Gerardo de León,

ONA Ona or ONA may refer to: Anthropology * Ona people, an indigenous people of southern Argentina and Chile ** Ona language, a language once spoken in Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego * Ona, a pre-Aksumite culture in Sembel, Eritrea Geography * On ...

(September 12, 1913 – July 25, 1981), 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 and actor.

Biography

De León, who was born Gerardo Ilagan, was a member of the Ilagan clan of Philippine motion pictures, which includes Robert Arevalo,

Conrado Conde Conrado Conde (born 1911) was a Filipino film director and an actor who made his first acting appearance as an extra in Parlatone Hispano-Filipino ''Carmelita (film), Carmelita'' a Roy de Silva movie and in the 1941 Musical film, musical ''Panam ...

, Angel Esmeralda, Eddie Ilagan, musical scorer

Tito Arévalo Eustacio Ylagan (; March 29, 1911 – December 4, 2000), better known by his stage name Tito Arévalo, was a Philippines, Filipino actor and musician. Personal life He grew up in Tondo, Manila. He was married to Guadalupe Francisco Ylagan, a wom ...

, and his daughter Liberty Ilagan. De León was a medical doctor by profession, but his ultimate love for film won him over. He made his acting debut in the 1934 film ''Ang Dangal''. He acted in eight other films before becoming a director. The first film he directed was ''Bahay-Kubo'' (1939), starring Fely Vallejo, an actress whom he later married. De Leon produced a number of anti-American propaganda films during World War Two, in collaboration with the occupying Japanese forces and Japanese director

Abe Yutaka was a Japanese film director and actor. He went to America along with a younger brother to visit an uncle living in Los Angeles. There he enrolled in an acting school, and upon hearing that Thomas H. Ince was looking for Japanese extras to work i ...

, who personally chose De Leon for the projects. De Leon was arrested and charged with treason after the Japanese were defeated, and was almost executed by the Filipino government. But at the last minute, he was pardoned when evidence came to light that all during the war, he had secretly assisted the Filipino resistance as well. Nicknamed "Manong", de León is the most awarded film director in the history of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences'

FAMAS Awards The Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards (also known as the FAMAS Awards) are the annual honors given by the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), an organization composed of award-winning writers and movie columni ...

. From 1952 to 1971, he was awarded seven FAMAS Awards, three of them received consecutively. His 1961 film ''

The Moises Padilla Story ''The Moises Padilla Story'' is a 1961 Philippine bio-pic directed by Gerardo de León. The film was selected as the Philippine entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 34th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee. The film is a ...

'' was selected as the Philippine entry for the

Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

at the

32nd Academy Awards The 32nd Academy Awards ceremony was held on April 4, 1960 at the RKO Pantages Theatre, to honor the films of 1959. William Wyler's Bible epic '' Ben-Hur'' won 11 Oscars, breaking the record of nine set the previous year by '' Gigi''. This t ...

, but was not accepted as a nominee. All of the films for which he won Best Director also won Best Picture at the FAMAS, namely ''Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo'' (1952), ''Hanggang sa Dulo ng Daigdig'' (1958), ''Huwag Mo Akong Limutin'' (1960), ''Noli Me Tangere'' (1961, adapted from the novel of the same title), ''El Filibusterismo'' (1962), ''Daigdig ng Mga Api'' (1965), and ''Lilet'' (1971). One of his unfinished projects was ''Juan de la Cruz'' (1972) with

Fernando Poe Jr. Ronald Allan Kelley Poe (August 20, 1939 – December 14, 2004), known professionally as Fernando Poe Jr., and often referred to by his initials FPJ, was a Filipino actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, and politician. His long and s ...

He is known to fans of cult horror films for the handful of 1960s horror movies he directed, some co-directed with his friend

Eddie Romero Edgar Sinco Romero, (July 7, 1924 – May 28, 2013), commonly known as Eddie Romero, was a Filipino film director, film producer and screenwriter. Early life Romero was born on July 7, 1924. His father was José E. Romero, the first Philipp ...

and co-financed with American money. These films included ''

Terror Is a Man ''Terror Is a Man'' (also known as ''Blood Creature'', ''Creature from Blood Island'', ''The Gory Creatures'', ''Island of Terror'' and ''Gore Creature'') is a 1959Warren, Bill (1986). ''Keep Watching The Skies Volume 2''. McFarland & Co., Inc. ...

'' (1959), ''The Blood Drinkers''/ ''Blood Is the Color of Night'' (1964), ''Curse of the Vampires''/ ''Whisper to the Wind'' (1966), ''

Brides of Blood ''Brides of Blood'' (a.k.a. ''Brides of the Beast'', ''Danger on Tiki Island'' and ''Grave Desires'') is a 1968O'Neill, James (1994). ''Terror on Tape''. Billboard Books. . Page 54Weldon, Michael (1983). ''The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film''. B ...

