Geraldyn Schaer Bonnevie-Savellano (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈbɔnɛbɪ], formerly Sotto and Penson; January 27, 1962),[4][5] known by her stage name Dina Bonnevie, is a Filipino actress in the Philippines. She is recognized as the industry's "Drama Queen" of her generation.[6] She has won 2 FAMAS Awards,[7] 2 Luna Awards and multiple 'Best Actress' wins and nominations across all leading award-giving bodies in the country.

Dina Bonnevie
Bonnevie in 2023
Born
Geraldyn Schaer Bonnevie[1]

(1962-01-27) January 27, 1962 (age 62)[2]
Quezon City, Philippines
Occupation(s)Actress
Film actress
Endorser
Years active1979–present
Spouses
(m. 1982; ann. 1992)
(m. 1996; ann. 2004)
(m. 2012)
Children2, Danica Sotto and Oyo Sotto[3]

Before joining Philippine showbiz, Bonnevie was first runner-up in the 1979 Miss Magnolia beauty contest. Her first film role was in the campy 1980 film Temptation Island. Bonnevie is also best-known for her iconic portrayals in Katorse (1980), Under-age (1980), Magdusa Ka! (1986), Ang Babaeng Nawawala sa Sarili (1989), and Gumapang ka sa Lusak (1990).

Early life and background edit

Geraldyn Schaer Bonnevie was born on January 27, 1962, to Swiss mother Jeannette Schäer and French-Italian-Filipino father Honesto Bonnevie. Her paternal grandfather was Pedro José de Bonnevie, a significant landowner in the Bicol region, who hails from Évian-les-Bains, France and was part French and Italian.[8] Her grandmother was pre-World War II actress Rosita Rivera, also from Bicol. She is a cousin of singer Lou Bonnevie. She has two children from her previous marriage with comedian Vic Sotto, Oyo Boy Sotto and Danica, both of whom are now in the entertainment industry as well.

She was educated at St. Theresa's College, Manila and finished her elementary and secondary education at St. Agnes' Academy in Legazpi City, where she was very active in drama guilds. In 1979, she was first runner-up in Miss Magnolia beauty contest, where Joanna Paras took home the title.

In 1980 she enrolled in Communication Arts at the Ateneo de Naga University and, later, the University of the Philippines, unfortunately, she did not graduate and finish her degree. Introduced by young actor Alfie Anido to director Joey Gosiengfiao, she first appeared in teen dramas Underage (1980) and Temptation Island (1980), but her breakout movie was Katorse (1980) with Anido and Gabby Concepcion. This film established her as one of the "Regal Babies" (named after the studio, Regal Films). She then appeared in a longer slew of teenage love or growing-pains dramas. Bakit Ba Ganyan? (1981) was a film whose theme song she sang and popularized.

In 1981, she starred in Age Doesn't Matter and was paired with Vic Sotto. What started as a reel romance turned real. The couple started a sitcom from 1982 to 1986 over BBC channel 2 every Saturday at 8 pm entitled, 2 + 2 = Gulo, sharing stellar billing with Maricel Soriano, William Martinez and Herbert Bautista. During this period, she focused on being a homemaker and would occasionally accept showbiz assignments. In-between her domestic life, she was able to finish Mike de Leon's Hindi Nahahati ang Langit in 1985, lending support to Lorna Tolentino, Elwood Perez' Till We Meet Again and Leroy Salvador's Tinik sa Dibdib, both with Nora Aunor.

In 1986, she was re-launched and re-packaged by Viva Films as a dramatic actress through the comics-adapted story, Magdusa Ka! This time, local award-giving bodies recognized her performance by giving her their highly-coveted statuettes.

