La Bella Bonita

If I know Bella Dy-Tan, lady boss of Universal Records, first thing she’ll do as soon as she wakes up this morning and reads The STAR is dial my cellphone number and chirp in her characteristically cheerful voice, "To sia di!" (Chinese for thank you). She always does that everytime something about her company’s artists is published, the latest being Jerome John Hughes whom Bella has renamed, re-invented and relaunched with remarkable success. JJH is the voice behind the theme song of Mano Po 3: My Love (with Karylle), Let The Love Begin (also with Karylle) and We Could Be In Love.

Yes, she’s one of the very, very few people in showbiz who know how to say "thank you" even for the smallest favor.

Oops! Sorry I forgot. It just dawned on me that Bella won’t be calling me up today, not now and not ever. She succumbed to the Big C at 11:40 Tuesday (April 26) night, a few days after she flew back home from Texas where she underwent further treatment and more chemo sessions when the Big C, quiet for more than three years, reared its ugly head and relentlessly ravaged Bella’s lungs.

I will terribly, terribly miss that cheerful voice which had such soothing effect that even if La Bella Bonita called very early or very late, always to get my opinion on how to "market" her company’s talents and/or albums, I couldn’t help but listen. We talked in three languages (Chinese, Tagalog and English) and, consequently, we had meeting of minds on three levels.

It’s not only Bella’s voice which I will terribly, terribly miss but also, more so, her genuine friendliness and innate goodness. She was all sweetness and light, forever exuding a positive aura and projecting a sunshiny disposition so much so that even when she was in pain when she was first diagnosed to be suffering from the Big C, I didn’t see her writhe in pain or show the slightest sign of discomfort (maybe she did so only private, in the company of her husband, Jack Tan, and their children).

She was indefatigable, not only in building up Universal Records talents but also in being with friends, most of them very religious like her, including Baby Nebrida (the Marian) and Maribi Garcia who would gather friends for a healing Mass/prayer followed by a hearty meal with juicy small talk for dessert.

The only time Bella stood up the group was early last January when Maribi hosted a dinner at her newly-opened Mini Shabu-Shabu (Japanese Restaurant) in Greenhills. She had been suffering from what she thought was simple but persistent colds and she consulted the family doctor at the Chinese General Hospital that same night on her way to Greenhills but the doctor diagnosed something far worse and didn’t let her leave the hospital anymore. Next thing I knew, Bella had flown to Texas with Jack and their children.

"She left in peace," said Maribi. "During her last moments, Jack and their children were with her, holding her hands. She went back Home quietly; she just closed her eyes and stopped breathing."

Very unlike the Bella I know who was, well, never quiet. I travelled with her twice to Tokyo, together with GMA executive Wilma Galvante, once to interview Britney Spears (whose album Bella’s company was then promoting). They say that you’ll never know what a person is really like unless you travel with him or her. Abroad, Bella was attentive to our every need, knocking on your door every too often to bring you food and fruit and whatnots, checking if you’re okay or you need anything. Her kindness was overwhelming!

Nine years ago while I was grieving for my two brothers who died within a week of each other, Bella sent me, Ernie Pecho (her company’s PR man and Bella’s long-time friend) and Billy Balbastro to Bangkok for a coverage-cum-holiday. One lazy afternoon after sight-seeing, the three of us sat before the TV set at our hotel room and I caught the music-video of Kansas’ Dust In The Wind which has since become my favorite because of its meaningful, eye-opening lyrics. That song hit me like no other song ever had. As I recall Bella’s sweet voice which I will never hear again, I remember the lyrics of that song as I say a little prayer for the repose of La Bella Bonita’s soul:

I close my eyes,

Only for a moment, and the moment’s gone

All my dreams,

Pass before my eyes, in curiosity

Dust in the wind,

all we are is

dust in the wind

Same old song,

Just a drop of water

in an endless sea

All we do,

Crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see

Dust in the wind,

all we are is

dust in the wind

Don’t hang on,

Nothing lasts forever

but the earth and sky

It slips away,

And all your money

won’t another minute buy

Dust in the wind,

all we are is

dust in the wind

Dust in the wind,

everything is dust in the wind

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