# Nestor de Villa

Gines Francisco Soriano (July 6, 1928 – February 21, 2004), known professionally as Nestor de Villa, was a Filipino actor frequently cast in musical films. He was a gifted dancer, often paired with frequent on-screen partner Nida Blanca in both film and television. His dancing talent led some people to call him the "Fred Astaire of the Philippines", though the same moniker had also been given to Bayani Casimiro.

## Early life and later career

De Villa was born Gines Francisco Soriano on July 6, 1928, in then municipality of Cabanatuan in the province of Nueva Ecija. He was a pre-medical student when he was signed by LVN Pictures. His father was disappointed by his decision to become an actor, and the two became estranged. However, they were reconciled by LVN President Doña Sisang de Leon, who arranged to have de Villa's father secretly attend one of his movie premieres.
He made his first film with LVN, Amor-Mio (My Love), in 1951. The following year, he teamed up with another LVN contract star, Nida Blanca, for Romansa sa Nayon. The film's success popularized the Nestor-Nida "love team", though in real-life, de Villa would marry Marilu Cacho Soriano from the wealthy and socially prominent Cacho family.
He remained at LVN until 1961, when the studio discontinued making films. He then transferred to Sampaguita Pictures where in 1962 he made his Sampaguita debut in Tugtuging Bukid (Farm Music), together with Gloria Romero. In the 1960s, he was nominated three times for the FAMAS Best Actor award—for Mga Yapak ng Walang Bakas (1962); Naku Yabang (1964); and Siete Dolores (1968). De Villa and Blanca also appeared together on an ABS-CBN television show, The Nida-Nestor Show.
In 1967, de Villa attempted to run for vice mayor of Makati as the running mate of former ambassador Amelito Mutuc, but lost to incumbent vice mayor Teotimo Gealogo.
In the 1980s, de Villa made his screen comeback when he was again paired with Blanca in two films for Viva Films: Forgive and Forget, which also starred Sharon Cuneta and William Martinez and Saan Darating Ang Umaga? (Where Will the Morning Come), a family drama co-starring Maricel Soriano, Nida Blanca and Jaypee de Guzman.
He was posthumously inducted to the Philippines Eastwood City Walk of Fame in December 2005.

## Personal life

He was married to Marilu Cacho, has three sons and daughters-in-law, Jeric and Marissa, Gicky and Malu, Joby and Cindy. His only daughter Karel is married to Toti Belda. His grandson Paul Soriano is a son of Jeric, and is also a TV and commercial director.

