Freddie Santos (February 29, 1956 – December 17, 2020) was a
Filipino
Filipino may refer to:
* Something from or related to the Philippines
** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines.
** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...
film director, television director, theater director, and concert director.
Theatre career
Santos was born in Quezon City, Metro Manila. His early studies were at
Lourdes School (
Quezon City
Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
), Sacred Heart School. For his college education, he initially enrolled at the University of the Philippines at Cebu in Lahug, Cebu City and later transferred to the University of Southern Philippines (
Cebu City
Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Sugbo; fil, Lungsod ng Cebu; hil, Dakbanwa sang Sugbo), is a 1st class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas Regions of the P ...
). As a
Rotex Scholar in
Arvada West, Colorado, he was trained by David Helm in drama and by Rex Nelson in music.
Upon his return to
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
, he was hired by advertising company
Dentsu
Dentsu Inc. ( ja, 株式会社電通 ''Kabushiki-gaisha Dentsū'' or 電通 ''Dentsū'' for short) is a Japanese international advertising and public relations joint stock company headquartered in Tokyo. Dentsu is currently the largest adverti ...
to join its copy department and within three months, he was promoted to copy chief at the age of eighteen. After two years he moved to working in theatre.
He was mentored in voice by his uncle, the baritone Aurelio Santos Estanislao, who at that time headed the Voice Department at the College of Music,
University of the Philippines
The University of the Philippines (UP; fil, Pamantasan ng Pilipinas Unibersidad ng Pilipinas) is a state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by Republic Act No. 9500 (UP Charter of 200 ...
. Santos joined Repertory Philippines
[Valle, Jet (1996)]
The Audacious Freddie Santos
, ''Manila Standard
The ''Manila Standard'' is a broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines. , it is owned by the Romualdez family. The Romualdezes, through incumbent speaker of the House Martin Romualdez, also own Journal Publications, Inc., the owner of tabloid pap ...
'', March 2, 1996, p. 31B, retrieved 2011-06-27 as well as Teatro Pilipino, Musical Theater Philippines, and SRO Philippines.
At twenty, he was awarded "Most Outstanding Youth" in Theatre. He was professionally involved, either as actor, coach, assistant director or director in more than a hundred stage plays and musicales. After five years with Repertory Philippines where he was also active in the research and publicity committees, he eventually moved to SRO Philippines where the focus was on
dinner theater
Dinner theater (sometimes called dinner and a show) is a form of entertainment that combines a restaurant meal with a staged play or musical. "Dinner and a show" can also refer to a restaurant meal in combination with live concert music, where pat ...
and where he found the freedom to further develop his other skills. Here, Santos wrote an original play adapted from the book ''Paper Moon'' and headlined by a very young
Lea Salonga
Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga (; born February 22, 1971), known professionally as Lea Salonga, is a Filipino singer, actress, and columnist. Nicknamed "Pride of the Philippines," she is best known for her roles in musical theatre, for supplyin ...
during its premiere run. He also nurtured his skill in
stage lighting
Stage lighting is the craft of lighting as it applies to the production of theater, dance, opera, and other performance arts. ,
make-up
Cosmetics are constituted mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones. Cosmetics have various purposes. Those designed for personal care and skin care can be used to cleanse or protect ...
and
choreography
Choreography is the art or practice of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which Motion (physics), motion or Visual appearance, form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design ...
.
A major highlight of his theater career came in the early 1980s where he toured the musical ''Walang Sugat'' (No Wound) through 10 cities in America as Technical Director, honing his craft as he worked the technical controls of places like the San Francisco Opera House, the Chicago Civic Opera House, and Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Center, among others.
All told, Freddie Santos has been involved with the
performing arts
The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which are the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. Perform ...
for over forty years now, winning thrice the
Aliw Award
The Aliw Awards by the Aliw Awards Foundation, Inc. was established by the renowned Philippine journalistbr>Alice H. Reyes to recognize achievements in the live entertainment industry in the Philippines. It was founded in 1975 by the National Press ...
for ''Best Stage Director'' in the country, the first to win the award in both categories of Stage Musical ('87, '00) and Concert ('08).
He has written and staged the musical plays ''First Name'', ''Joseph the Dreamer'',
[Joseph the Dreamer: A Message of Hope]
, ''Manila Standard
The ''Manila Standard'' is a broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines. , it is owned by the Romualdez family. The Romualdezes, through incumbent speaker of the House Martin Romualdez, also own Journal Publications, Inc., the owner of tabloid pap ...
'', December 28, 1992, p. 19, retrieved 2011-06-27 ''So David...,'' ''Widows, Orphans, and Wildebeests'',
''Il Divino'', and ''Sabel: Love and Passion''.
Music career
In the 1990s, Santos also began singing in lounges, and his weekly comedy acts at Tita Lola's Café Alvarado became quite popular with young professionals, garnering him rave reviews in the papers. It was then he was asked to direct a lounge show by
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...
queen Jacqui Magno and its impact on his life encouraged him to abandon his performing career to fast become one of the country's top concert directors with a distinctive crossover directorial style that combines theater with
pop and cutting-edge technology. He has written, designed and/or directed more than 400 pop,
rock and roll
Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from Africa ...
