# Berting Labra

Berting Labra (born Roberto S. Labra; April 17, 1933 – February 10, 2009) was a Filipino veteran actor equally adept in comedy and drama, in action flicks and musicals.......

## Personal life and career

Labra starred in Apat na Taga in 1953. He was a child star who shared screen with Fernando Poe Sr. in several films, including Palaboy ng Tadhana, Sagur, Kanto Boy, and Alimudin.
He was only six years old when he made his stage debut. He was discovered by Poe Sr. when he was looking for a child actor who could sing for the movie.
Labra also witnessed the murder of his father, Francisco Labra, former bantamweight and featherweight champion of the Orient, in the hands of Japanese soldiers. "He was tortured," Labra told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a 2005 interview.
The elder Poe became the 10-year-old's foster father.
Five years after the elder Poe's death, Labra, then a teenage, teamed up with Fernando "Da King" Poe Jr. in the 1956 box-office hit Lo' Waist Gang, a film that spawned a string of other movies and a lifelong friendship with Da King.
In 1969, Labra and fellow action star Eddie Fernandez were jailed for murder. Labra spent 13 years in Muntinlupa, only to be exonerated by the Supreme Court.
On December 25, 1982, the film The Cute... The Sexy n' The Tiny premiered. Labra plays one the leads.
Labra appeared in the 1991 action film Manong Gang with actor Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. alongside Dina Bonevie, Paquito Diaz and Max Alvarado. Labra's last film, the 2007 comedy M.O.N.A.Y ni Mr. Shooli, co-starred actor Leo Martinez.

