Radio drama queen 'Lola Sela Bungangera' to be cremated Wednesday

Philippine show business' latest loss, radio drama queen Eloisa Cruz Canlas, will be cremated on Wednesday morning, three days after she died.

 

Canlas, who earned the nickname "Lola Sela Bungangera," died last July 15, according to a report on dzBB radio Tuesday. She was 66.

 

A separate tweet on dzRH radio, where Canlas had worked for 50 years, said her remains are to be cremated. A mass will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday before the cremation scheduled at 10 a.m.

 

Her remains presently lie at Holy Trinity Memorial Chapels & Crematorium in Sucat in Parañaque City.  

Necrological rites will be held on July 17 at 5 p.m. at the said chapel.  

Canlas passed away at 1:04 a.m. on Sunday in Parañaque City, dzRH Drama Department production assistant Anching Cruz told GMA News Online on Monday.   

According to Cruz, Canlas was brought to a Parañaque hospital days after she was discharged from St. Luke's Medical Center on July 10. Canlas was in a coma after she was hit by a taxi in Quezon City last November. Cruz said Canlas was on her way to UNTV, where she hosted the daily morning show "Good Morning Kuya."   

Canlas was the voice behind "Lola Sela Bungangera with the Senior Citizen & Livelihood Project" on dzRH, her home network since she began her career there as a production assistant in 1968.  

Canlas showcased her voice acting talents in radio operas, and received the University of the Philippines Gawad Plaridel Award last year for her contribution to the broadcast industry.  

She was the latest loss to the Philippine showbiz industry, which is still reeling from the death last week of Comedy King Rodolfo "Dolphy" Vera Quizon. Dolphy died at the Makati Medical Center last week at age 83. He was buried last Sunday in Taguig City.

'An icon of popular culture'

 

"'Lola Sela' is an icon of our popular culture, the comforting constant companion of those who religiously tune in to AM radio. She is only one of the many contributions of Ms. Canlas, whose extensive repertoire in radio...has been a source of inspiration and entertainment for countless Filipinos," said U.P. Diliman Chancellor Cesar Saloma during the awarding ceremony.   

"Wala lang, ginagawa ko lang ang gusto ko. At ang sarap gawin ng gusto mo, kahit gaano kahirap, kahit gaano kasama ng loob basta's masaya ka, napapasaya mo ang tao, go, go, go," said Canlas in an audiovisual presentation by Fernando Austria Jr. and Jane Vinculado of the Broadcast Communication Department of the U.P. College of Mass Communication.  

Canlas was cited "for writing, acting in, voicing, hosting and producing a range of dramas for radio that developed the form into a vehicle relevant to the understanding and evaluation of the contemporary Filipino experience; for upholding the highest standards of excellence and professionalism in radio, and reconciling the imperative of relevance with that of popularity despite the commercial pressures inherent in an industry where meaningful content often yields to the demands of the market; for creating characters in radio drama that have become iconic examples of the creative impulse in an industry often criticized for its lack of imagination and originality; for daring to focus the radio drama on such current issues as gender equality and the plight of overseas Filipino workers; for contributing to the preservation and modernization of the radio drama in Philippine broadcasting by adapting it to the changing demands and tastes of Philippine society and the media audience; for unselfishly sharing with the next generations of radio talents her skills, experience and insights into a constantly changing profession through her Tanghalang Parisukat training center, thereby assuring the radio drama of a constant supply of talent as well as its own survival and continuous evolution."  

"Para sa akin, wala pa 'yung excellent. Meron pa, ma-i-improve pa. Hindi naman ako magaling," she said. Canlas, who was described as humble and generous, shared her gifts with others, sometimes allowing students to attend her voice acting lessons for free.  

Even during her acceptance speech, Canlas gave an impromptu lesson, demonstrating to students how to practice in front of a mirror. "Kayong mga estudyante ang pinakamagaling sa darating na panahon. Tuturuan ko kayo ng aking regalong boses sa abot ng aking makakaya. Sapagkat ayokong mamatay ang radio drama dito sa atin. Ayokong mamatay siya by natural death. Gusto ko kayo ay patuloy na magdrama. Bakit? Ang drama ay buhay ng tao. Ang drama ay napakahalaga sa buhay natin," Canlas said during the ceremony, where she effortlessly transformed her voice from a little boy's to an old woman's. 

 

"Ang katotohanan, kapag ipinahayag mo, huwag kayong matakot. Sa totoo lang tayo, lalong lalo na ngayong may nangyayari sa ating bansa, alamin natin ang totoo, at i-broadcast natin. Bantayan natin ang ating bayan. Kasi kung hindi, sino pa ang magtatanggol?" Canlas also said.  

"More importantly, other than the roles she portrayed with excellence, is the degree of her social responsibility, relevance to society and of course, high integrity," said Raul Sunico, president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.   

Tribute  

Filipinos paid tribute to "Lola Sela" on Twitter and Facebook. "I don't listen to AM Radio but sad to know that Lola Sela passed away today. She's the coolest radio talent in the history of forever," said Marijoe Cortel. "Paalam na, Lola Sela. Salamat sa mga aral at paalala," said Rhina Zoleta Zeco. –KG, GMA News