Laurice Ilagan Guillen-Feleo (born January 31, 1947) is a Filipino actress, film and television director, and college professor.
Early life and acting career
Guillen studied at
St. Theresa's College, Cebu City, earned an AB English degree before finishing an MA in Communication at
Ateneo de Manila University
, mottoeng = Light in the Lord
, type = Private, research, non-profit, coeducational basic and higher education institution
, established = December 10, 1859
, religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic (Jesuits)
, academic_aff ...
, where she taught at the college level. She took a television production course under Nestor Torre, in 1967. She then began work as an actress, starring in productions of ''
Mrs. Warren's Profession
''Mrs. Warren's Profession'' is a play written by George Bernard Shaw in 1893, and first performed in London in 1902. The play is about a former prostitute, now a madam (brothel proprietor), who attempts to come to terms with her disapproving ...
'', before crossing over to film and television work, playing a seductress in ''Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang'', and
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino (; ; January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was a Filipina politician who served as the 11th president of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992. She was the most prominent figure of the 1986 People P ...
in the drama ''
A Dangerous Life
''The Four Day Revolution'' (broadcast in the Philippines as ''A Dangerous Life'') is a 1988 Australian television film directed by Robert Markowitz and written by David Williamson. The story is about the journey and the love affair of an Americ ...
''.
In 2009, she accepted a role in the indie film ''Karera'', her first role in an independent production.
Other credits include such notable films as ''Tinimbang ka Ngunit Kulang'' (1974), ''Lunes, Martes ...'' (1975), ''Inay'' (1977); ''Init'' (1978); ''Ina, Kapatid, Anak'' (1979), ''Moral'' (1982); ''Nagalit ang Buwan sa haba ng Gabi'' (1983); and ''Sister Stella L'' (1984).
However, it was on television that she became a household name when she joined the cast of ''Flor de Luna'' in 1978 as Jo Alicante, Flor de Luna's temperamental step mother. She went on to portray the role until the mid-1980s when the show folded.
Directing career
A protégé of
Lino Brocka
Catalino Ortiz Brocka (April 3, 1939 – May 22, 1991) was a Filipino film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and significant filmmakers in the history of Philippine cinema. He co-founded the organization Concerned Art ...
,
Guillen began her first major work as a director with ''Kasal'' in 1979, followed by ''Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo'' in 1980. In 1981, she made ''Salome'' for Bancom Audiovision with
Gina Alajar
Regina Liguid Alatiit (born June 28, 1959), professionally known as Gina Alajar (), is a FAMAS and Gaward Urian Award winning Filipino film and television actress and television director.
Career
Since appearing as a child actress in the ea ...
in the lead, establishing herself as director with depth and substance. The movie was a critical success, and she won Best Director at the Gawad Urian. The same film was shown at the
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, often stylized as tiff) is one of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, attracting over 480,000 people annually. Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown to become a permane ...
and described as "the kind of cinematic discovery that single-handedly justifies the festival's existence".
''Ipagpatawad Mo'' was also directed by Guillen, as was ''Dahil Mahal Kita: The Dolzura Cortez Story'' in 1993,
before her retirement from filmmaking.
Dedicating herself to the Marian movement, Guillen made pilgrimages to churches and cathedrals throughout the Philippines with her husband, believing that
Mary
Mary may refer to:
People
* Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name)
Religious contexts
* New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below
* Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...
had called on her to experience a spiritual renewal. By 1998 she was thinking about returning to filmmaking, and following a good reception of ''Ipagpatawad Mo'' by a group of priests, who encouraged her to back into filmmaking, along with an appearance on
Kris Aquino
Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino (born February 14, 1971), professionally known as Kris Aquino (), is a Filipino television host, actress, producer, socialite and businesswoman.
Dubbed as Philippine's "Queen of All Media", Aquino has hos ...
's talk show, she did so.
Her first new production was ''
Tanging Yaman
''Tanging Yaman'' (International Title: ''A Change of Heart'') is a 2000 Filipino religious-family drama film produced by Star Cinema. Directed by Laurice Guillen, the film garnered several awards, especially at the 2000 Metro Manila Film Fest ...
'', released in 2001,
which won several awards at the
Metro Manila Film Festival
The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is an annual film festival held in Metro Manila, Philippines. The festival, which runs from December 25 (Christmas) through New Year's Day and into first weekend of January in the following year, focuses on ...
. Following 2002's ''
American Adobo
''American Adobo'' is a 2002 Filipino romantic comedy film directed by Laurice Guillen and starring Cherry Pie Picache, Traci Ann Wolfe, Christopher de Leon, Dina Bonnevie, Ricky Davao, Paolo Montalban, Randy Becker, and Sandy Andolong. The screen ...
'', Guillen directed ''
Santa Santita'' in 2004, which represented the Philippines at the
Bangkok International Film Festival
The Bangkok International Film Festival (BKKIFF) ( th, เทศกาลภาพยนตร์นานาชาติกรุงเทพฯ) is an international film festival held annually in Bangkok, Thailand, since 2003. In addition to fi ...
.
In 2006, she was awarded the Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi by Ateneo de Manila University for services to the Arts. In 2009 she directed ''
I Love You Goodbye
"I Love You Goodbye" is the first Song, track on the fourth Thomas Dolby album ''Astronauts & Heretics''. It was the second of three singles to be released from the album and reached number 36 in the UK singles chart in July 1992.
Done in the st ...
'', following it up with ''
Sa 'yo Lamang'' in 2010, starring
Lorna Tolentino
Victoria Lorna Perez Aluquin-Fernandez (born December 23, 1961), better known by her stage name Lorna Tolentino, sometimes known as ''L.T.'', an abbreviation of her screen name, is a Filipino actress, host and executive producer. Regarded as ...
.
As well as working as a director, Guillen also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, before her appointment was unexpectedly not renewed in 2005. After breaking away from the previous Filipino directors guild due to a desire for reform, Guillen helped found the Directors Guild of the Philippines, resigning on March 26, 2001 due to her feeling that this reform had not been carried out.
Personal life
Guillen was married to
Johnny Delgado
Juan Marasigan Feleo (February 28, 1948 – November 19, 2009), better known as Johnny Delgado, was a Filipino television and movie actor, comedian, and writer. He is best known for his television work on the TV gag show ''Goin' Bananas''. Othe ...
, with whom she had two daughters, her youngest being actress
Ina Feleo
Catalina Guillen Feleo-Gervasutti (born 29 December 1985), better known as Ina Feleo, is a Filipino actress, figure skater, dancer, and writer. She rose to fame for playing the main antagonist role as Odessa in romantic- horror-drama on GMA Ne ...
.
He died of
lymphoma
Lymphoma is a group of blood and lymph tumors that develop from lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). In current usage the name usually refers to just the cancerous versions rather than all such tumours. Signs and symptoms may include enlar ...
in November 2009.
Guillen is the cousin of former
Piddig, Ilocos Norte mayor turned NIA acting administrator
Eduardo Guillen.
Filmography
Television
Film
TV Director
Film Director
Awards
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guillen, Laurice
1947 births
Living people
Ateneo de Manila University alumni
Filipino film directors
Filipino television directors
Filipino women film directors
Filipino television actresses
Filipino people of Spanish descent
People from Butuan
Women television directors