“In real life, she is the opposite of her screen villain role. She has a soft spot for everyone, the typical ‘pusong mamon’ so to speak.”

            Thus spoke veteran actress Boots Anson  Roa when she heard of the passing away of Bella Flores early Sunday morning.

            “She was a good friend of my mother way back during her Sampaguita days,” added Roa. “She was a real trooper off camera and loves to make jokes.”

            Director Joey Reyes confirmed Roa’s testimonial  after doing his last project with the character actress.
 
            He earlier opined: “You will be surprised that the kontrabidas onscreen are the real darlings and sweethearts in real life. Tita Bella is an absolute grandma. At 84, she is still that passionate about her work. She is anything but the characters she plays onscreen.”
 
            The character actress had a hip replacement surgery last year when she met an accident at home. But when she undertook rehab treatment, she was never the same again and had to spend more time in the hospital. She spent her 84^th birthday in a San Juan Hospital with her only daughter, Ruby Arcilla.
 
            “She never really retired,” said Flores’s only daughter. “She’s been acting all her life.”