Marilou Correa Diaz-Abaya (March 30, 1955 – October 8, 2012
[) was a Filipina multi-award winning film director. She was conferred the ]Order of National Artists of the Philippines
The Order of National Artists of the Philippines ( Filipino: ''Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng Pilipinas'') is an order bestowed by the Philippines on Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the development of Philipp ...
for Film and Broadcast Arts in 2022, she was the founder and president of the Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film Institute and Arts Center, a film school based in Antipolo
Antipolo, officially known as the City of Antipolo ( fil, Lungsod ng Antipolo), is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 887,399 people. It is the mo ...
, Philippines. She was the director of the 1998 film ''José Rizal
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (, ; June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino nationalist, writer and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. He is considered the national he ...
'', a biographical film
A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically-based person or people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from docudra ...
on the Philippines' national hero. She was part of the Second Golden Age of Philippine Cinema.
Early life
Diaz was born in 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 ...
in 1955. She was one of seven children of lawyers Conrado Diaz and Felicitas Correa Diaz. She grew up quite privileged. Her father is from Paoay, Ilocos Norte, and is related to Valentín Díaz
Valentín Díaz y Villanueva (1 November 1845 – 11 December 1916) was a Filipino patriot who was among the founders of the Katipunan that started the Philippine Revolution against Spain in 1896. He was elected as treasurer of the organizati ...
, who was one of the founding signatories in 1892 of the nationalist association La Liga Filipina with José Rizal
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (, ; June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino nationalist, writer and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. He is considered the national he ...
, whom her famous film was about.
Marilou and her siblings grew up in a house filled with art that was instituted by their parents who were art collectors. On the walls of their house hung several painting by national artist Fernando Amorsolo
Fernando Cueto Amorsolo (born Fernando Amorsolo y Cueto; May 30, 1892 – April 24, 1972) was a portraitist and painter of rural Philippine landscapes. Nicknamed the "Grand Old Man of Philippine Art," he was the first-ever to be recognized as a N ...
. Diaz-Abaya and her siblings were forced by their parents to take up piano classes and ballet classes. According to Diaz-Abaya, later on, as she became a filmmaker, she realized the importance of art in her youth.
Growing up, Diaz-Abaya was not a film buff, and rather had more interest in literature and history.
An event that lead Diaz-Abaya to film was her applying for Communication Arts in the Assumption Convent. She intended to enroll for Asian Civilizations studies, but was not able to because the History Department was closed. Because of this she enrolled for Communication Arts and intended to stay for only one semester, but her love for theater acting free. During her time in college, she produced plays at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Also in college, she was able to direct her first film.
She studied in several private schools (at St. Theresa's College from Kindergarten to High School), eventually graduating from Assumption College with a degree in Bachelor of Arts, major in Communication Arts
''Communication Arts'' is the largest international trade journal of visual communications.[Au ...](_blank)
in 1976. She went to Los Angeles for further studies and graduated from Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is a private Jesuit and Marymount research university in Los Angeles, California. It is located on the west side of the city near Playa Vista. LMU is the parent school to Loyola Law School, which is located ...
with a degree in Master of Arts
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
in Film and Television in 1978. She then went to London and completed the Film Course at London International Film School also in 1978.[Faculty profile, Asia Pacific Film Institute, 2007.]
Career
She entered the Philippine cinema industry in 1980 as a feminist director, yet she recalled growing up in a gender-free atmosphere. Diaz-Abaya's films are known for the struggles of the marginalized, and yet she never thought of a career in filmmaking while growing up in private Catholic schools for the elite.
Diaz-Abaya and her husband, after living in London, went back to the Philippines and got together with some theater friends to start an independent film company, Cine Filipinas, which was funded by their parents. Though Diaz-Abaya and her film company were able to produce films together, their films flopped at the box office and lost money. After this event, she met Jesse Ejercito, an independent film producer who recognized and enjoyed the cinematography and art direction of Diaz-Abaya's film Tanikala.
Diaz directed and released her first feature film, ''Tanikala'' (Chains) in 1980. Since then, she has been one of the most active and visible directors in Philippine cinema.
Jesse Ejercito gave Diaz-Abaya the opportunity to make a film and Diaz-Abaya proposed to have Ricky Lee
Ricardo Lee (born as March 19, 1948) is a Filipino screenwriter, journalist, novelist, and playwright. He was conferred the Order of National Artists of the Philippines for Film and Broadcast Arts in 2022.
Starting in 1973, he has written more ...
, whom she has only heard of and not met, as a writer for her film. Ricky Lee would then be known as one of Diaz-Abaya's collaborators in film and credited as the screenplay writer for several of Diaz-Abaya's films. Lee and Diaz-Abaya's first collaboration was making Brutal, which premiered at the Metro Manila Film Festival in 1980. ''Brutal'' was a success and Ishmael Bernal, a highly regarded Filipino filmmaker, saw the film and wanted to meet Diaz-Abaya. Bernal became Diaz-Abaya's mentor. After her success with Brutal, she then directed Macho Gigolo.
