Berting Labra born Roberto Labra, was a Filipino child star

Child star

Child star can refer to:* a child actor* a child singer*"Child Star," a song by The Unicorns from their 2003 album Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?...

 and 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 hits, 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 Inquirer in 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 1965 box-office hit "Lo' Waist Gang," a film that spawned a string of other movies and a life-long friendship with Da King.

In 1969, Labra and fellow action star The Late Eddie Fernandez were jailed for murder. Labra spent 13 years in Muntinlupa, only to be exonerated by the Supreme Court.

Labra appeared in the 1991 action film "Manong Gang" with actor now Senator ramon 'Bong" revilla Jr Alongside Dina Bonevie as Bong Revilla's Leading Lady, and the late Actors Paquito Diaz

Paquito Diaz

Francisco Bustillos Diaz, better known by his screen name Paquito Diaz , was a veteran Filipino actor and movie director. He specialized in action and comedy.-Early life and career:Diaz was born in Pampanga, Philippines...

 and Max Alvarado

Max Alvarado

Max Alvarado was a FAMAS award-winning Filipino film actor known mainly by his portrayals of villains in a career that spanned 6 decades.-Biography:Max Alvarado was born as Gavino Maximo Teodosio in Manila...

. Labra's last film , the 2007 comedy "M.O.N.A.Y ni Mr. Shooli," co-starred actor Leo Martinez.

He appeared in supporting roles in soap operas and indie films in the Philippines.

Death

Labra died last February 10 due to emphysema

Emphysema

Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...

. He was 75. Labra's remains were buried in the Garden of Memories in Pateros.

Filmography

Labra won 2 FAMAS

FAMAS

The FAMAS is a bullpup-styled assault rifle designed and manufactured in France by MAS located in Saint-Étienne, which is now a member of the French government-owned Nexter group...

 awards.

