With their wardrobe quirks and catchy one-liners, lady villains have conquered the world of teleserye on the small screen. Some of us find much amusement in watching the kontrabida and the female protagonist battle it out, whether through piercing stares or sharp-witted dialogues.
Oftentimes, it is the villain who becomes more popular and well-loved. Let’s face it: Kontrabidas know how to harness power over a person and to manipulate their way around sticky situations. Thus, viewers are captivated by her ominous charm, and they can’t help but love her! So who are the most famous kontrabidas on TV you can’t get enough of? Here are a few notable ladies:
Victoria Valera in Magkaribal
Gretchen Barretto played the role of vengeful designer Victoria Valera to the hilt in Magkaribal, promising a knock-out catfight wearing no less than red stilettos. One of the objects of her abominable antics was a fledgling designer who, in true teleserye fashion, turned out to be her long-lost younger sister. Fans were kept glued to their TV sets, awaiting what would be Victoria’s most memorable lines for the episode.
Ingrid Garcia in Tayong Dalawa
Here’s one villain who’d rather be caught dead than succumb to wardrobe malfunction. Ingrid Garcia, played by Agot Isidro, was the nefarious mother of one of the two young male lead characters in Tayong Dalawa. Ingrid was always dressed for her daily habit of making life miserable for the son her husband had with another woman. And with a more evil mother on her side, Ingrid became hell-bent in protecting her own son as the sole heir to the family’s riches.
Angelika Santibañez in Marimar
One of the most celebrated Mexican telenovelas was rendered on local television and it brought to light the rivalry between Marian Rivera and Katrina Halili. In Marimar, Katrina Halili showed off her kontrabida acting prowess as Angelika Santibañez, with much conviction and aplomb.
Patricia Aragon in Dahil May Isang Ikaw
Chin Chin Gutierrez is fast becoming an infamous villain on TV. As Patricia Aragon in Dahil May Isang Ikaw, she employs all means of hiding the truth by weaving lies and manipulating people to keep her husband away from his real daughter and the woman he truly loved.
Eunice in Stairway to Heaven
Glaiza de Castro can throw a sharp dagger merely with her intense stare, which she did on a regular basis as Eunice on Stairway to Heaven. The local version of the classic Korean drama series brought Eunice into the spotlight with her penchant for breaking the bond between Jodi and Cholo.
Whether you love them, hate them or love to hate them, viewers just cannot seem to get enough of these leading lady villains who steal the scene every time they come on the screen. Sometimes they play the perfect nemesis for the good girls they rival, encouraging us to hope that good prevails, but sometimes we root for these bad girls of television and secretly love their imperfect characters and slightly evil ways. Either way, we know we can always count on the kontrabidas to keep things interesting!