Acting career edit

In 1985, she ventured into dramatic roles, starting with Mike de Leon's Hindi Nahahati ang Langit (1985). Her other films are A Dangerous Life (1988) (mini), with American actor Gary Busey; Orapronobis (1989), Pangarap na Ginto (1990), Huwag mong Salingin ang Sugat ko (1991) and Akin ang Pangarap Mo (1992). In Babaeng Nawawala sa Sarili (1989), Bonnevie sizzled and wowed critics and audiences alike in the role of a possessed woman. She also portrayed real-life characters, such as in Eskapo: The Serge Osmena-Geny Lopez Story (1995), as the wife of Geny Lopez; as one of the accused parents in the child-molestation drama, Minsan May Pangarap: The Guce Family Story (1995), shot in New York City; as the girlfriend of activist Leopoldo Mabilangan in Ka Hector (1995); and as Governor Chavit Singson's wife in Chavit (2003), opposite Cesar Montano and Eddie Garcia. She also did some sexy roles in Tag-Araw, Tag-Ulan where she starred with Gary Estrada.[9]

Other notable films where Bonnevie showed maturity as an actress include: Tinik sa Dibdib (1985), for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) and Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) awarding ceremonies; Magdusa Ka (1986), for which she was given Best Actress awards by FAMAS, FAP and Catholic Mass Media Awards; Gumapang ka sa Lusak (1990), directed by Lino Brocka, for which she was nominated by FAMAS and URIAN Awards for Best Actress; and Sa Kabila ng Lahat (1991), for which she was nominated by FAMAS, FAP and Urian Awards for Best Actress.

Other acting nominations are for Kung Kasalanan Man (1989), FAMAS; Bakit Kay Tagal ng Sandali? (1990), FAP; Tanging Yaman (2000), which won Best Picture in nearly all the local awards ceremonies and gave her an URIAN Best Supporting Actress nomination; American Adobo (2001), URIAN Best Actress nomination; and Bridal Shower (2004), URIAN Best Actress nomination again.

Bonnevie also appeared in bright comedies with her former husband, Vic Sotto, in Hindi Pa Tapos Ang Labada, Darling! (1994) and Bakit Ba Ganyan? (Ewan ko nga ba, Darling) (2000). When they were still married they also appeared together in Buhay Misis (1983), Ride on Baby (1985) and Mama Said, Papa Said, I Love You (1985). Bonnevie also topbilled Tatarin (2001), based on the short story Summer Solstice by Nick Joaquin; critics nearly panned the movie but appreciated Bonnevie's nuanced characterization of Lupe Moreta.

Television career edit

Bonnevie started in hot top rating soap operas such as May Bukas Pa with Viva Television and IBC-13 in 1999–2001. In 2001–2003, she joined GMA Network with the evening soap Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin. In 2003–2004, she starred in another drama, Narito ang Puso Ko and in 2004-2005 she had a lead and recurring role in the critically acclaimed primetime soap opera Hiram, starring Kris Aquino, Mickey Ferriols, Heart Evangelista and Anne Curtis, which also aired internationally through The Filipino Channel earning her praise for her role. From 2005–2006, she was seen less on television. In 2007, she came back with soaps like Walang Kapalit and Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos?. After doing projects with ABS-CBN, she decided to do another "sinenovela", Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita with GMA Network that aired in 2008. In 2009, another soap May Bukas Pa, a religious themed soap (which was the same title as her 2000-2001 soap) and earned her many nominations as the soap ran for a year on television with an ensemble cast. From 2010–2012, she joined TV5 doing multiple guestings and drama shows. From 2013-2015, she was with ABS-CBN to do Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin, Sana Bukas pa ang Kahapon, and Two Wives. Bonnevie staged her GMA-7 comeback as the main antagonist of the drama series starring Heart Evangelista and Lovi Poe, Beautiful Strangers.

In 2017, she came back as a Kapamilya to do The Blood Sisters which aired in 2018. After the show ended, Bonnevie transferred back to GMA Network.

Except for her stints on soap operas and for judging a recent TV talent contest (and appearing unclothed on the cover of the local FHM Magazine), Bonnevie disappeared from the limelight throughout 2005 and 2006; she temporarily moved to the United States for business purposes. She was a guest-judge in U Can Dance Version 2.