Her early films ''Brutal'', ''Karnal
Karnal ( is a city located in the state of Haryana, India and is the administrative headquarters of Karnal District. It was used by East India Company army as a refuge during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 in Delhi. The Battle of Karnal between ...
'' (Of the Flesh), and ''Alyas Baby Tsina'', sharply condemn the oppressive social system during the administration of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. ( , , ; September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino politician, lawyer, dictator, and kleptocrat who was the 10th president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled under martial ...
. When the Marcos was deposed in 1986, Diaz left filmmaking.
Díaz produced television programs for several years. Her work attempts to reflect the social and political problems to attain social reform. She admittedly uses her work as a tool to uphold, promote, and protect the state of democracy in the Philippines.
Marilou Diaz-Abaya was the treasurer of the directors’ union under Lino Brocka for several years. In 1983, Diaz-Abaya joined the Concerned Artists of the Philippines, organized by Lino Brocka, and was an active member that opposed film censorship by the Marcos regime and joined in anti-government rallies.
In the early 1980s, Lily Monteverde
Lily Yu Monteverde, nicknamed Mother Lily (born August 19, 1938), is a Filipina film producer and businesswoman.
She is the first and many Filipina Movie producers who produced the boom of blockbuster films in different genres in the 70s and 80 ...
, a prominent Filipino film producer for Regal productions, asked Diaz-Abaya to make ''Sensual'' (Of the Senses), a coming of age film that covered sexual topics. It premiered one day before the 1986 EDSA Revolution
The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a sustained campaign of c ...
.
In 1995, she again directed films, beginning with the release of ''Ipaglaban Mo (Redeem Her Honor)''. She continued directing such films as ''May Nagmamahal sa Iyo'' (Madonna and Child), ''Sa Pusod ng Dagat
''Sa Pusod ng Dagat'' () is a 1998 Filipino film produced and directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. It stars Jomari Yllana with Chin Chin Gutierrez and Elizabeth Oropesa. The film was critically acclaimed in local and international film festivals.
...
'' (In the Navel of the Sea), ''José Rizal
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (, ; June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino nationalist, writer and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. He is considered the national he ...
'', and ''Muro-Ami
Muro-ami or muroami is a fishing technique employed on coral reefs in Southeast Asia. It uses an encircling net together with pounding devices. These devices usually comprise large stones fitted on ropes that are pounded into the coral reefs. They ...
'' (Reef Hunters). Her body of work is a continuous examination of difficult social problems in the country. Her works often deal with the lives of the Filipino poor, women, and children who struggle to survive under harsh conditions.
Arguably her most famous work, ''José Rizal
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (, ; June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino nationalist, writer and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. He is considered the national he ...
'', featured actor César Montano playing the national hero.
A Japanese award-giving body described her body of work to be "harmoniously blending entertainment, social consciousness, and ethnic awareness." The organization continued by saying: "(Her work) has won acclaim both in the Philippines and abroad for its high level of artistic achievement. It is an ideal manifestation of the artistic culture of Asia, and so is most deserving of the Arts and Culture Prize of the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prizes."
Personal life
She was married to cinematographer and educator Manolo Abaya, relative of Plaridel Abaya and they have two sons: singer/actor Marc Abaya
Ramon Marcelino Diaz Abaya (born November 6, 1979), known professionally as Marc Abaya, is a Filipino singer, actor, musician, TV host, and VJ. He appeared in the 2009 Philippine release of ''Tinker Bell''.
He is the son of actor/director Mano ...
and David Abaya, a cinematographer. Her nephew, Joseph Emilio "Jun" Abaya, who was Congressman of Cavite
Cavite, officially the Province of Cavite ( tl, Lalawigan ng Kabite; Chavacano: ''Provincia de Cavite''), is a province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region in Luzon. Located on the southern shores of Manila Bay and southwest ...
and became Secretary of Transportation and Communication.
She met Manolo when she was 15 years of age, and Manolo helped her turn to filmmaking. Marilou and Manolo got married in Manila and soon after, went to live in London as Marilou studied at the London International Film School. Manolo and Abaya would work together. Manolo would usually be credited as the director of photography and editor for most of Diaz-Abaya's work.
She referred the city of Fukuoka in Japan as her second home because of her films became well-regarded and recognized by critics and moviegoers.
Death
Diaz-Abaya was diagnosed with breast cancer, which caused her death on October 8, 2012.[ She was buried at Loyola Memorial Park in ]Parañaque
Parañaque, officially the City of Parañaque ( fil, Lungsod ng Parañaque, ), is a first class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to t ...
.
Awards
Diaz is the 2001 Laureate of the Fukuoka Prize for Culture and the Arts in Japan. She has won numerous directing awards from award-giving bodies such as 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 ...
