My favourite Filipino filmmakers
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Lav Diaz was born on 30 December 1958 in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, Mindanao, Philippines. He is a writer and director, known for The Woman Who Left (2016), Season of the Devil (2018) and From What Is Before (2014).- Director
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Raya Martin has directed several feature films, documentaries, shorts, installations and performances. His films were screened at the Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival and New York Film Festival, among others. A program of his works has been featured in dOCUMENTA (13), Centre Pompidou, Museum of Modern Art and Museum of the Moving Image. Raya Martin has also been a recipient of the prestigious Thirteen Artists Awards in the Philippines in 2009 and was named one of the 50 most important filmmakers under 50 by Cinema Scope Magazine.- Director
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Lino Brocka was born on 7 April 1939 in Pilar, Sorsogon, Luzon, Philippines. He was a director and writer, known for Dirty Affair (1990), Bayan Ko (1984) and Dipped in Gold (1970). He died on 22 May 1991 in Quezon City, Philippines.- Director
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Ishmael Bernal was born on 30 September 1938 in Manila, Philippines. He was a director and writer, known for At the Top (1971), Dalawang pugad... Isang ibon (1977) and City After Dark (1980). He died on 2 June 1996 in Manila, Philippines.- Director
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Miguel Pamintuan De Leon, also known as Mike De Leon, is a noted Filipino film director, cinematographer, scriptwriter and film producer. He was born in Manila on May 24, 1947 to Manuel De Leon and Imelda Pamintuan. His interest I filmmaking began when he pursued a master's degree in Art History at the University of Heidelberg, Germany. De Leon first made two short films namely: 'Sa Bisperas', 1972, and 'Monologo' (Monologue), 1975. He established the Cinema Artists Philippines in 1975. He produced Lino Brocka's 'Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag', while also acting as the said film's cinematographer in 1975. For 'Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag', De Leon won best cinematography awarded by the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences [Famas]. De Leon's films are a full reflection of the Filipino psyche that sought answer for questions on social class belonging, political absurdities, and fragmentation's in various form. His first major full-length work was, 'Itim' (Black), in 1976. It was an in-depth study of guilt and violence and shows De Leon's delicate balancing of cinematic elements to project mood and character. It was voted by the Philippine's Urian Awards as one the Ten Outstanding Films of the Decade: 1970-1979. The film also won him the best director award during the 1978 Asian Film Festival held in Sydney, Australia. When De Leon created 'Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising' in 1977, became a tribute to his grandmother Dona Sisang to celebrate of the family's film company, LVN Pictures. Known for his varied experiments in styles of directing, he pushed the birth of the new musical in 'Kakabakaba Ka Ba? ' won for De Leon the Urian award for best director. His other movies include 'Kisapmata' (1981), 'Batch'81' (1982) and 'Sister Stella L.' (1984). In these films he tackled social and political issues with powerful and disturbing imagery. His blockbuster film, 'Hindi Nahahati ang Langit' (1985) was an adaptation from an earlier Filipino Komiks version of the same title. In 1987,De Leon also made 'Bilanggo sa Dilim', a full-length video commissioned by Sony Entertainment. De Leon explored subjects such as incest, fraternity violence, and the Filipino workers' cause. These were themes that were portrayed in the films 'Kisapmata', 'Batch '81' and 'Sister Stella L' respectively. These films became cinematic masterpieces in Philippine History of Filmography and later listed as the Philippines's Ten Outstanding Films of the Decade: 1980-1989 by the Philippines (FAP) where De Leon also won a best screenplay award, For 'Sister Stella L'. De Leon won best director and best screenplay in the Philippines's Urian Awards in 1984, 'Kisapmata' and 'Batch '81' were presented during the Directors' Fortnight at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival. The film 'Sister Stella L'. was an entry during the 1985 Venice Film Festival. De Leon pioneered the use of computer graphics animation for the TV advertising industry in 1988. De Leon's film, 'Aliwan Paradise', became a part of the Southern Winds in 1993, which is a collection of four films from Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Japan, The NHK and Japan Foundation commissioned the film anthology.- Director
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Manuel Silos was born on 1 January 1906 in Manila, Philippines. He was a director and actor, known for Blessings of the Land (1959), Gitano (1949) and Hawayana (1953). He died on 31 March 1988 in the Philippines.- Director
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PEQUE Gallaga was recently awarded The Natatanging Gawad for Lifetime Achievement for Filmmaking from the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino during the 32nd Gawad Urian last September 19 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera, founding member of the Manunuri, the society of respected film critics, says Gallaga is "the epitome of the compleat Filipino cinema artist," and that it is only fitting that Gallaga be honored by all those who love Filipino cinema "before the sun completely sets on the film industry."
