The Voice Artist behind Manang Bola Dies
PRISCILA ROSE NALUNDASAN – The voice artist and puppeteer renowned for her role as Manang Bola in the cherished children’s program Batibot has passed away at 60 years old.
Bodjie Pascua, her colleague from Batibot, shared the sad news on Friday, May 10, 2024, through a heartfelt Facebook post. Expressing deep sorrow, Bodjie wrote, “Heartbroken to find out that Priscila Rose Nalundasan, our dearest Manang Bola, passed away this morning. Love you, dear friend. Sobra kitang mami-miss Rose. Rest in peace.”
Priscila’s son, Jaymar Nalundasan, also paid tribute to his mother on Facebook, stating, “Kahit kailan hindi namin ikinahiya kung gaano namin kamahal ang mga magulang namin. Hindi magiging sapat lahat ng nagawa namin para sa kanila. Panghihinayang na lang sa mga hindi pa nagagawa. Gusto ko lang po magsabog ng pagmamahal sa gitna ng napakatinding kalungkutan. Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng nagmamahal din sa mga magulang namin.”
In a brief conversation with PEP.ph via Facebook Messenger, Jaymar confirmed his mother’s passing on Friday due to health complications. Her iconic line from Batibot—”Perlas na bilog, wag kang tutulug-tulog, sabihin sa akin ang sagot. Ba-be-bi-bo-bu.”—will always evoke nostalgia among ’80s and ’90s kids.
Priscila continued to be a significant presence in the entertainment industry. Notable among her recent endeavors was her role in the 2022 film Day Zero, starring Brandon Vera, Pepe Herrera, and Mary Jean Lastimosa. She also co-hosted Mang Lalakbay in the same year, an educational travel show for children, alongside Manny Urbano and Vic Robinson. In 2023, she made a memorable appearance on an episode of GMA-7’s Family Feud, sharing the screen with Bodjie, Soliman Cruz, and Adriana Agcaoili.
Meanwhile, Batibot is a Filipino children’s television show that aired from 1984 to 2012. It featured puppet characters and live actors who taught lessons on various subjects like language, math, and values in an entertaining and educational format. The show was aimed at preschoolers and young children, and it became a beloved part of Filipino culture, known for its catchy songs and memorable characters like Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing.