Bella Flores

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
DiedMay 19, 2013 (aged 84)
Resting placeOur Lady of Eternal Peace Memorial Park, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan
OccupationActress
Years active1950–2013
ChildrenRuby Dancel-Arcilla
Parent(s)Matias Dancel (father)
Emilia Papa (mother)
RelativesJesse Arcilla (son-in-law)
Jessica Dancel-Arcilla (granddaughter)
AwardsFAMAS Best Supporting Actress
1967 Ang Kaibigan Kong Santo Niño

Life and career

Flores 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

Film

YearTitleRole(s)Film Company
1951RobertaBar girl
1953DiwaniRamona
Sampaguita Pictures
1978Mahal Mo, Mahal KoBella
AtsayMrs. Aguila
Ian Film Productions
1980Kastilyong BuhanginViring
Lotus Films
Under-AgeBerta
Regal Films
Waikiki: Sa Lupa ng Ating Mga PangarapBella
Regal Films
1982Diary of Cristina GastonBella
Regal Films
1983To Mama with LoveStore owner
Regal Films
Tulume Alyas ZorroDoña Sabel
Gold Sun Productions
1984Anak ni Waray vs. Anak ni BidayCarol
Regal Films
Missing in ActionMadame Pearl
1985SanayDoña Beatriz
MM Film Patterns International
Tinik sa DibdibKikay
1986Batang QuiapoMila
Regal Films
1988Nakausap Ko ang BirhenSister Rafaelita
Regal Films
Buy One, Take OneZarah
Viva Films
1989Pulis, Pulis sa Ilalim ng TulayBelle
Regal Films
Sgt. Niñonuevo: The Fastest Gun Alive of WPDNana Toyang
Kelly Ellis Films International
1990Petrang Kabayo 2: Anong Ganda Mo? Mukha Kang Kabayo!Monina
Viva Films
Paikot-ikotDorothy
OctoArts Films
Viva Films
Patigasan ang LabananBella
Triple R Films
May Isang Tsuper ng TaxiAling Maring
FPJ Productions
1992Shake, Rattle & Roll IVMama Monang
Regal Films
1993Dugo ng PandayBantay
Regal Films
1994The Secrets of Sarah Jane: Sana'y Mapatawad Mo!Recruiter
1996Ang Misis Kong HoodlumWidow #1
Neo Films
Ikaw ang Mahal KoFelipa
FPJ Productions
1997Nakawin Mo ang Aking PusoMameng
MAQ Productions
1998Tataynic Colonel's wife
RVQ Productions
Ginto't PilakLandlady
2000'Di Ko Kayang TanggapinBella
World Arts Cinema
2005D' AnothersPrecious
Star Cinema
2011Way Back HomeLola Nita
2012My Kontrabida GirlHerself

Television

YearTitleRole(s)Network
1997EsperanzaMrs. SanidadABS-CBN
2000–2001MarinellaDoña Guadalupe "Guada" Villareal
2005SpiritsMilagros
2005–2006Mga Anghel na Walang LangitGaudencia "Gude" Redondo-Hawkins
2010Sine Novela: Mars Ravelo's Trudis LiitDoña Hershey FerrerGMA Network

Death

Flores 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

Bella Flores Foundation

The 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."

  • 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

  1. 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.
  2. "Actress Bella Flores dies early Sunday at 84". GMA News. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  3. 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.
  4. "The iconic Bella Flores: The standard of all kontrabidas". Inquirer Lifestyle. May 19, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  5. "Legendary actress Bella Flores passes away at 84". InterAksyon. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
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