, and
classical concerts totaling over 1,500 performances, working with artists such as Lea Salonga, Monique Wilson, Regine Velasquez,
Joey Albert, Gary Valenciano,
Jamie Rivera
Mary Jane Cruz-Mendoza (born August 29, 1966), known professionally as Jamie Rivera, is a pop singer from the Philippines and also known as the Inspirational Diva.
Since her post-People Power Revolution, EDSA Revolution debut album ''Hey It's M ...
,
[Jamie Sings]
, ''Manila Standard
The ''Manila Standard'' is a broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines. , it is owned by the Romualdez family. The Romualdezes, through incumbent speaker of the House Martin Romualdez, also own Journal Publications, Inc., the owner of tabloid pap ...
'', June 15, 1989, p. 27, retrieved 2011-06-27 Janno Gibbs, Ogie Alcasid, The Dawn, NeoColours, Introvoys, Raymond Lauchengco, Rico J. Puno, Imelda Papin, Rey Valera, Hajji Alejandro, groups like Tux, Men and Music, Boys Will Be Boys, newbies Morrisette Amon and Tanya Manalang, and opera singers Rachelle Gerodias and Byeong-in Park, as well as Grammy winners like Sandi Patti, First Call, David Pomeranz, and Broadway/West End artists Leo Valdez, Jose Llana, and Mig Ayesa.
His directing career also gave him a chance to direct concerts at New York's Carnegie Hall and at Manhattan Town Hall.
On top of that, he has also written a number of pop songs, several of which have gone platinum, like ''Yakapin Mo Ako'' (Embrace Me), ''Points of View'', ''Could You Be Messiah'', as well as Lea Salonga's wedding song, ''"Two Words."'' He has often worked as lyricist to award-winning composers, such as
Louie Ocampo
Louie Ocampo (born Jose Luis Ocampo on June 21, 1960) is a Filipino composer and arranger best known for his association with Martin Nievera. His numerous hits, mostly collaborations, include ''Tell Me'', ''Kahit Isang Saglit'', and ''You Are My ...
,
[Nepales, Janet & Nepales, Ruben (2004)]
Lea Sings to Robert at their Wedding
, ''Philippine Daily Inquirer
The ''Philippine Daily Inquirer'' (''PDI''), or simply the ''Inquirer'', is an English-language newspaper in the Philippines. Founded in 1985, it is often regarded as the Philippines' newspaper of record. The newspaper is the most awarded bro ...
'', January 10, 2004, p. A1, A9, retrieved 2011-06-27 Von de Guzman, Dan and Geri Gil, Marvin Querido, and Gerard Salonga."
Other work
He served as corporate events director for companies such as Sony (10 National Conventions, 2 World Conventions),
Bayer
Bayer AG (, commonly pronounced ; ) is a German multinational corporation, multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company and one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Headquartered in Leverkusen, Bayer's areas of busi ...
(5 Bayer Young Environmental Envoy Programme Awards, 1st Bayer-UNDP Eco-Forum),
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washing ...
(Philippine Launch of XP, OS2000),
Citibank
Citibank, N. A. (N. A. stands for " National Association") is the primary U.S. banking subsidiary of financial services multinational Citigroup. Citibank was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, and later became First National City ...
(2 Citibank Excellence Awards, Voice of Citibank affairs),
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines (PAL), a trade name of PAL Holdings, Inc. ( PSEPAL (Philippine Air Lines until 1970), is the flag carrier airline of the Philippines. Headquartered at the PNB Financial Center in Pasay, the airline was founded in 1941 and i ...
(5 Sales Awards Nights),
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
(80th Anniversary Launch, PLDT/Smart Foundation Launch),
Smart Communications
Smart Communications Inc., commonly referred to as Smart (and officially stylized/ self-styled as SMART), is a wholly owned wireless communications and digital services subsidiary of PLDT Inc., a telecommunications and digital services provid ...
(Annual Smart Infinity Golf Classic, various company events),
Kia
Kia Corporation, commonly known as Kia (, ; formerly known as Kyungsung Precision Industry and Kia Motors Corporation), is a South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It is South Korea's second lar ...
(Launch of
Kia Pride The Kia Pride is a subcompact car sold by the South Korean automobile manufacturer Kia Motors between March 1987 and January 2000, and again since September 2011. Between April 2005 and September 2011 the Kia New Pride had been sold.
Original mode ...
), Destiny Cable (Launch of Various Products),
NXP
NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXP) is a Dutch semiconductor designer and manufacturer with headquarters in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The company employs approximately 31,000 people in more than 30 countries. NXP reported revenue of $11.06 billion in 2 ...
(Philippine Launch),
Concepcion Industries (Conventions/Product Launches in
Kuala Lumpur
, anthem = '' Maju dan Sejahtera''
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, pushpin_map = Malaysia#Southeast Asia#Asia
, pushpin_map_caption =
, coordinates =
, su ...
