Berting Labra

Berting Labra (born Roberto S. Labra; April 17, 1933 – February 10, 2009) was a Filipino actor. He had roles in comedy, drama, action, and musical movies.

Personal life and career Labra starred in Apat na Taga in 1953. He was a child star who shared the 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 Fernando Poe Sr. when he was looking for a child actor who could sing in movies.

Labra also witnessed the murder of his father, Francisco Labra, former bantamweight and featherweight champion of the Orient, at the hands of Japanese soldiers. "He was tortured," Labra told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a 2005 interview.

The elder Poe became the ten-year-old's foster father.

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