Year	Movie	Role
2007	[ M.O.N.A.Y (Misteyks obda neyson adres Yata) ni Mr. Shooli
2006	Umaaraw, umuulan ,gumagabi
2003	Pinay Pie Pinay Pie Pinay Pie is a 2003 Filipino comedy film, directed by award-winning multi-genre director Jose Javier Reyes. The film was released to Philippine theaters on September 3, 2003. It stars Joyce Jimenez, Assunta De Rossi and Ai Ai de las Alas on the lead roles. It is a film about girl power. De las Alas...	Erning
2002–2003	Bene Lauresta (Fliptop series)	Fuego
2002	Rudy Alvarina	Lola Berting
2002	Genesis Rhapsodis	Macmac<3Bene
2002	Lindley N. Garces	Imbagwapo
2002	Tashito Embotido	Call boy
2002	Hari ng Selda-Anak ni Baby Ama 2
2002	Mahal Kita: Final Answer
2001	Bakit 'di Totohanin
2001	Mahal Kita... Kahit Sino Ka
2001	Mila	Tiyo Dodoy
2001	Tabi Tabi Po
2001	Tabi Tabi Po
2001	Eto na ang susunod na kabanata (TV series)	Domeng
2000	Sagot Kita: Mula Ulo Hanggang Paa
2000	Ayos na...ang Kasunod	Ka Benny
2000	Waray (d'bisayaman
2000	Ang Dalubhasa
1999	Bastat't Ikaw Nanginginig Pa
1999	Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay Ko
1999	Bayadra Brothers
1999	Alyas Lakay
1998	Kasal-Kasalan (Sakalan)
1998	Ginto't Pilak
1998	Alyas Boy Tigas: Ang Probinsyanong Wais
1998	Kasal-Kasalan (Sakalan)
1998	Squala
1997	Ang Probinsyano
1997	Sa iyo ang itaas, sa akin ang ibaba... ng bahay	Tiyo Paeng
1997	SIG .357 Baril mo ang papatay sa iyo
1996	Batang XYZ
1996	Huwag Mong Isuko ang Laban
1995	Gising Na...Ang Higanteng Natutulog
1995	Isang Kahig..Tatlong Tuka (Daddy ka na, Mommy Ka Pa)
1995	Minsan pa: Kahit Konting Pagtingin Part 2	Judge's Clerk
1994	HOY GISING..
1993	Manila Boy
1993	American Samurai 2 (... Auch bekannt als: "Live by the Fist" - Philippine Original Title	Jojo
1993	Galvez: Hanggang sa dulo ng mundo hahanapin kita
1993	Makuha ka sa Tingin (Kung PUwede lang)	Manong Nonong
1993	BONG perez da movie
1993	Patapon	Berting
1993	Sala sa init, sala sa lamig	Miguel
1992	Andres Manambit
1992	Jaime Labrador: Sakristan Mayor	Estong
1992	Aswang	Dodoy
1992	Alyas Boy Kano	Bernie
1992	Bad Boy II
1992	Lumayo Ka Man sa Akin
1991	Mongolian Barbecue
1991	Manong Gang
1991	Mukhang Bungo
1990	Karapatan ko ang Pumatay... Kapitan Guti
1990	Bikining Itim
1990	Teacher's Enemy no10
1990	Feel and Feel
1990	Double M
1990	Twist: Ako si Ikaw, Ikaw si Ako
1989	Bala...Dapat Kay Cris Cuenca, Public Enemy No.1
1989	Salisi Gang
1989	Starzan III: The Jungle Triangle
1989	Tulak ng bibig, kabig ng dibdib
1988	Gawa na ang balang papatay sa iyo
1987	Lost and Found Command: Rebels Without Because
1987	Victor Corpuz
1987	Vigalante II
1983	Kapag Buhay ang Inutang
1982	The Cute...The Sexy 'n the Tiny
1982	Presidential Pardon
1970	Munting Santa
1970	Tell Nora I Love Her
1969	D' Musical Teenage Idols
1969	Bino and Clayd
1968	Blackhawk Commandos
1968	Hari ng Yabang
1968	Isang Libong Mukha
1968	Mister Gimmick
1968	PrettyBoy Playboy
1968	That Man Mr. Impossible
1967	The Longest Hundred Miles (TV Series)	Pedro
1965	DreamGirl
1965	Dandansoy
1965	Scarface at Al Capone: Espiya sa Ginto
1964	Lumuluhang Komiko
1963	Dakpin si Julian Adornado
1963	Alias Golden Boy
1963	Dapit-Hapon: Oras ng Pagtutuos
1963	Magandang Bituin
1963	Mga Manugang ni Drakula
1963	Sigaw ng Digmaan
1963	Hugo, the Sidewalk Vendor	Hugo
1962	Ano Ba Choy
1962	Bulilit Al Capone	Little Alfonso
1962	Big Time Berto	Berto
1960	Gabi ng Lagim (Segment 4)
1960	Lo' Waist Gang Joins the Armed Forces
1960	Rancho Grande
1958	Lo' Waist Gang at si Og sa Mindoro
1958	precious My Darling
1957	Lutong bahay ni lola basyang
1957	Los Lacuacheros
1957	Bakasyon Grande
1957	Kamay ni Cain
1956	Lo' Waist Gang
1950	Beasts of the East
1948	Forbidden Women
1947 ___	Gobernador	Canor
1945____	Mga Syanong Parak

Awards

• 1964 FAMAS SUPPORTING ACTOR - Lumuluhang Komiko

• 1962 FAMAS BEST ACTOR - Ano Ba Choy?

Trivia

• Fernando Poe, Jr.

Fernando Poe, Jr.

Ronald Allan Poe y Kelley , better known as Fernando Poe, Jr. and colloquially known as FPJ and Da King, was a Filipino actor and cultural icon. From the 1950s, Poe played steadfast film heroes who fight for the common man, which won him respect and admiration...

, the King of the Philippine movies said that "Berting was the greatest Filipino actor of all time."

• He was named Mickey Rooney

Mickey Rooney

Mickey Rooney is an American film actor and entertainer whose film, television, and stage appearances span nearly his entire lifetime. He has won multiple awards, including an Honorary Academy Award, a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award...

 and Bobby Breen

Bobby Breen

Bobby Breen is a Canadian-born actor and singer of the 1930s. He made his professional debut at age four in a night club in Toronto and was an immediate sensation. He made his radio debut soon after. He played in vaudeville and his sister paid for his musical education. Breen went to Hollywood in...

 of the Philippines, the Filipino version of Hollywood Child Wonders in the 1940s.

Sources

• http://www.showbizcheese.info/2009/02/rip-berting-labra.html
• http://www.imdb.de/name/nm0479653/