Bella Flores
Remedios Papa Dancel (February 27, 1929 – May 19, 2013), 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. She was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Luna Awards in 1989 for her contributions to Philippine cinema.
Bella Flores
- Name
- Bella Flores
- Birth Name
- Remedios Papa Dancel
- Born
- February 27, 1929
- Birthplace
- Santa Cruz, Manila, Philippine Islands
- Died
- May 19, 2013 (aged 84)
- Place of death
- Quezon City, Philippines
- Occupation
- Actress
- Awards
- FAMAS Best Supporting Actress 1967 Ang Kaibigan Kong Santo Niño
- Nationality
- Philippines
- Education
- Far Eastern University
- Honours
- FAMAS Award for Best Supporting Actress
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Remedios Papa Dancel (February 27, 1929 – May 19, 2013), 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. She was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Luna Awards in 1989 for her contributions to Philippine cinema.
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Authority files
wikidata · Q4883358 · wikipedia · Bella Flores
In this article
Biography
Biography
Flores is widely known as the "Queen of Kontrabidas" and "Primera Kontrabida" in the history of Philippine movies.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Bella Flores • Birth Name — Remedios Papa Dancel • Born — February 27, 1929 • Birthplace — Santa Cruz, Manila, Philippine Islands • Died — May 19, 2013 (aged 84) • Place of death — Quezon City, Philippines • Resting Place — Our Lady of Eternal Peace Memorial Park, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan • Parents — Matias Dancel (father) Emilia Papa (mother) • Children — Ruby Dancel-Arcilla • Occupation — Actress • Relatives — Jesse Arcilla (son-in-law) Jessica Dancel-Arcilla (granddaughter) • Years Active — 1950–2013 • Awards — FAMAS Best Supporting Actress 1967 Ang Kaibigan Kong Santo Niño
Life and career
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. She finished her primary education at Cecilio Apostol Elementary School, and secondary education at Roosevelt College. 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. 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." She received the 1967 FAMAS Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Ang Kaibigan Kong Santo Niño and bella mora.
Television
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
Death
Flores died on May 19, 2013, in Quezon City General Hospital. Her death was a result of complications from a recent hip surgery.
Bella Flores Foundation
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
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.
Identity and overview
Identity and overview
The following is established of the heading itself.
Origins and background
Origins and background
The following is established of origins and background. Flores died in 2013 at Quezon City. It is also recorded that bella Flores was born in 1929 at Santa Cruz.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Santa Cruz.
Birth place
Quezon City.
Death place
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
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Bella Flores”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q4883358: Bella Flores
General reference · Wikidata
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
This entry is compiled from 5 catalogued sources across 5 independent registers. The registers consulted are Wikidata, Wikipedia, DOAJ, Wellcome Collection and National Library of Medicine. Every statement above is held against the register that stated it; where the registers are silent, the entry is silent.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 20 August 2026.
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