The waxing and waning of the fortunes of mainstream cinema seems reflected in the person of Gallaga, a serious filmmaker with a track record of box-office hits and successful remaking of commercial genres, particularly of horror and fantasy movies. As mainstream commercial cinema struggles, independent and out-of-studio films have shown vibrancy and resilience, even catapulting Filipino movie to new global renown. Part of these stirrings of hope can be gleaned from the emergent regional cinema, whose mentorship and encouragement owes to Gallaga's selfless tutelage. Gallaga has won several Urian awards: Best Director for "Oro Plata Mata" in 1982; Best Production Design for "Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?" (together with Laida Lim Perez) in 1976, and for "Manila By Night: City After Dark" in 1980. Gallaga entered into prominence with "Ganito Kami Noon..." directed by Eddie Romero. This important historical movie was shown on the same year as Brocka's "Insiang," Ishmael Bernal's "Nunal sa Tubig," Lupita Concio's "Minsa'y Isang Gamu-Gamo," Gerry de Leon's "Banawe," Mike de Leon's "Itim," Mario O' Hara's "Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos," and Gil Portes' debut movie, "Tiket Mama, Tiket Ale, Sa Linggo ang Bola" - making 1976 the peak of the second golden age of Philippine cinema. Gallaga's early career illustrates the truism that great filmmakers do not necessarily influence each other; more practically, they work with each other, often in an unwitting sort of apprenticeship. Brocka had worked with Romero as scriptwriter; Mike de Leon had worked with Brocka and later, Romero, as cinematographer. Gallaga, who finished Commerce and Liberal Arts at De la Salle University but had enrolled briefly in the architecture school of the University of Santo Tomas, had worked with Romero and Bernal (notably in "Manila By Night") as production designer. Also an actor, Gallaga played a part in "Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos," and Brocka's "Gumising Ka, Maruja" (1978).Gallaga would become a full-fledged filmmaker with his second directorial effort, "Oro Plata Mata" (1982), and later, "Scorpio Nights" (1985), arguably his two best movies. In both movies, Gallaga shows directorial breadth of vision and art director's capaciousness, and it is hard to tell which is which. Since he's also the writer of "Oro," Gallaga may have demolished the classic auteur theory or embodied it in its fullest sense: he is author and creator in one. He would exhibit the same bravura in "Virgin Forest" (1985), "Unfaithful Wife" (1986), and in his recasting of the horror genre, the very successful "Shake, Rattle and Roll" series. His "Once Upon a Time" (1988) is another brilliant recasting, this one of Filipino folklore, with Dolphy playing the mythical role of the Filipino netherworld's tikbalang. And his "Gangland" (1998) may have set off the gritty urban street drama of today, as manifested in such provocative movies as Brillante Mendoza's "Tirador" and Jim Libiran's "Tribu." Gallaga continues to make movies while based in his hometown of Bacolod, where he is artist-in-residence, and where he teaches theater and film at the University of St. La Salle. He has mentored future filmmakers and media artists, including Jay Abella, Manny Montelibano, Vicente Groyon and Richard Somes. A multi-variegated artist of intrepid vision and incredible stamina, Gallaga has become one of our few elder statesmen of the cinema arts.- Director
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Eddie Romero, who initially used the screen name 'Enrique Moreno' early in his directing career, was born July 7 1924 in Dumaguete City. He is the son of Pilar Cinco, a school teacher, and José E. Romero, a former congressman, Secretary of Education, and Philippine Ambassador to London. He was married to Carolina Gonzales, with whom he had three children, including film director Joey Romero; actress Chanda Romero is also a niece. He studied at Dumaguete Elementary School, Ateneo de Manila, University of the Philippines (UP) High School, and Siliman University High School in Dumaguete City. He earned his bachelor's degree in UP, completed the associate in arts (pre-law) program at Siliman University, and was