Remedios Papa Dancel (February 27, 1929 – May 19, 2013),[1][2] commonly known as Bella Flores, was a Filipina actress. She was best known for her "iconic" portrayals of film villains.[3] She is popularly referred as the original “Queen of Kontrabidas” for being an enduring icon of Philippine culture and setting the standard on which kontrabidas will always be measured.[4]
Bella Flores | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Remedios Papa Dancel February 27, 1929 |
| Died | May 19, 2013 (aged 84) |
| Resting place | Our Lady of Eternal Peace Memorial Park, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1950–2013 |
| Children | Ruby Dancel-Arcilla |
| Parent(s) | Matias Dancel (father) Emilia Papa (mother) |
| Relatives | Jesse Arcilla (son-in-law) Jessica Dancel-Arcilla (granddaughter) |
| Awards | FAMAS Best Supporting Actress 1967 Ang Kaibigan Kong Santo Niño |
Life and career
editFlores was born Remedios Papa Dancel in Manila to Matias Dancel, a slipper maker, and Emilia Papa. She was a college sophomore at the Far Eastern University when she appeared in her first film, Tatlong Balaraw (1950), at age 21.
Flores was signed by Sampaguita Pictures. She was cast in Roberta as the cruel stepmother of Tessie Agana's titular character, despite being 22 years old. The film was a box-office success, credited with saving Sampaguita Pictures from bankruptcy after a fire had destroyed its studio.[1] The film's success also elevated Flores into the upper tier of stars, and typecast her in villainous roles. The film critic Nestor Torre remarked that Flores had "been making life miserable for many generations of hapless stars—all the way back to little Tessie Agana and Boy Alano in Roberta in the early 1950s, to her fresh batch of victims in the New Millennium... doing it without skipping a beat—and without aging (much) to boot."[3] She received the 1967 FAMAS Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Ang Kaibigan Kong Santo Niño and bella mora.[1]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role(s) | Film Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Roberta | Bar girl | |
| 1953 | Diwani | Ramona | Sampaguita Pictures
|
| 1978 | Mahal Mo, Mahal Ko | Bella | |
| Atsay | Mrs. Aguila | Ian Film Productions
| |
| 1980 | Kastilyong Buhangin | Viring | Lotus Films
|
| Under-Age | Berta | Regal Films
| |
| Waikiki: Sa Lupa ng Ating Mga Pangarap | Bella | Regal Films
| |
| 1982 | Diary of Cristina Gaston | Bella | Regal Films
|
| 1983 | To Mama with Love | Store owner | Regal Films
|
| Tulume Alyas Zorro | Doña Sabel | Gold Sun Productions
| |
| 1984 | Anak ni Waray vs. Anak ni Biday | Carol | Regal Films
|
| Missing in Action | Madame Pearl | ||
| 1985 | Sanay | Doña Beatriz | MM Film Patterns International
|
| Tinik sa Dibdib | Kikay | ||
| 1986 | Batang Quiapo | Mila | Regal Films
|
| 1988 | Nakausap Ko ang Birhen | Sister Rafaelita | Regal Films
|
| Buy One, Take One | Zarah | Viva Films
| |
| 1989 | Pulis, Pulis sa Ilalim ng Tulay | Belle | Regal Films
|
| Sgt. Niñonuevo: The Fastest Gun Alive of WPD | Nana Toyang | Kelly Ellis Films International
| |
| 1990 | Petrang Kabayo 2: Anong Ganda Mo? Mukha Kang Kabayo! | Monina | Viva Films
|
| Paikot-ikot | Dorothy | OctoArts Films
Viva Films | |
| Patigasan ang Labanan | Bella | Triple R Films
| |
| May Isang Tsuper ng Taxi | Aling Maring | FPJ Productions
| |
| 1992 | Shake, Rattle & Roll IV | Mama Monang | Regal Films
|
| 1993 | Dugo ng Panday | Bantay | Regal Films
|
| 1994 | The Secrets of Sarah Jane: Sana'y Mapatawad Mo! | Recruiter | |
| 1996 | Ang Misis Kong Hoodlum | Widow #1 | Neo Films
|
| Ikaw ang Mahal Ko | Felipa | FPJ Productions
| |
| 1997 | Nakawin Mo ang Aking Puso | Mameng | MAQ Productions
|
| 1998 | Tataynic | Colonel's wife | RVQ Productions
|
| Ginto't Pilak | Landlady | ||
| 2000 | 'Di Ko Kayang Tanggapin | Bella | World Arts Cinema
|
| 2005 | D' Anothers | Precious | Star Cinema
|
| 2011 | Way Back Home | Lola Nita | |
| 2012 | My Kontrabida Girl | Herself |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role(s) | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Esperanza | Mrs. Sanidad | ABS-CBN |
| 2000–2001 | Marinella | Doña Guadalupe "Guada" Villareal | |
| 2005 | Spirits | Milagros | |
| 2005–2006 | Mga Anghel na Walang Langit | Gaudencia "Gude" Redondo-Hawkins | |
| 2010 | Sine Novela: Mars Ravelo's Trudis Liit | Doña Hershey Ferrer | GMA Network |
Death
editFlores died on May 19, 2013, in Quezon City General Hospital.[2] Her death was a result of complications from a recent hip surgery.[5]
Legacy
editBella Flores Foundation
editThe family of the late veteran actress Bella Flores plans to establish a foundation in her name and to organize a fundraising concert to benefit show business personalities with Alzheimer’s disease.
This was announced Tuesday night by singer Imelda Papin, Flores' niece. Flores was diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer's and diabetes months before she died on May 19. The concert is tentatively set for July at the Aliw Theater in Pasay, Papin said.
Flores' daughter Ruby Arcilla said during the wake on Tuesday, "If mom's death could pave the way for… these projects, she would be very happy. She always tried to do what she could for her colleagues."
Arcilla said that a woman approached her during the wake to say thanks. "The lady said she showed mom her doctor’s prescription and mom gave what she could afford. I hope other actors would do the same – give from their hearts."
In popular culture
edit- Former teen star Valerie Concepcion plays the role of the late veteran actress Bella Flores in a drama anthology of her feature story of Bella's lifetime in Star Confessions aired on TV5 (now The 5 Network) in 2011.
- GMA 7 Comedian John Feir plays as "Belly Flori" a parody version of the late veteran actress Bella Flores in a defunct comedy Gag Show "Nuts Entertainment" on GMA 7 in 2003.
References
edit- ^ a b c Lena Pareja (1994). "Philippine Film". In Nicanor Tiongson (ed.). CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art. Vol. VIII (1st ed.). Manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines. p. 250. ISBN 971-8546-31-6.
- ^ a b "Actress Bella Flores dies early Sunday at 84". GMA News. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- ^ a b Nestor U. Torre (July 24, 2007). "Guilty pleasures in the biz". Viewfinder. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved March 5, 2008.
- ^ "The iconic Bella Flores: The standard of all kontrabidas". Inquirer Lifestyle. May 19, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
- ^ "Legendary actress Bella Flores passes away at 84". InterAksyon. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
External links
edit- Bella Flores at IMDb