Etang Discher
Encyclopedia
Etang Discher (also known as Nena Discher) was a prominent Filipina
character film actress frequently cast in villainous roles. Her stern, gaunt Castilian
face loomed in many post-war Filipino films, especially soap opera
-type dramas. She was the woman Filipino movie audiences loved to hate, often playing a villainous aunt, mother-in-law or even a witch. While her roles were hardly predisposed to have made her a star, she nonetheless was one of the more famous (or infamous) and durable stars of Filipino films. Many of her films were produced by Sampaguita Pictures
, the studio under which she was under contract for a significant part of her career.
Discher was born to a German father and a Filipina mother. She began her career in showbusiness as a chorus girl in the bodabil
stage shows of Katy de la Cruz
. Her son, Panchito
, became a famous film comedian in his own right, usually cast as the comedic foil to Dolphy
.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
character film actress frequently cast in villainous roles. Her stern, gaunt Castilian
Castilian people
The Castilian people are the inhabitants of those regions in Spain where most people identify themselves as Castilian. They include Castile-La Mancha, Madrid, and the major part of Castile and León. However, not all regions of the medieval Kingdom of Castile think of themselves as Castilian...
face loomed in many post-war Filipino films, especially soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
-type dramas. She was the woman Filipino movie audiences loved to hate, often playing a villainous aunt, mother-in-law or even a witch. While her roles were hardly predisposed to have made her a star, she nonetheless was one of the more famous (or infamous) and durable stars of Filipino films. Many of her films were produced by Sampaguita Pictures
Sampaguita Pictures
Sampaguita Pictures was a Philippine film production company. It was named for the Philippine National Flower, Sampaguita. The company has been long-defunct since the 1980s with Mike de Leon's classic "Batch '81" being the last film released...
, the studio under which she was under contract for a significant part of her career.
Discher was born to a German father and a Filipina mother. She began her career in showbusiness as a chorus girl in the bodabil
Bodabil
Bodabil was a popular genre of entertainment in the Philippines from the 1910s until the mid-1960s. For decades, it competed with film, radio and television as the dominant form of Filipino mass entertainment. It peaked in popularity during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines from 1941 to 1945...
stage shows of Katy de la Cruz
Katy de la Cruz
Katy de la Cruz was a leading Filipino singer who specialized in jazz vocals and torch songs in a performing career that lasted eight decades. Hailed as "The Queen of Filipino Jazz" and as "The Queen of Bodabil", she was, by the age of 18, the highest paid entertainer in the Philippines...
. Her son, Panchito
Panchito Alba
Panchito Alba was a FAMAS award-winning Filipino film actor who almost exclusively appeared in comedy roles. He was billed as either "Panchito Alba" or simply "Panchito". Known for his swarthy looks and a prominent big nose, which was often the target of ridicule...
, became a famous film comedian in his own right, usually cast as the comedic foil to Dolphy
Dolphy
Rodolfo Vera Quizon, Sr. , known by his screen name Dolphy, is a Filipino comedian-actor in the Philippines. He has appeared in a number of works on stage, radio, television and movies.-Biography:Dolphy was born on P. Herrera St...
.
Filmography
- 1939 -Anak ng Hinagpis [Filippine]
- 1946 -Alaala Kita [Lvn]
- 1951 -Reyna Elena [Lvn]
- 1951 -Bohemyo [Lvn]
- 1951 -Ang Aking Kahapon [Tamaraw]
- 1951 -Haring Cobra [Lvn]
- 1952 -Rebecca [Sampaguita]
- 1952 -Tia Loleng [Lvn]
- 1952 -Bakas ng Kahapon [Premiere]
- 1953 -Dyesebel [Premiere/Manuel Vistan Jr.]
- 1954 -Musikong Bumbong [Sampaguita]
- 1954 -Matandang Dalaga [Sampaguita]
- 1954 -Jack & Jill [Sampaguita]
- 1954 -Eskandalosa [Ace York]
- 1954 -Ang Biyenang Hindi Tumatawa [Sampaguita]
- 1954 -Tres Ojos [Sampaguita]
- 1954 -Kurdapya [Sampaguita]
- 1955 -Uhaw sa Pag-ibig [Sampaguita]
- 1955 -Mariposa [Sampaguita]
- 1955 -Despatsadora [Sampaguita]
- 1955 -Kontra Bida [Sampaguita]
- 1955 -Iyung-Iyo [Sampaguita]
- 1955 -Bim Bam Bum [Sampaguita]
- 1956 -Vaccacionista [Sampaguita]
- 1956 -Kanto Girl [Sampaguita]
- 1957 -Sino ang Maysala [Vera Perez]
- 1957 -Bituing Marikit [Sampaguita]
- 1957 -Diyosa [Sampaguita]
- 1957 -Hahabul-Habol [Sampaguita]
- 1957 -Busabos [Sampaguita]
- 1957 -Paru-Parong Bukid [Sampaguita]
- 1958 -Mga Reyna ng Vicks [Sampaguita]
- 1958 -Isang Milyong Kasalanan [Sampaguita]
- 1958 -Palaboy [Vera-Perez]
- 1958 -Mapait na Lihim [Sampaguita]
- 1958 -Baby Bubut [Sampaguita]
- 1958 -Berdaderong Ginto [Vera-Perez]
- 1958 -Bobby [Sampaguita]