conferred the honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, by the Foundation University in Dumaguete City. A leader in the industry, Romero has served as deputy director of the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), and Chair of the Sub-Committee on the Arts of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA). Romero's major influences were Gerardo de Leon and Yasujirô Ozu, a Japanese director. He observed production trends, film techniques and the work of noted directors in the United States and Europe. He was first involved in film when he wrote the script of Gerardo de Leon Ang maestra (1941), which starred Rogelio de la Rosa, Rosa Del Rosario and Sylvia La Torre. He joined Sampaguita Pictures, as scriptwriter of de Leon's Isumpa mo giliw (1947), then directed exclusively for Sampaguita Pictures from 1947 to 1953. Among his early films are: Ang kamay ng Diyos (1947); Hindi kita malimot (1948); Selosa (1948); Apoy sa langit (1949); Abogada (1949); 'Ang Asawa Kong Amerikana' (1953), with Oscar Moreno, Joan Page, Chichay, Boy Alano, Eddie Garcia and Bella Flores - this was the first Filipino movie to win an important award in an Asian Film Festival. During this period, Romero was also known as the director of the Pancho Magalona-Tita Duran movies: Always kay ganda mo (1949); 'Sa Piling Mo' (1949); Kasintahan sa pangarap (1951); Ang ating pag-ibig (1953). Romero became a producer-director with the film Buhay alamang (1952), which he adapted from a stage play by Gerardo de Leon. Under Hemisphere Productions, he produced films for international release which he himself wrote and/or directed, foremost of which was 'Day of the Trumpet' (1957), which starred Hollywood actors John Agar, Richard Arlen, Myron Healey and Jennings Sturgeon, alongside Filipino actors Pancho Magalona, Alicia Vergel, Cielito Legaspi, Vic Diaz and Max Alvarado. (This movie was released in the US as The Day of the Trumpet (1958).) Other English-language films Romero made were The Kidnappers (1958) (originally titled 'Man on the Run'), with Hollywood stars Burgess Meredith', William Phipps, Paul Harber, Theodore Bikel, costarring Filipino actors Olivia Cenizal, Carol Varga, Amado Cortez, Zaldy Zshornack, Johnny Monteiro; Terror Is a Man (1959), topbilled by Francis Lederer, with Greta Thyssen, Richard Derr and Filipino actors Oscar Keesee, Peyton Keesee, Lilia Duran, and Flory Carlos; Espionage: Far East (1961) with Tod Andrews, Mila Del Sol, Leopoldo Salcedo, Diane Jergens, Manuel Conde, Shirley Gorospe and Joan Tabor; Escape to Paradise (1960), starring Bruce Baxter, Joe Dennis, Diane Jergens, Jennings Sturgeon with Filipino actors Rosie Acosta, Arsenio Alonzo, Johnny Monteiro, Renato Robles, Leopoldo Salcedo, Joe Sison; The Passionate Strangers (1966), with Michael Parsons, Valora Noland, Claude Wilson, and Filipinos Mario Montenegro, Celia Rodriguez, Vic Diaz, Butz Aquino and Cesar Aguilar; The Raiders of Leyte Gulf (1962), with Leopoldo Salcedo, Michael Parsons, Efren Reyes, Liza Moreno, Eddie Mesa, Oscar Keesee and Jennings Sturgeon; Manila, Open City (1968), with Charito Solis, Ric Rodrigo, Mario Montenegro, James Shigeta, Eddie Garcia, Vic Diaz, Lauro Delgado, Alex Nicol, John Ashley, Nova Villa, Rosa Mia and Norma Blancaflor. Starting with Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1968), with John Ashley, Angelique Pettyjohn, Ronald Remy, Alicia Alonzo, Tita Muñoz, Alfonso Carvajal and Johnny Long, a film closely resembling Island of Lost Souls (1932), Romero began a collaboration with Hollywood-based actors like John Ashley. This was followed by several other exotically-themed films, usually with Eddie Garcia, like Beast of the Yellow Night (1971), costarring John Ashley again and Leopoldo Salcedo, Mary Charlotte Wilcox, Vic Diaz and Ken Metcalfe; Beast of Blood (1970) costarring 'John Ashley (I) and Celeste Yarnall; The Twilight People (1972), costarring Ashley again, Charles Macaulay, Pat Woodell, Pam Grier and Letty Mirasol; Black Mama White Mama (1973), topbilled by Pam Grier, Margaret Markov, Lynn Borden, with Zaldy Zshornack and Alona Alegre; The Woman Hunt (1972) with John Ashley, Pat Woodell, Charlene Jones (I)', Lisa Todd, Laurie Rose and Lotis Key; Savage Sisters (1974) with