,
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
, Manila),
Young Presidents' Organization
YPO (formerly Young Presidents' Organization) is an American-based worldwide leadership community of chief executives with approximately 29,000 members in more than 130 countries, according to the organization's 2019 YPO international fact sheet. ...
World Convention,
SMX Convention Center
The SMX Convention Center Manila is a convention center located in Pasay, Philippines. It is the largest private venue in the Philippines for trade events, industry conventions, corporate functions, and international exhibitions. The building ...
(Launch),
Philippine International Convention Center
The Philippine International Convention Center ( fil, Sentrong Pangkumbensyong Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas, or PICC) is a convention center located in the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. The facility ha ...
(15th Anniversary Celebration).
He has directed social events including five state dinners/presentations for
HRH Bolkiah of Brunei with guests of honor Malaysian Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad
Mahathir bin Mohamad ( ms, محاضير بن محمد, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset; ; born 10 July 1925) is a Malaysian politician, author, and physician who served as the 4th and 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia. He held the office ...
and
Prince Charles of the UK, Grand Philippine Reception/Performance for former Prime Minister of the UK and Ireland Mr.
Tony Blair
Sir Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007. He previously served as Leader of th ...
, as well as the 80th Birth Anniversary and 50th Wedding Anniversary of Taipan
Henry Sy
Henry Tan Chi Sieng Sy Sr. (; ; October 15, 1924 – January 19, 2019) was a Filipino businessman and investor.
Born in Fujian, he moved with his family to the Philippines at age 12. While his family returned to China, he stayed behind and f ...
. He has directed over two dozen reunion homecomings of the country's most prestigious schools like La Salle, St. Scholastica's, Assumption, and St. Therese's College, Manila.
He has done quite a number of
spoken word
Spoken word refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a late 20th century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetics of ...
recordings, several of which serve as vocal guide for the permanent exhibits of the Ayala Museum in Makati, and the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite. His recordings were aired as well in several countries on European Radio. Several of his sessions were aired on national television in two high-rating weekly musical shows and in a well-received podcast—one of the first Filipinos to air one.
He was regularly viewed on GMA-7 as one of the judges in the high-rating Starstruck and Celebrity Duets.
In television, Santos directed Yan Ang Bata'' (Channel 7, Catholic Mass Media Awards Winner), ''Musikatbp.'' (Channel 5, 13, CMMA Winner), ''The Manilyn Reynes Musical Show'' (Channel 13), ''The CBN Drama Special'' (USA, Sequence Director), ''Mikael'' (Indonesia, Sequence Director), ''Love Lea'' (Channel 4, Sequence Director), ''Triple Treat'' (Channel 2 Sequence Director), and 24 music videos for Channel 13.
His latest achievement in video is the 10-part documentary on the life and works of International Spanish artist, Philippine Presidential Order of Merit Recipient, and Cross of Isabella Awardee -- Juvenal Sanso.
Since the 1990s, he has also been a board member of House of Refuge, a shelter devoted to looking after abused and abandoned streetchildren.
In exploring new techniques and formats, Santos wrote ''Sabel: Love and Passion,'' which combined poetry/ballet/pop singing/telenovela into a 1 ½-hour spectacle. Inspired by the Sabel paintings of National Artist Ben Cabrera, and given impetus by BBC broadcaster Rico Hizon, the show, with music composed by Louie Ocampo, won a Stage Crossover Award for its leading lady, Iza Calzado, from Broadway World Philippines, and a nomination for Best New Concept from the Aliw Awards.
Because he is a Hall of Famer, Santos himself can no longer be nominated at future Aliw Awards. But for several straight years, he served as director of the annual anniversary staging of the Aliw Awards, headlining its Hall of Famers.
Over the decades, unsurprisingly, Santos was part of the formation of several crucial coalitions, among them, the ''Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-Aawit'' (Organization of Philippine Singers), ''Philstage'' (composed of various professional theater and dance companies), and ''Trumpets'', Asia's first fully-professional gospel theatre group.
In 2018, he shifted once more in his career path and joined Manila Hotel, one of Asia's oldest and most prestigious hotels, to become its Events Consultant primarily handling entertainment. In line with this, he took charge of Manila Hotel's CSR campaign involving the clean-up of Manila Bay, and for which Santos directed nearly 3 dozen short videos in 2019 featuring local art and showbiz personalities. With National Artist Ryan Cayabyab writing the music, Santos penned the lyrics of the theme song of the campaign: ''Manila Bay, Atin 'to!'' (This is ours!). In the same year, Santos wrote three dozen poems which he produced into a video book with the help of Strong Media Corporation of Enar and Sisa Karlsson. Entitled ''Random:Unsung,'' the poems were done in spoken word by Santos, Isabella Gonzales, and Jamie Wilson.
In the mid-2010s, he was granted his own star in the Eastwood Walk of Fame, and in 2020, he was unanimously voted to be given the Natatanging Buhay (Distinguished Life) Award by Philstage.
Death
Santos died on December 17, 2020, at age 64. He also had
diabetes
Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ap ...
.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Santos, Freddie
1956 births
2020 deaths
Filipino film directors
Filipino television directors
Male actors from Cebu
Singers from Cebu City