FROM female impersonation to makeup artistry, acting, celebrity styling, to fashion design and interior decoration, Fanny Serrano scaled the heights of creativity. There was barely anything this multitalented multihyphenate’s “cinematique” aesthetic hadn’t touched.
Tita Fanny, or TF as he is called with endearing fondness by friends and fans alike, died on May 10 more than a year after surviving a massive stroke. He was 74.
“It is with a heavy heart to share to everyone that my father Felix Mariano Fausto Jr., aka Fanny Serrano, has peacefully joined our creator last night, around 9 pm MNL, at the comfort of our home. The whole family is comforted by the fact that a lot of you are celebrating his life and paying tributes on how he touched people’s lives,” Maktin Miranda posted on May 11 on Facebook.
Born on February 1, 1948, Felix Mariano Fausto Jr. started his journey to prominence as a janitor for a hair salon. From that menial job, he then rose to become a beauty guru by establishing the Philippines International Cosmetologists Association, and building his brands such as Fanny Serrano Cosmetics, Fanny Serrano Professionals Haircare Line, and Fanny Serrano Salon, which is still thriving on Scout Rallos Street, Tomas Morato, Quezon City.
MAKEUP MOGUL
THE one Tita Fanny considers the most beautiful woman is screen legend Gloria Romero. But it was the glamorous contravida, Celia Rodriguez, who gave Tita Fanny his big showbiz break as a makeup artist, which is probably in Celso Ad. Castillo’s 1977 horror film Maligno.
Tita Fanny eventually became close to 1970s ingenues who became accomplished actresses: Sandy Andolong, Gina Alajar, Amy Austria and Lorna Tolentino, the original “Pictorial Queen” for their endless studio sessions, and Tirso Curz III’s wife, Lyn Ynchausti. They’re known in showbiz and prayer circles as The Legends.
TF’s gift for transformations extended also to “nontraditional beauties,” such as Kiray Celis. “Saan nga ba tayo nagkakilala? Actually, pinahanap po ako ni Tito Fanny. May nabasa daw kasi siyang article na binu-bully ako sa makeup at nalagay ako sa worst dress[ed] sa isang ball,” the GMA comedienne writes in an Instagram post. “At dun na nagsimula ang lahat. Wala akong masabi. Mami-miss kita fairy godmother ko. Mahal na mahal kita. Sobra! I love you, TF! Rest in peace.”
TF’s influence reaches far and wide. Sheldon Akut Frias, then a budding makeup artist in Cagayan de Oro, shares: “I met Tita Fanny many years ago when I joined a bridal makeup competition. He was very constructive when he gave advice and he has that power to motivate and inspire us in doing our passion. Luckily, I was ranked first place.”
His biggest champion is the Megastar Sharon Cuneta, who couldn’t contain her sadness over TF’s passing so soon after her husband Sen. Kiko Pangilinan’s election loss: “Too much heartbreak, in only a matter of days. The hands that made me feel and look beautiful for over 30 years, even when I didn’t think I did. Thank you, my dearest TF, my Tita Fanny, for your love, friendship, loyalty, and for all the laughter we shared. Thank you for wiping so many tears quietly as they poured from my eyes on so very many occasions over all these three decades. I find peace in that I kept my promise to you. I know you have gone straight to heaven, and I pray that I see and laugh with you again there someday…. I love you so very much.”
ACTING ACCOLADES
IN the Internet Movie Database, TF’s first acting credit was in Maria Saret’s 1973 film, Bakit May Bilanggo sa Anak ni Eba?, which starred Gina Pareño, Rosanna Ortiz and Alona Alegre. His last film was with the Superstar, Nora Aunor, in Joel Lamangan’s Isa Pang Bahaghari, in 2020.
The film that TF was proud of is Neal “Buboy” Tan’s Tarima, where he played a gay man in love with a prisoner (Rocky Salumbides). “Tarima” refers to a cramped space in a prison where a convict and their loved one can have their private moments.
For that 2010 film, TF received nominations for best actor at the Film Academy Awards, Golden Screen Awards, Star Awards for Movies, and Gawad Urian Awards.
“Ito ha, sa sobrang pagmamalaki ko rito, kahit ito na ’yung last movie ko as an actor, okay na sa akin,” he told Pep.ph. “Kumbaga, kung si LT may Maging Akin Ka Lamang, si Sharon may Madrasta, ako as Fanny Serrano, the actor, may maipagmamalaki na ako, ito ngang Tarima.”
FASHION FORAYS
“SINCE childhood, designing has really been my first love. During my elementary days in the 1950s, you will see my notebook full of drawings of dresses. It was during those years that dresses were in balloon style with petticoats. In fairness, I am so lucky that I am gifted with good hands in drawing,” TF told me as he was preparing for Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2012. “I thought I was ready for my first collection when I became a member of the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines. My co-fashion designers are those whom I consider as some of my mentors. My critics as well because I also learn from them. I am open to criticism and I consider myself as a nonconformist,” TF said.
TF’s creations were flowy and fantastical, as seen on Catriona Gray at Philippine Fashion Week Grand Allure Spring/Summer 2013, and with a distinctly Filipino flair, as seen Melanie Marquez in a Pilipinyahan Couture, in the photo collage.
In later years, TF became a member of Designers Circle Philippines, an “organization composed of seasoned and young fashion designers.” The group wrote on their Facebook page: “We lost our one and only TF, Tita Fanny Serrano, our mentor, inspiration and friend. Rest in power and beauty, TF! We will be forever grateful and honored to have known a true Filipino icon in our lifetime.”