Gloria Hendry, Cheri Caffaro, Rosanna Ortiz, John Ashley (I)', Sid Haig, and Rita Gomez; Sudden Death (1977), with Hollywood stars Robert Conrad and Don Stroud, costarring Felton Perry, Angie Ferro and Ken Metcalfe'. In the mid-1970s Romero returned to the local scene with the now-famous This Is How We Were Before, How Are You Doing Now? (1976); Sinong kapiling? Sinong kasiping? (1977); Banta ng kahapon (1977); Durugin si Totoy Bato (1979); Aguila (1980); Kamakalawa (1981); Ang padrino (1984); and Hari sa hari, lahi sa lahi (1987). In 1992 he scripted and directed the 13-episode TV version of Jose Rizal's Noli me tángere (1961) for the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He has made over 20 films for international distribution and over 35 Filipino movies for local distribution. Romero's last directorial foray was Faces of Love (2007), starring Christopher De Leon, Angel Aquino, Alfred Vargas, Juliana Palermo, Bembol Roco, Chanda Romero, Ricky Davao, Mon Confiado and Rodel Velayo.
Romero has received a total of 22 awards; these include five Best Screenplay awards from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts & Sciences (FAMAS), for Buhay alamang (1952), The Passionate Strangers (1966), Durugin si Totoy Bato (1979), Aguila (1980) and Ang padrino (1984), elevating him to the Hall of Fame. He was chosen FAMAS Best Director for The Passionate Strangers (1966) and Aguila (1980). FAMAS eventually awarded him to the FAMAS Hall of Fame in 1986, the FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993, and the Presidential Award in 2000. In 1951 he won the Maria Clara Award for Best Director for Ang prinsesa at ang Pulubi (1950); the following year, yet another Best Director Award for Diego Silang (1951). Romero is a recipient of the Dr Ciriaco Santiago Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Movie Industry for 'Day of the Trumpet' (1957), the first coproduction with a foreign film company; this film was released in the US as The Day of the Trumpet (1958). At the Gawad Urian Awards, he won Best Direction and Best Screenplay for This Is How We Were Before, How Are You Doing Now? (1976), as well as the Dekada Award (Best Film of the Decade) for the said film, given in 1981; he garnered Urian nominations for Best Screenplay for Sinong kapiling? Sinong kasiping? (1977) and Best Screenplay and Best Direction for Banta ng kahapon (1977), and again for Best Screenplay and Best Direction for Aguila (1980). Gawad Urian gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995. He won the Festival Prize (Best Direction and Best Screenplay) for This Is How We Were Before, How Are You Doing Now? (1976), at the Metro Manila Film Festival. He received a Papal Award as Film Director of the Decade, 1971-1980, at the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA). At the FAP Awards, he won nominations for Best Screenplay and Best Direction for Faces of Love (2007). He was also presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Cinemanil International Film Festival in 2000. Romero passed away on May 28, 2013- causes cited were blood clot and prostate cancer. (He would have
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Kidlat Tahimik was born on 3 October 1942 in Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines. He is a director and actor, known for Perfumed Nightmare (1977), Balikbayan #1: Memories of Overdevelopment Redux III (2015) and Turumba (1981).- Writer
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Celso Ad. Castillo was born on 12 September 1943 in Siniloan, Laguna, Philippines. He was a writer and director, known for Pagputi ng uwak... Pag-itim ng tagak (1978), Paradise Inn (1985) and Burlesk Queen (1977). He was married to Ophelia. He died on 26 November 2012 in Siniloan, Laguna, Philippines.- Director
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Mario O'Hara was born on 20 April 1946 in Zamboanga City, Philippines. He was a director and writer, known for Babae sa breakwater (2003), Pangarap ng puso (2000) and Sisa (1999). He died on 26 June 2012 in San Juan de Dios Hospital, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines.- Director