## Death

Labra died on February 10, 2009, due to heart attack. He was 75 years old. Labra's remains were buried in the Garden of Memories in Pateros.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1947 | Ang Kapilya sa May Daang Bakal | |
| 1948 | Forbidden Women | |
| 1949 | The 13th Sultan | |
| 1950 | Beasts of the East | |
| 1956 | Lo' Waist Gang | |
| 1957 | Kamay ni Cain | |
| 1957 | Bakasyon Grande | |
| 1957 | Los Lacuacheros | |
| 1957 | Lutong Bahay ni Lola Basyang | |
| 1958 | Precious My Darling | |
| 1958 | Lo' Waist Gang at si Og sa Mindoro | |
| 1960 | Lo' Waist Gang Joins the Armed Forces | |
| 1960 | Gabi ng Lagim (Segment 4) | |
| 1960 | Rancho Grande | |
| 1962 | Big Time Berto | Berto |
| 1962 | Bulilit Al Capone | Little Alfonso |
| 1962 | Ano Ba Choy | |
| 1963 | Hugo, the Sidewalk Vendor | Hugo |
| 1963 | Sigaw ng Digmaan | |
| 1963 | Mga Manugang ni Drakula | |
| 1963 | Magandang Bituin | |
| 1963 | Dapit-Hapon: Oras ng Pagtutuos | |
| 1963 | Alias Golden Boy | |
| 1963 | Dakpin si Julian Adornado | |
| 1964 | Lumuluhang Komiko | |
| 1965 | Scarface at Al Capone: Espiya sa Ginto | |
| 1965 | Dandansoy | |
| 1965 | DreamGirl | |
| 1968 | That Man Mr. Impossible | |
| 1968 | PrettyBoy Playboy | |
| 1968 | Mister Gimmick | |
| 1968 | Isang Libong Mukha | |
| 1968 | Hari ng Yabang | |
| 1968 | Blackhawk Commandos | |
| 1969 | Bino and Clayd | |
| 1969 | D' Musical Teenage Idols | |
| 1970 | Tell Nora I Love Her | |
| 1970 | Munting Santa | |
| 1982 | Presidential Pardon | |
| 1982 | The Cute ... The Sexy 'n the Tiny | |
| 1983 | Kapag Buhay ang Inutang | |
| 1986 | Iyo ang Tondo, Kanya ang Cavite | Berto |
| 1987 | Vigilante II | |
| 1987 | Victor Corpuz | |
| 1987 | Lost and Found Command: Rebels Without Because | |
| 1987 | Puto | Travolta |
| 1988 | The Untouchable Family | |
| 1988 | Bobo Cop | |
| 1988 | Ompong Galapong: May Ulo, Walang Tapon | |
| 1988 | Kumander Bawang: Kalaban ng Mga Aswang | Lolo Ambo |
| 1988 | Gawa Na ang Bala Na Papatay sa Iyo | |
| 1989 | Tulak ng Bibig, Kabig ng Dibdib | |
| 1989 | Salisi Gang | |
| 1989 | Bala ... Dapat Kay Cris Cuenca, Public Enemy No.1 | |
| 1989 | Jones Bridge Massacre (Task Force Clabio) | |
| 1990 | Starzan III: The Jungle Triangle | |
| 1990 | Twist: Ako si Ikaw, Ikaw si Ako | |
| 1990 | Double M | |
| 1990 | Feel Na Feel | |
| 1990 | Titser's Enemi No. 1 | |
| 1990 | Bikining Itim | |
| 1990 | Karapatan Ko ang Pumatay ... Kapitan Guti | |
| 1990 | Pido Dida: Sabay Tayo | |
| 1991 | Batas ng .45 | Oyong |
| 1991 | Juan Tamad at Mister Shooli: Mongolian Barbecue | Gat Uto |
| 1992 | Lumayo Ka Man sa Akin | |
| 1992 | Bad Boy II | |
| 1992 | Alyas Boy Kano | Bernie |
| 1992 | Mukhang Bungo: Da Coconut Nut | Doy Ramos |
| 1992 | Aswang | Dodoy |
| 1992 | Eh, Kasi Bata | |
| 1992 | Jaime Labrador: Sakristan Mayor | Estong |
| 1992 | Manong Gang | |
| 1992 | Lakay | |
| 1992 | Andres Manambit | |
| 1993 | Sala sa Init, Sala sa Lamig | Miguel |
| 1993 | Patapon | Berting |
| 1993 | Mario Sandoval | |
| 1993 | Makuha Ka sa Tingin (Kung Puwede Lang) | Manong Nonong |
| 1993 | Galvez: Hanggang sa Dulo ng Mundo Hahanapin Kita | |
| 1993 | Lt. Madarang: Iginuhit sa Dugo | Sgt. Tiber |
| 1993 | Live by the Fist (or American Samurai 2) | Jojo |
| 1993 | Manila Boy | |
| 1994 | Chickboys | |
| 1995 | Minsan Pa: Kahit Konting Pagtingin Part 2 | Judge's Clerk |
| 1995 | Isang Kahig..Tatlong Tuka (Daddy Ka Na, Mommy Ka Pa) | |
| 1995 | Gising Na ... Ang Higanteng Natutulog | |
| 1995 | Huwag Mong Isuko ang Laban | |
| 1996 | Batang Z | |
| 1996 | Adan Lazaro | Kanor |
| 1996 | Do Re Mi | Mr. Tolentino |
| 1996 | Ang Probinsyano | Titong |
| 1997 | SIG .357 Baril Mo ang Papatay Sa Iyo | |
| 1997 | Sa Iyo ang Itaas, sa Akin ang Ibaba ... ng Bahay | Tiyo Paeng |
| 1998 | Pagbabalik ng Probinsyano | Titong |
| 1998 | Squala | |
| 1998 | Alyas Boy Tigas: Ang Probinsyanong Wais | |
| 1998 | Ginto't Pilak | |
| 1998 | Kasal-Kasalan (Sakalan) | |
| 1999 | Bayadra Brothers | |
| 1999 | Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay Ko... | Mang Cosme |
| 1999 | Basta't Ikaw Pa | |
| 2000 | Ang Dalubhasa | Pekto |
| 2000 | Waray | |
| 2000 | Ayos Na ... ang Kasunod | Ka Benny |
| 2000 | Sagot Kita: Mula Ulo Hanggang Paa | |
| 2001 | Tabi Tabi Po | |
| 2001 | Mila | Tiyo Dodoy |
| 2001 | Mahal Kita ... Kahit Sino Ka | |
| 2001 | Bakit 'Di Totohanin | |
| 2002 | Mahal Kita: Final Answer | |
| 2002 | Hari ng Selda-Anak ni Baby Ama 2 | |
| 2002 | Sana Totoo Na | |
| 2002 | Forevermore | |
| 2002 | Sugat, Walang Paghilom | Tata Isyo |
| 2002 | Tukaan | Lolo Gorio |
| 2003 | Pinay Pie | Erning |
| 2006 | Umaaraw, Umuulan | |
| 2007 | M.O.N.A.Y. (Misteyks Obda Neyson Adres Yata) ni Mr. Shooli | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1967 | The Longest Hundred Miles | Pedro |
| 1998–2001 | Richard Loves Lucy | Mang Berting |
| 2001 | Ipaglaban Mo: Walang-Wala Na, Nawalan Pa! | Mang Kanor |
| 2001 | Eto Na Ang Susunod Na Kabanata | Domeng |
| 2001–2002 | Pangako Sa 'Yo | Pepe |
| 2002–2003 | Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay | Mario |

## Awards

* 1962 FAMAS BEST ACTOR - Ano Ba Choy?
* 1964 FAMAS SUPPORTING ACTOR - Lumuluhang Komiko

## Trivia

* Fernando Poe, Jr. once stated that "Berting was the greatest Filipino actor of all time."
* He was named Mickey Rooney and Bobby Breen of the Philippines, the Filipino version of Hollywood Child Wonders in the 1940s.

## Sources

* ↑ Cherry Pineda (12 June 2015). "Tragic Endings: shocking celebrity-related deaths". Push. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
* ↑ Leavold, Andrew (2017). The Search for Weng Weng. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. pp. 238–239. ISBN 9780994411235.
* ↑ Godinez, Bong (11 February 2009). "Veteran actor Berting Labra succumbs to emphysema". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal Inc. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
* 1 2 "Child of RP movies packs up - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos". Archived from the original on 17 February 2009.