, the Urian Awards, the Film Academy of the Philippines, the Famas Awards, the Star Awards, the Catholic Mass Media Awards the British Film Institute
The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...
Award, the International Federation of Film Critics Award (FIPRESCI), and the Network of Pan Asian Cinema Award (NETPAC).
On June 10, 2022, Malacanang Palace, upon joint recommendation of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), officially announced Marilou Diaz-Abaya as National Artist for Film and Broadcast Art together with Nora Aunor and Ricky Lee, by virtue of Proclamation no. 1390.
Organizations
Diaz was an active film and television producer and director. She was a director of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the president of the Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film Institute and Arts Center and Dive Solana Inc., a film instructor at the 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 ...
, a trustee of the Jesuit Communications Foundation and the AMANU Media Apostolate, and a member of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement for Peace, the Artists for Peace, the Mothers for Peace, and the World Association of Psycho-Socio Rehabilitation.
Filmography
Díaz directed at least 21 full-length feature films which include internationally exhibited films with English titles and subtitles. The partial list includes the following:[List of projects, Diaz-Abaya Portfolio, 2007.]
*''Tanikala'' (Chains; 1980)
*''Brutal'' (Brutal; 1980)
*''Moral
A moral (from Latin ''morālis'') is a message that is conveyed or a lesson to be learned from a story or event. The moral may be left to the hearer, reader, or viewer to determine for themselves, or may be explicitly encapsulated in a maxim. A ...
'' (1982)
*''Karnal
Karnal ( is a city located in the state of Haryana, India and is the administrative headquarters of Karnal District. It was used by East India Company army as a refuge during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 in Delhi. The Battle of Karnal between ...
'' (Of the Flesh; 1983)
*''Baby Tsina'' (1984)
*''Sensual'' (Of the Senses; 1986)
*''Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo'' (1992)
*''Ikalabing-Isang Utos (Mahalin Mo, Asawa Mo)'' (11th Commandment: Love Your Spouse; 1994)
*''Ipaglaban Mo, The Movie'' (Redeem Her Honor; 1995)
*''May Nagmamahal Sa'yo'' (Madonna and Child; 1996)
*'' Milagros'' (1997)
*''Sa Pusod ng Dagat
''Sa Pusod ng Dagat'' () is a 1998 Filipino film produced and directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. It stars Jomari Yllana with Chin Chin Gutierrez and Elizabeth Oropesa. The film was critically acclaimed in local and international film festivals.
...
'' (In the Navel of the Sea; 1998)
*''José Rizal
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (, ; June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino nationalist, writer and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. He is considered the national he ...
'' (1998)
*''Muro-Ami
Muro-ami or muroami is a fishing technique employed on coral reefs in Southeast Asia. It uses an encircling net together with pounding devices. These devices usually comprise large stones fitted on ropes that are pounded into the coral reefs. They ...
'' (Reef Hunters; 1999)
*''Bagong Buwan
''Bagong Buwan'' () is a 2001 Filipino drama film co-produced and directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya and written by Diaz-Abaya, Ricky Lee, and Jun Lana. It is about the Muslim rebellion in Mindanao, Philippines and its effect on civilians. It has b ...
'' (New Moon; 2001)
*'' Noon at Ngayon: Pagsasamang Kay Ganda'' (2003)
*''Maging Akin Muli'' (television film, 2005)
*'' Ikaw ang Pag-ibig'' (2011)
Unfinished films:
*1986: ''Four Days in February'' (about the People Power Revolution
The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, was a series of popular Demonstration (people), demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a ...
, in EDSA); shelved due to political reasons.
*1990: ''Victory Boy'' (about the presence of US Bases in the Philippines; particularly the US Naval Base, in Olongapo); supposed to star then Senator Joseph Ejercito Estrada and Philippine superstar Nora Aunor; shelved due to political reasons; discontinued when the US Military Bases were removed in 1991.
Videography
Díaz has also directed television shows such as the following:[
*''Public Forum'' (1986–1995), a public affairs talk show hosted by Randy David.
*'' Sic O'Clock News'' (1987–1990), a news satire program.
*Various documentaries including ''Silsilah Dialogue Movement for God's Peace''.
*''Men of Light'', a weekly talk show on the scriptures based in San Fernando, Pampanga, hosted by Fr. Pablo David, Fr. Raul de los Santos, and Fr. Deo Galang.
]
Awards
References
External links
*
Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film Institute and Arts Center
Star Cinema
The Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film Institute Experience
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diaz-Abaya, Marilou
1955 births
2012 deaths
Ateneo de Manila University alumni
Filipino film directors
Filipino television personalities
Filipino television directors
Filipino educators
Filipino expatriates in the United Kingdom
Filipino women film directors
Ilocano people
Deaths from cancer in the Philippines
Deaths from breast cancer
People from Quezon City
Assumption College San Lorenzo alumni
Loyola Marymount University alumni
Women television directors