'' (1968), and ''

Mad Doctor of Blood Island ''The Mad Doctor of Blood Island'' is a 1969 Filipino horror film, co-directed by Eddie Romero and Gerardo de Leon, and starring John Ashley, Angelique Pettyjohn, Eddie Garcia and Ronald Remy. It was the third in a series of four Filipino horror ...

'' (1969).

Roger Corman Roger William Corman (born April 5, 1926) is an American film director, producer, and actor. He has been called "The Pope of Pop Cinema" and is known as a trailblazer in the world of independent film. Many of Corman's films are based on works t ...

hired him in 1971 to direct his gritty Women in Prison film ''

Women in Cages ''Women in Cages'' is a 1971 women in prison sexploitation film directed by Gerardo de León and starring Jennifer Gan, Judy Brown, Roberta Collins, and Pam Grier. Co-produced by Roger Corman, it was prominently featured in the ''Planet Terror'' ...

'' (1971), featuring Pam Grier as a sadistic prison warden and Philippines sex symbol

Sofia Moran Soledad (Sol, Solly) Ballon Magdaluyo (born March 11, 1940), better known by her screen name Sofia Moran, is a Filipina actress, singer and record artist, credited with over 60 Philippine and foreign films. The Philippine actress began her film ...

. De Leon died on July 25, 1981 at age 67.

Filmography (director)

*''Estrellita'' (1940) *''Ang Maestra'' (1941) *'' Dawn of Freedom (1943) *''Mameng, iniibig kita'' (1947) *''48 Oras'' (1950) *''Sisa'' (1951) *''Diego Silang'' (1951) *''Bagong Umaga'' (1952) *''Python at the Old Dome'' (''Sawa sa lumang simboryo'') (1952) *''Pedro Penduko'' (1954) *''Ifuago'' (1954) *''Sanda Wong'' (1955) *''Saigon'' (1956) *''Bakya mo Neneng'' (1957) *''

Kamay ni Cain ''Kamay ni Cain'' () is a 1957 action film directed by Gerardo de León, written by Cesar Amigo and Clodualdo del Mundo Sr., starring Zaldy Zshornack and Fernando Poe, Jr. Cast * Zaldy Zshornack as Eduardo * Fernando Poe, Jr. Ronald All ...

''/ ''The Hands of Cain'' (1957) *''Hanggang sa dulo ng daigdig'' (1958) *''

'' (1959) aka ''Blood Creature'' *''Huwag mo akong limutin''/ ''Don't Let Me Forget'' (1960) *''Noli me tangere'' (''Touch Me Not'') (1960) *''

'' (1961) *''Noli me tangere'' (1961) *''El Filibusterismo'' (1962) *''I Am Justice'' (''Ako ang katarungan'') (1962) *''

The Walls of Hell ''The Walls of Hell'', also known as ''Intramuros'' is a 1964 Philippine-American film directed by Eddie Romero and Gerardo de Leon and starring Jock Mahoney. The film was made back-to-back with '' Moro Witch Doctor'' (1964). It was produced by ...

'' (''Intramuros'') (1964) *''Ang Daigdig ng mga api''/ ''World of the Oppressed'' (1965) *''The Blood Drinkers'' (1964) a.k.a. ''Kulay dugo ang gabi''/ ''Blood is the Color of Night''; aka ''The Vampire People''. *''Curse of the Vampires'' (''Dugo ng vampira'') (1966) a.k.a. ''Ibulong mo sa hangin'' (''Whisper to the Wind''), a.k.a. ''Creatures of Evil'' *''

'' (co-dir. with Eddie Romero, 1968) *''

The Mad Doctor of Blood Island ''The Mad Doctor of Blood Island'' is a 1969 Filipino horror film, co-directed by Eddie Romero and Gerardo de Leon, and starring John Ashley, Angelique Pettyjohn, Eddie Garcia and Ronald Remy. It was the third in a series of four Filipino horr ...

'' (co-dir. with

, 1969) aka ''Tomb of the Living Dead''Arena, Jim (2002). Mad Doctor of Blood Island (Media notes). Liner notes. Image Entertainment. ID146211DVD. *''Lilet'' (1971) *''

'' (1971) *''

Fe, Esperanza, Caridad ''Fe, Esperanza, Caridad'' () is a 1974 Filipino film, produced by Premiere Productions. It is a trilogy featuring Nora Aunor giving life to the stories of three women: Fe—an emerging movie superstar who has an invalid husband—, Es ...

'' (1975) (translation: ''Faith, Hope and Charity'') *''Banaue: Stairway to the Sky'' (1975) *''Juan dela Cruz'' (unfinished)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Leon, Gerardo De 1913 births 1981 deaths 20th-century Filipino male actors Filipino collaborators with Imperial Japan Burials at the Libingan ng mga Bayani Filipino film directors Filipino male film actors