Bessie Badilla
By: Yamillah Hurtado
Filipina icon Bessie Badilla is a woman of many passions. Ever since she was a little girl, Bessie has had a deeply rooted love for the arts. In her adult life, Bessie has taken on modeling, dancing, producing, singing, and publishing. She has explored almost every inch of the arts and is excited for the world of opportunities that awaits her.
Before becoming a top model in the Philippines during the ‘80s, Bessie’s modeling career began with a moment of luck. Bessie was chosen from a group of ushers at an International Monetary Fund-World Bank conference by Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos to walk the runway for Pitoy Morenos’s Bagong Anyo showcase. Pitoy was a world-renowned Filipino fashion designer. Walking the runway for him put Bessie on the radar of big-time fashion houses. After this show, Bessie was signed to be a model with Bighani Agency. It was this moment that eventually led Bessie to take on the fashion capital of the world working with the House of Balenciaga in Paris.
Bessie’s beauty and grace also took her to Carnaval in Brazil as a carnival queen. While Bessie was dancing at a wedding in Sao Paulo, Renato Freitas — a carnival ambassador — scouted her for the position. Renato was impressed with the way she moved to the rhythm of the music and the energy she brought onto the dance floor. Bessie was the first Filipina Carnival Queen, and she learned Portuguese and samba dancing for the role.
The documentary Dance of My Life is about Bessie’s experience at Carnaval. She co-produced the film that was written and directed by Lyca Benitez-Brown. The film shows Carnaval’s impact on Bessie and how it weaved its way into her life. The film premiered at Hell’s Kitchen New York Film Festival in 2011.
Brazil became a home away from home for Bessie soon after her time as carnival queen. Growing up, Bessie would listen to the Bossa Nova and Samba tunes that would play throughout her grandparents’ home. She would find herself singing along in a language she did not know. Though she could not understand the lyrics in these songs, the music spoke to her.
With her overflowing love for Bossa Nova, Bessie went on to release two albums within the genre: Brinoy and Brinoy Dois. Her music is where Brazilian music intertwines with Pinoy lyrics, hence “Brinoy.” Bessie collaborated with musician Ze Mauricio to write songs in Tagalog over original Brazilian instrumentals.
Bessie has also made her way through the entertainment industry as a producer and actress. Bakal Boys, written and directed by Ralston Jover, was her first movie production. It became the most awarded Philippine Indie Film in 2009. She is continuing her collaboration with Ralston for the production of Da Dog Show. Bessie also starred on hit Filipino TV sitcom Eh Kasi, Babae, for which she was nominated for “Best Actress in Comedy” and “Best New Artist.”
Her Filipino pride has not only led her to give Filipino Indie Films a platform, but to also highlight the Philippines as a tourist destination. With a hope to expand the tourism industry in her home country, Bessie started a Facebook group called “Come Visit My Philippines” where she posts the country’s beautiful landmarks. The group has over 39,000 members and Bessie has received the Online Tourism Award for the Rotary Club in Manila in 2012.
Bessie is devoted to helping those in need and works with Gawad Kalinga, an organization that works to alleviate poverty in the Philippines. Bessie has donated 30 homes for 30 families in Pangil, Laguna. She named the village “Bambiville” paying tribute to her late husband.