## Death

De Villa remained active in films until his death of complications arising from hepatobiliary cancer on February 21, 2004.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Production |
| 1951 | Amor Mio | LVN Pictures |
| 1952 | Tenyente Carlos Blanco | LVN Pictures |
| 1952 | Dimas | LVN Pictures |
| 1952 | Dalawang Sundalong Kanin | LVN Pictures |
| 1952 | Haring Solomon at Reyna Sheba | LVN Pictures |
| 1952 | Romansa sa Nayon | LVN Pictures |
| 1952 | Rodrigo de Villa | LVN Pictures |
| 1952 | Tenyente Carlos Blanco | LVN Pictures |
| 1953 | Tumbalik na Daigdig | LVN Pictures |
| 1953 | Hijo de Familia | LVN Pictures |
| 1953 | Squatters | LVN Pictures |
| 1953 | Dalawang Pag-Ibig | LVN Pictures |
| 1953 | Hiyasmin | LVN Pictures |
| 1954 | Waray-Waray | LVN Pictures |
| 1954 | Tin-edyer | LVN Pictures |
| 1954 | Luneta | LVN Pictures |
| 1954 | Singsing Na Tanso | LVN Pictures |
| 1955 | Darling Ko | LVN Pictures |
| 1955 | 1 2 3 | LVN Pictures |
| 1955 | Ang Ibong Adarna | LVN Pictures |
| 1955 | Dalagang Taring | LVN Pictures |
| 1955 | Talusaling | LVN Pictures |
| 1955 | Ikaw Kasi | LVN Pictures |
| 1956 | Handang Matodas | LVN Pictures |
| 1956 | Easy Ka Lang Padre! | LVN Pictures |
| 1956 | Medalyong Perlas | LVN Pictures |
| 1956 | Big Shot | LVN Pictures |
| 1956 | Ganyan Ka Pala | LVN Pictures |
| 1956 | Bahala Na! | LVN Pictures |
| 1956 | Aling Kutsero | LVN Pictures |
| 1957 | Sebya, Mahal Kita | LVN Pictures |
| 1957 | Kalyehera | LVN Pictures |
| 1957 | Krisalis | LVN Pictures |
| 1957 | Turista | LVN Pictures |
| 1957 | Tignan Natin | LVN Pictures |
| 1958 | Villa Milagrosa | LVN Pictures |
| 1958 | Austerity Love | LVN Pictures |
| 1958 | Casa Grande | LVN Pictures |
| 1958 | Wala Kang Paki | LVN Pictures |
| 1958 | Mga Anak ni Waray | LVN Pictures |
| 1958 | Bayanihan | LVN Pictures |
| 1959 | Ang Langit Ko'y Ikaw | LVN Pictures |
| 1959 | Baguio Fever | LVN Pictures |
| 1959 | Chinita | LVN Pictures |
| 1959 | Surrender - Hell! | Cory Film Corporation |
| 1959 | Limang Punglo | LVN Pictures |
| 1959 | Tayo'y Magsaya | LVN Pictures |
| 1960 | Unos sa Laot | LVN Pictures |
| 1960 | Dahlia | LVN Pictures |
| 1960 | Kung Ako'y Mahal Ko | LVN Pictures |
| 1960 | Pitong Gabi sa Paris | C.S.F.O. Production |
| 1960 | Sandakot na Alabok | People's Pictures |
| 1960 | Lawiswis Kawayan | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1960 | My Serenade | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1960 | Anino ng Kahapon | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1960 | Bakit Ka Nagtampo | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1960 | Wala Kang Kapantay | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1961 | Nagbabagang Lupa | C. Santiago Film Organization |
| 1961 | Walang Sisihan | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1961 | Mga Yapak na Walang Bakas | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1962 | Tugtuging Bukid | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1962 | Sikat Na, Siga Pa! | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1962 | Oy... Akin Yata Yan! | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1962 | Jam Session | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1962 | Magtiis Ka Darling | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1963 | Adonis Abril | Larry Santiago Productions |
| 1963 | Limbo Rock | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1963 | Asyang Ng La Loma | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1963 | Ang Bukas ay Akin | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1963 | Naku, Yabang! | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1964 | Ginintuang Ani | Dalisay Pictures |
| 1964 | Yeba Chiquicha | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1964 | Si Doray Naman... | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1965 | Utos ni Tale Hindi Mababale | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1965 | Everybody Dance | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1966 | Sound of Bwisit | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1966 | Mabilis Paa't Kamay | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1966 | Huwag Kang Sumingit | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1966 | Familia Galawgaw | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1966 | Espiya Contra Espiya | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1967 | Wow Na Wow! | Gold Star Productions |
| 1968 | Siete Dolores | Sampaguita Pictures |
| 1975 | Siya'y Umalis, Siya'y Dumating | Mirick Films International |
| 1982 | Mother Dear | Regal Films |
| 1982 | Forgive and Forget | Viva Films |
| 1982 | Cross My Heart | Viva Films |
| 1983 | Saan Darating Ang Umaga? | Viva Films |
| 1984 | Anak ni Waray, Anak ni Biday | Regal Films |
| 1985 | Hindi Nahahati ang Langit | Vanguard Films |
| 1985 | Like Father, Like Son | Viva Films |
| 1986 | Paglingon sa Kinabukasan | Christian Light Foundation |
| 1987 | Prinsipeng Gusgusin | Regal Films |
| 1993 | Ligaw-Ligawan, Kasal-Kasalan, Bahay-Bahayan | Regal Films |
| 2002 | Forevermore (Last film appearance) | Star Cinema |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 1960–1964 | The Nida-Nestor Show | | ABS-CBN |
| 1994 | Maalaala Mo Kaya: Dancing Shoes | | ABS-CBN |
| 2001–2002 | Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan | Gov. Federico Bustamante | ABS-CBN |
| 2001–2002 | Biglang Sibol, Bayang Impasibol | Noel | GMA Network |