Music edit

Her first and only album Bakit Ba Ganyan, released in 1981 by Octo Arts International (now PolyEast Records formerly EMI Music Philippines, Inc.), became a Gold Record and Album of the Year. Before her album, she sang a slapstick comedy ballad "Upakan" with Joey de Leon, recorded live on a primetime TV show in 1980.

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role
1980 Temptation Island Dina Espinola
Katorse Nene
Underage Celina
1981 Blue Jeans
Age Doesn't Matter
1982 Schoolgirls Margot
Anak Sandra
1983 Buhay Misis Naty
1984 Tender Age Krystel
1985 Hindi Nahahati ang Langit Cynthia
Tinik sa Dibdib Corazon
Ride in Baby Chona
Pati Ba Pinting ng Puso? Agatha
Mama Said, Papa Said, I Love You Olive
Till We Meet Again Maria Louisa (Marilou)
1986 Palimos ng Pag-ibig Ditas
Captain Barbell Dina
Magdusa Ka Christine Doliente
The Graduates
Sanay Wala Nang Wakas Camille
Huwag Mong Itanong Kung Bakit Dinia
1987 Working Girls 2 Lomi
Alabok sa Ulap Eva Baron
Maging Akin Ka Lamang Elsa Paruel-Abrigo
1988 A Dangerous Life Celie Balamo
Misis Mo, Misis Ko Rebecca Martinez
Paano Tatakasan ang Bukas Desiree
1989 Ang Lahat ng Ito, Pati na ang Langit
Ang Babaeng Nawala sa Sarili Albina
Dahil Minsan Lang
Kung Kasalanan Man Irma Ferrer
1990 Pangarap ng Ginto Sheila
Gumapang Ka sa Lusak Rachel Suarez
Bakit Kay Tagal ng Sandali? Niña
1991 Sa Kabila ng Lahat Maia Robles
Huwag Mong Salingin ang Sugat Ko
Tag-araw, Tag-ulan Jessie
1992 Manong Gang Toni
Akin ang Pangarap Mo Gigi
1993 Kapag Iginuhit ang Hatol ng Puso Vina
Hanggang Saan, Hanggang Kailan Blanca Ilustre
1994 Markadong Hudas Rodelina Vergado
Ultimatum
Hindi Pa Tapos ang Labada, Darling Danica Dimasopil
1995 Ka Hector
Minsan May Pangarap
Sana Dalawa ang Puso Ko Susan
Home Sic Home Melanie
Eskapo Chita Lopez
1996 Abot-Kamay ang Pangarap Carla
1999 Ikaw Lamang Meg
2000 Bakit Ba Ganyan? (Ewan Ko Nga Ba, Darling) Mara
Tanging Yaman Grace
2001 Saan Ako Nagkaganito?
Tatarin Doña Lupe Moreta
2002 Batas ng Langsangan Mariel
Bahid Loida
American Adobo Marissa
2003 Bridal Shower Tates
Noon at Ngayon Joey
Anghel sa Lupa Lorna
2004 Beautiful Life Carmen
I Will Survive Louise
2011 Who's That Girl? Jill Pedroza
2013 When the Love Is Gone Crizelda "Zelda" Kagaoan-Luis
2018 The Significant Other Jessica

