Cardenas made her first acting appearance in the drama
Kidlat sa Silangan (Lightning on the East) with Premiere Production. She made several movies with this studio, including one appearance with
Rogelio dela Rosa in
48 Oras (48 Hours), for which she won the
Maria Clara Award. In 1952, she appeared in the musical drama
Bulaklak ng Nayon (Flower of the Field) with
Anita Linda, and
Bakas ng Kahapon (Footprint of the Past). She made two movies with
Sampaguita Pictures entitled
El Indio (The Indie) and
Tres Ojos (Three-Eyed), paired with
César Ramirez.
Tomboy was her last movie under Filipinas Pictures. She died on June 11, 2020, due to chronic kidney disease, and senility. ==Filmography==