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Lamberto Avellana's career in film starter with an offer of then General Carlos P. Romulo to direct a film on the revolutionary hero Macario Sakay for the big screen. Although his wife, Daisy (Hintiveros-Avellana) apparently chided him for not knowing the first thing about movies, Avellana was not dissuaded and Daisy ended up writing the screenplay. "Sakay" jumped-started what came to be Avellana innovative introduction of a point of view replacing the traditional eye level camera angle in film storytelling. With the assistance of William "Pop" Jansen, a man he acknowledges as mentor in his starting years, Avellana learned the nitty gritty of film-making and at the age 23 was dubbed "The Boy Wonder of Philippines Movies. "Sakay" was adjudged best film of 1939, cheered for its technical aspects and especially for realism that uncommon in Philippines cinema. The fly in the ointment was their portrayal of "Sakay" as bandit instead of revolutionary, which belatedly Avellana realized had been based on American propaganda materials of the time, His son Mari Avallana, who was later to follow in his directorial footsteps, tell us that his dad was so disturbed by the mistaken portrayal that he had always planned a remake the wrong but died before this was realized.- Actor
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Manual Conde (born Manuel Urbano/ October 9, 1915 - August 11, 1985) was a Filipino actor, writer, director and producer. He was taking up geological engineering and entering the movies was farthest from his mind, It was a bit player, stuntman, laboratory a ventriloquist (a puppet named Kiko). He made his first film, "Mahiwaggang Biyolin" in 1935 then signed a contract for LVN Pictures, where he made almost three dozen films, both as an actor and director. As an actor, he used the screen name Juan Urbano during the 1930s. His first directorial assignment was "Sawing Gantingpala" 1939. After the war, Conde directed "Orasang Ginto" 1946, considered the 'first post-war Filipino picture before and after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor'. Conde made his mark in 1950, with the landmark movies, "Genghis Khan", believed to best screen adaptation of the legendary Mongol conqueror, He directed other big-budgeted adventure movies -- "Seite Infantes de Lara"1950, "Sigfredo"1950 and "Krus na Kawayan"1956. He was also known for his "Juan Tamad" series which he lambasted and made fun of the politicians and society's ills and foibles. He was also best remembered on the several successful Nida Blanca - Nastor de Villa musical comedies be directed like "Ikaw Kasi" and "Bahala Na".- Director
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Marilou Diaz-Abaya was born on 30 March 1955 in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. She was a director and producer, known for Muro-ami (1999), New Moon (2001) and José Rizal (1998). She was married to Manolo Abaya. She died on 8 October 2012 in Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines.- Director
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Maryo J. de los Reyes was born on 17 October 1952 in Santa Cruz, Manila, Philippines. He was a director and writer, known for Magnifico (2003), A Love Story (2007) and Laman (2002). He died on 27 January 2018 in Dipolog City, Zamboanga Del Norte, Philippines.- Director
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Auraeus Solito was born in 1969 in Manila, Philippines. He is a director and writer, known for Pisay (2007), Palawan Fate (2011) and Ang pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (2005).- Director
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He worked his way up in film production as a production assistant, script continuity, art director, production designer and assistant director over a 15-year span. His debut film as a director, "Enter Love- Sana Pag-ibig Na", is a love story between a mistress and her
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Brillante Mendoza is a Philippine director and producer. He is the first Filipino to receive the Best Director award at Cannes for his film Kinatay in 2009. He is also the only Filipino to receive France's "Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres" (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) in 2014.
