A Gallery of Kontrabidas

By insistent readers’ demand, here’s “A Gallery of Kontrabidas” as follow-up to the galleries of glamour boys and girls published in this corner. As in the previous features, some of the photos on this page were contributed by Celso de Guzman Caparas from his prized collection.

“Walang bida bida kung walang kontrabida,” said Primera Kontrabida Bella Flores. Very true.

Like the fast-changing movie trends, through the years the image of the kontrabida has evolved. These days, there’s hardly any distinction between the bida and the kontrabida since “good girls” have been accepted playing “bad girl” roles.

Some kontrabidas started their career as goody-goody girls, like Rosemarie Gil who was launched by Premiere Productions as the titular role in Sta. Rita de Casia and starred with Eddie Mesa (who became her husband) in light comedy musicals like Diyes Isang Kanta and Pitong Gabi sa Paris.

During her heyday in Cebuano movies, Caridad Sanchez was “hated” as a kontrabida as she was when recruited by LVN Pictures. Remember Caridad as the woman who burned the house in the omnibus film Casa Grande? Today, Caridad switches between comedy and heavy drama (the Cesar Montano starrer Bagong Buwan, directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya).

LVN’s Rosa Rosal (who headed the Philippine National Red Cross/PNRC), Premiere’s Carol Varga and Sampaguita’s Rebecca del Rio epitomized the glamorous villains, with eyebrows arched sky-high and arms akimbo. But, of course, Rosa is best remembered for her bida role in such classics as Biyaya ng Lupa (directed by Manuel Silos), and Badjao and Anak Dalita (both by Lamberto Avellana). 

And how can we ever forget Etang Discher (mother of comedian Panchito Alba) with her dagger look and her iconic dialogue “Lumayas ka sa harapan ko!”?

Eddie Garcia graduated from kontrabida to bida to one of the country’s finest directors, still active even now that he’s in his early 90s; while Diaz brothers Paquito and Romy were forever making things difficult for Da King in his every starrer.

Others in the Honor Roll are: Celia Rodriguez (Premiere), Zeny Zabala (Sampaguita), Marissa Delgado (freelancer, a Lino Brocka favorite), Gil de Leon (LVN), Charlie Davao and Rod Navarro (Sampaguita), Johnny Monteiro (perennial  presence in Premiere costume pictures) and Max Alvarado (freelancer).

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