Bella Flores | |
|---|---|
 Flores in 2008 | |
| 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 |
Remedios Papa Dancel (February 27, 1929 – May 19, 2013),[1][2] commonly known as Bella Flores, was a Filipino actress whose career spanned over six decades. Known primarily for her villainess roles in film and television, she has received eight FAMAS Award for Best Supporting Actress nominations, winning one for Kaibigan Ko'ng Sto. Niño (1967). She was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Luna Awards in 1989 for her contributions to Philippine cinema.[3][4]
Flores is widely known as the "Queen of Kontrabidas" and "Primera Kontrabida" in the history of Philippine movies.[5][6]
Life and career
Flores was born Remedios Papa Dancel in Manila to Matias Dancel, a slipper maker, and Emilia Papa, both from San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.[7] She finished her primary education at Cecilio Apostol Elementary School, and secondary education at Roosevelt College.[8] 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
| Year | Title | Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Roberta | Bar girl |
| 1953 | Diwani | Ramona |
| 1978 | Mahal Mo, Mahal Ko | Bella |
| Atsay | Mrs. Aguila | |
| 1980 | Kastilyong Buhangin | Viring |
| Under-Age | Berta | |
| Waikiki: Sa Lupa ng Ating Mga Pangarap | Bella | |
| 1982 | Diary of Cristina Gaston | Bella |
| 1983 | To Mama with Love | Store owner |
| Tulume Alyas Zorro | Doña Sabel | |
| 1984 | Anak ni Waray vs. Anak ni Biday | Carol |
| Missing in Action | Madame Pearl | |
| 1985 | Sanay | Doña Beatriz |
| Tinik sa Dibdib | Kikay | |
| 1986 | Batang Quiapo | Mila |
| 1988 | Nakausap Ko ang Birhen | Sister Rafaelita |
| Buy One, Take One | Zarah | |
| 1989 | Pulis, Pulis sa Ilalim ng Tulay | Belle |
| Sgt. Niñonuevo: The Fastest Gun Alive of WPD | Nana Toyang | |
| 1990 | Petrang Kabayo 2: Anong Ganda Mo? Mukha Kang Kabayo! | Monina |
| Paikot-ikot | Dorothy | |
| Patigasan ang Labanan | Bella | |
| May Isang Tsuper ng Taxi | Aling Maring | |
| 1992 | Shake, Rattle & Roll IV | Mama Monang |
| 1993 | Dugo ng Panday | Bantay |
| 1994 | The Secrets of Sarah Jane: Sana'y Mapatawad Mo! | Recruiter |
| 1996 | Ang Misis Kong Hoodlum | Widow #1 |
| Ikaw ang Mahal Ko | Felipa | |
| 1997 | Nakawin Mo ang Aking Puso | Mameng |
| 1998 | Tataynic | Colonel's wife |
| Ginto't Pilak | Landlady | |
| 2000 | 'Di Ko Kayang Tanggapin | Bella |
| 2005 | D' Anothers | Precious |
| 2011 | Way Back Home | Lola Nita |
| 2012 | My Kontrabida Girl | Herself |
Television
| Year | Title | Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Esperanza | Mrs. Sanidad |
| 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 |
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.[9]
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."
In popular culture
- 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
- 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.
- "Actress Bella Flores dies early Sunday at 84". GMA News. Archived from the original on December 6, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- 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. Archived from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
- "Bella Flores: The Philippine Cinema's Primera Kontrabida". The Kahimyang Project. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
- Quilingguing, Uriel C. (May 19, 2013). "Bella Flores dies". SunStar. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
- Baldovino, Gypsy. "Bella for all seasons". Gypsy Baldovino. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
- "Bella Flores: The Philippine Cinema's Primera Kontrabida". The Kahimyang Project. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
- "Legendary actress Bella Flores passes away at 84". InterAksyon. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
External links
- Bella Flores at IMDb