He was born on October 30, 1960, in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines. He studied Advertising Arts at the University of Santo Tomas.
He worked in advertising, and became a production designer. He was in his forties when he directed his first film, Masahista, which won the 2005 Locarno International Film Festival's Golden Leopard (video competition). His films have received awards and nominations in major competitions in Venice, Berlin, Cannes, San Sebastian, Cairo and others.
His film Mindanao in 2019 received the Henry Barakat Best Artistic Contribution and Best Actress awards. In 2018 his film Alpha: The Right to Kill took home the Special Jury Prize in the San Sebastian International Film Festival. In 2016 Ma Rosa was nominated for Cannes' Palm d'Or, and won Best Actress for Jaclyn Jose, the first Filipina to bag it.
His film Taklub, which tackles climate change, was nominated for the Un Certain Regard, and won the Ecumenical Jury Prize in the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. Captive, which stars Isabelle Huppert, competed for the Golden Bear at the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival. Thy Womb, which was selected for the main competition in 2012 Venice Film Festival also took home the La Navicella, P. Nazareno Taddei and Bisato d'Oro awards; it also won the Best Director award at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Lola, in 2009, was the Best Feature Film in Dubai International Film Festival, and was nominated for Venice's Golden Lion. In 2007 Tirador won Singapore International Film Festival's Best Director and Best Asian Feature Award; it also received the Caligari Film Award in Berlin. In 2007 Serbis was the first Philippine film to be nominated for Cannes' Palm d'Or. The same year his film Foster Child was screened at the Directors Fortnight in Cannes, which also bagged the NETPAC Jury award in Brisbane. Manoro in 2006 took home the Cinema for Peace award at the Torino Film Festival.
Mendoza's Amo is the first Philippine crime drama series shown on Netflix. His upcoming films are Resbak, and the Philippine-Japanese co-produced sports biopic Gensan Punch (2020). He produced successful festival films like Kintsugi (2020), Verdict (2019) Pailalim (2016), and Imbisibol (2015); he is also a producer of The Brokers, to be released soon.- Director
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Nick Deocampo was born in 1959 in Mina, Iloilo, Philippines. He is a director and producer, known for Mother Ignacia - Ang uliran (1998), Memories of Old Manila (1993) and Pedrong palad (2000).- Director
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Gerardo de Leon was born on 12 September 1913 in Manila, Philippines. He was a director and actor, known for Noli me tángere (1961), El filibusterismo (1962) and Huwag Mo Akong Limutin (1960). He died on 25 July 1981 in Manila, Philippines.- Director
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Gregorio Fernandez was born on 25 May 1904 in Lubao, Pampanga, Luzon, Philippines. He was a director and actor, known for Higit sa lahat (1955), Kung ako'y mahal mo (1960) and Luksang tagumpay (1956). He was married to Pilar Padilla. He died in 1973.