Television edit

Year Title Role Network
1982 2 + 2 = Gulo Dina BBC
1988 Let's Have Dina! Herself IBC
1990 Boracay RPN
1993 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Sa Kandungan Mo Inay Leslie ABS-CBN
1996–1999 Ms. D Herself / Host GMA Network
1999 D! Day
2000–2001 May Bukas Pa Sofia Catacutan-Suarez IBC
RPN
2001–2002 Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin Martina Buenaventura-Fuentebella GMA Network
2003–2004 Narito ang Puso Ko Violeta San Victores
2004–2005 Hiram Sophia Borromeo ABS-CBN
2006 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Poon Jun's mother
2007 Walang Kapalit Agnes Santillan-Borromeo
U Can Dance Main Judge
Sineserye Presents: Natutulog Ba ang Diyos? Rose Angeles
2008 Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita Evita Gomez-Perantes GMA Network
2009–2010 May Bukas Pa Malena Rodriguez-Rodrigo / Malena Rodriguez-Policarpio ABS-CBN
2010 Untold Stories Mula sa Face to Face Various Roles TV5
2010–2011 My Driver Sweet Lover Aracelli Solis-Barrinuevo
2011 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Liham Aurora's mother ABS-CBN
2011–2012 P. S. I Love You Kristine Tuazon TV5
2012 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Flower Shop Bebeng ABS-CBN
2013 Bukas na Lang Kita Mamahalin Victoria Antonio-Ramirez
2014 Sana Bukas pa ang Kahapon Laura Bayle-Buenavista / Laura Bayle-Syquia
2015 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Mangga at Bagoong Ferbie / Eunice
Two Wives Minerva Arguello
Beautiful Strangers Alejandra Valdez-Castillo GMA Network
2016 Alyas Robin Hood Daisylyn "Mama Daisy" Montelibano
2017 Karelasyon: Tukso Norma
Maalaala Mo Kaya: Jumper Raquel Pempengco ABS-CBN
2017–2018 Super Ma'am Raquel Honorio-Henerala GMA Network
2018 The Blood Sisters Deborah Marie "Debbie" Bermudez-Almeda ABS-CBN
2018–2019 Cain at Abel Priscilla "Precy" Rodrigo-Larrazabal GMA Network
2019 Tadhana: Akin ang Anak Ko Maisa
2020–2021 Anak ni Waray vs. Anak ni Biday Susanna "Sussie" Agpangan
2021 The World Between Us Rachel Libradilla
2022 Kalye Kweens Estella "Telly" Catapang TV5
2022–present Abot-Kamay na Pangarap Giselle Marie Tanyag GMA Network

Awards and recognitions edit

Year Category Work Award Result
1986 Best Supporting Actress Tinik sa Dibdib FAP Awards Won
1986 Best Supporting Actress Tinik sa Dibdib FAMAS Award Won
1987 Best Actress Magdusa Ka FAP Awards Won
1987 Best Actress Magdusa Ka CMMA Won
1987 Best Actress Magdusa Ka FAMAS Award Won
1997 Best Celebrity Talk Show Host Ms. D! PMPC Star Awards for TV Won
2001 Best Supporting Actress Tanging Yaman Gawad Urian Award Nominated
2003 Best Actress American Adobo Gawad Urian Award Nominated
2004 Best Actress Bridal Shower Gawad Urian Award Nominated
2008 Best Drama Actress Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita 22nd PMPC Star Awards for TV Nominated

References edit

  1. ^ "Dina Bonnevie's home | Gallery". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  2. ^ Acar, Aedrianne (January 29, 2021). "Danica Sotto terribly misses her Mama Dina Bonnevie who recently celebrated her 59th birthday". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  3. ^ Policarpio, Allan (January 25, 2020). "Dina Bonnevie on Coney Reyes: We have forgiven each other". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  4. ^ CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art: Philippine film. Cultural Center of the Philippines. 1994. p. 212. ISBN 978-971-8546-31-4. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  5. ^ Philippine Almanac. Aurora Publications. 1990. p. 442. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  6. ^ Pagulong, Charmie Joy. "Dina Bonnevie learns comedy acting from Vic Sotto". Philstar.com. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  7. ^ "Stunning Throwback Photo of Actress Dina Bonnevie In Her Youth Caught The Attention Of the Netizens". Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  8. ^ "Dina Bonnevie's home | Gallery". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  9. ^ Dina Bonnevie – Biography

External links edit