for a possible film career In 1981 she made her debut in the movie Brown Emmanuelle She was given the stage name Pepsi Paloma and was promoted as one of the members of the so called soft drink beauties together with Coca Nicolas and Sarsi Emmanuelle 2 Rape case and aftermath EditAfter appearing in a handful of films Paloma was involved in a highly publicized scandal when she accused comedians Vic Sotto Joey de Leon and Ricardo Richie D Horsie Reyes of rape According to Paloma s account she and fellow actress Guada Guarin were drugged brought to a room at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City and then raped Actor and senator Tito Sotto who is also Vic s older brother soon became involved compelling Paloma to drop the charges by allegedly intimidating her with a gun Sotto had drawn up an Affidavit of Desistance and obtained her signature although some newspaper reports stated that it was Pepsi s mother who signed the document on her behalf 3 Had the suspects been convicted of the charges they would have faced the death penalty execution by electric chair the same fate that befell three of four convicted rapists in actress Maggie de la Riva s case two decades prior 4 According to a retracted article by the Philippine Daily Inquirer it was also around this time that Paloma was reported missing and was found being held captive by convicted felon Bienvenido Ben Ulo Mendoza a relative of the Sottos Despite his arrest and confession there is no record that Ben Ulo was ever charged with any crime connected with the abduction of Paloma Although the three suspects initially denied Paloma s accusations they later issued a public apology on their knees on live TV 2 and in an article published by the People s Journal on October 13 1982 saying We hope that you will not allow the error we have committed against you to stand as a stumbling block to that future which we all look forward to We therefore ask you to find it in your heart to pardon us for the wrong which we have done against you Due to the signed Affidavit of Desistance Paloma did not pursue her complaint and the case did not go to court Death EditOn May 31 1985 Paloma was found dead in her apartment in an apparent suicide by hanging According to police investigation the rape case was one factor of her suicide A diary citing monetary problems and anxieties over her relationship with her mother and her boyfriend was found in her bedroom although the authenticity of the journal entries have been questioned especially by her manager Babette Babe Corcuerra who claims she was actually earning well 4 The mysteries surrounding the case and Paloma s death were alleged to be immortalized in the popular Eraserheads song Spoliarium She was buried at Olongapo Memorial Park in Zambales 5 6 Aftermath EditDespite the suspects earlier apology Tito Sotto has maintained his position against any involvement in the whitewashing of the rape case and alleges that the scandal was a gimmick by Paloma s party for publicity Sotto said that he was not involved as a perpetrator in the rape of Paloma and he denied using his position in government to influence the court decision Sotto became Vice Mayor in Quezon City in 1988 before being elected as a Senator in 1992 7 8 In 2018 the elder Sotto requested The Philippine Inquirer to remove published articles available online mentioning the Pepsi Paloma Case damaging to his current reputation as a Senator 9 10 References Edit Gravetour of the Famous E81 Pepsi Paloma Delia Smith Olongapo Memorial Park Zambales YouTube com Graveyard Pinoy TV May 22 2021 a b Where Are They Now Pepsi Paloma and the Other Softdrink Beauties of the 80s Esquire Retrieved 28 February 2019 Pepsi Paloma and Tito Sotto s disco days The Manila Times Retrieved 1 February 2019 a b 33 Years After She Died We Still Remember the Myth of Pepsi Paloma Esquire Retrieved 28 February 2019 The Mysterious Life And Death of Pepsi Paloma FilipiKnow Retrieved 1 November 2015 BOLD STARS OF THE 80s 3 THE CRUEL WORLD OF PEPSI PALOMA March 14 2009 Retrieved March 4 2016 De Jesus Topel V March 3 2016 Tito Sotto denies whitewashing Pepsi Paloma rape case Philippine Daily Inquirer Retrieved March 4 2016 Tito Sotto Pepsi Paloma scandal was a gimmick ABS CBN News March 4 2016 Retrieved March 4 2016 INQUIRER net statement on the Pepsi Paloma stories Retrieved February 28 2019 Beware The Streisand Effect a Short Explainer for Sen Tito Sotto Esquire June 18 2018 Retrieved February 28 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pepsi Paloma amp oldid 1126065174, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
