Marilou Diaz-Abaya

Marilou Diaz-Abaya

Birth : 1955-03-07, Quezon City, Philippines

Death : 2012-10-08

History

Marilou Díaz-Abaya (30 March 1955 – 8 October 2012) was a Filipina multi-award winning film director. She was the founder and president of the Marilou Díaz-Abaya Film Institute and Arts Center, a film school based in Antipolo, Philippines. She was the director of the 1998 film José Rizal, a biographical film on the Philippines' national hero. She was part of the Second Golden Age of Philippine Cinema.

Profile

Marilou Diaz-Abaya
Marilou Diaz-Abaya
Marilou Diaz-Abaya

Movies

Ikaw ang Pag-ibig
Screenplay
Evangeline spends most of her time working late, editing TV commercials. Her work doesn’t leave her much time to spend with her boyfriend Joey or their son. In spite of having a family, she mostly keeps to herself, enjoying her independence. But when her priest brother Johnny is diagnosed with cancer, she’s suddenly called on to be a possible bone marrow donor. As her dysfunctional family starts to gather around the ailing Johnny, Evangeline is forced to come face to face with her failings.
Ikaw ang Pag-ibig
Director
Evangeline spends most of her time working late, editing TV commercials. Her work doesn’t leave her much time to spend with her boyfriend Joey or their son. In spite of having a family, she mostly keeps to herself, enjoying her independence. But when her priest brother Johnny is diagnosed with cancer, she’s suddenly called on to be a possible bone marrow donor. As her dysfunctional family starts to gather around the ailing Johnny, Evangeline is forced to come face to face with her failings.
Be Mine Again
Writer
The film explores the tension between human freedom, what people decide to do with their lives, and divine wisdom, what God asks for each person. Also starring Noel Trinidad and Sandy Andolong.
Be Mine Again
Director
The film explores the tension between human freedom, what people decide to do with their lives, and divine wisdom, what God asks for each person. Also starring Noel Trinidad and Sandy Andolong.
Noon At Ngayon
Director
Joey comes home after nearly a decade of living in the States. With Joey back, the four friends find themselves complete again they reminisce on the good old times, marvel at the changes in each other’s lives. Indeed, a lot of things may have changed through the years, but some things remain constant.
New Moon
Writer
Ahmad belongs to the Bangsamoro people. While many of his kind are bent on fighting, thinking that Mindanao is only for the Muslims, Ahmad prefers to live a simple and peaceful life. He works as a doctor in Manila while his wife, Fatima, and his only son, Ibrahim, stay in Mindanao with his mother, Farida. Ahmad is shocked and devastated when Fatima breaks the confounding news. Ibrahim was killed by a stray bullet when vigilantes indiscriminately fire at their village. Ahmad goes back to where he came from Mindanao. Ibrahim’s death did not cause Ahmad to stop striving to live a peaceful life, much to the consternation of his brother, Musa. His brother takes an exactly opposite stand. Musa believes in waging a war against all the Kaafir (unbelievers) who may impede the Moro’s goal of independence. He even trains his young son, Rashid to a Muslim warrior’s life.
New Moon
Director
Ahmad belongs to the Bangsamoro people. While many of his kind are bent on fighting, thinking that Mindanao is only for the Muslims, Ahmad prefers to live a simple and peaceful life. He works as a doctor in Manila while his wife, Fatima, and his only son, Ibrahim, stay in Mindanao with his mother, Farida. Ahmad is shocked and devastated when Fatima breaks the confounding news. Ibrahim was killed by a stray bullet when vigilantes indiscriminately fire at their village. Ahmad goes back to where he came from Mindanao. Ibrahim’s death did not cause Ahmad to stop striving to live a peaceful life, much to the consternation of his brother, Musa. His brother takes an exactly opposite stand. Musa believes in waging a war against all the Kaafir (unbelievers) who may impede the Moro’s goal of independence. He even trains his young son, Rashid to a Muslim warrior’s life.
Muro-ami
Producer
Fredo (Cesar Montano) is a fisherman who has endured more than his share of hardship in life; his wife and child both perished in a boating accident, and today Fredo approaches each trip to the sea with the angry determination of a man out for revenge. Fredo commands a crew of young people from poor families as he takes his rattletrap ship into the ocean in search of fish that live along the reefs, snaring catch with an illegal netting system. Not all of Fredo's youthful sailors are willing to put up with his abusive arrogance, however, and even his father Dado (Pen Medina) and close friend Botong (Jhong Hilario) have grown weary of Fredo's tirades. Fredo's body is beginning to betray him as well, and as he and his crew damage the sea's reef beds in search of fish, no one is certain how much longer he will be able to continue.
Muro-ami
Director
Fredo (Cesar Montano) is a fisherman who has endured more than his share of hardship in life; his wife and child both perished in a boating accident, and today Fredo approaches each trip to the sea with the angry determination of a man out for revenge. Fredo commands a crew of young people from poor families as he takes his rattletrap ship into the ocean in search of fish that live along the reefs, snaring catch with an illegal netting system. Not all of Fredo's youthful sailors are willing to put up with his abusive arrogance, however, and even his father Dado (Pen Medina) and close friend Botong (Jhong Hilario) have grown weary of Fredo's tirades. Fredo's body is beginning to betray him as well, and as he and his crew damage the sea's reef beds in search of fish, no one is certain how much longer he will be able to continue.
José Rizal
Director
Accused of treason, Dr. Jose P. Rizal awaits trial and meets with his colonial government-appointed counsel, Luis Taviel de Andrade. The two build the case and arguments for the defense as significant events in the central figure's life prior to his incarceration unfold. Upon hearing Rizal's life story, Taviel begins to realize that the accused not just is innocent but exhibits in fact all the qualities of an extraordinary man. When the mock trial unreels, Taviel is all set to act as the prime advocate for his client as Rizal himself is about to give an earth-moving speech to defend his honor and address his countrymen. Meanwhile, the Spanish authorities have worked out the vast political machinery to ensure a guilty verdict. A revolution waits in the wings.
In the Navel of the Sea
Director
In a remote fishing island in the 50's, Pepito grows up learning the trade of his mother, Rosa, the only midwife capable of delivering the newborn babies of their community. At first, the young son doesn't mind the unusual arrangement, but as he grows older, he begins to resist the role traditionally meant only for women. In time, Pepito's coming of age intersects with the lives of the other islanders, whose beliefs and struggles become critical impetus to his maturity.
Milagros
Director
Milagros is a prostitute who becomes the maid of a family of four men. With them, she finds the family she never had. With her, each man finds the salvation he needs. Together, they begin to tear each other apart.
Madonna and Child
Director
A woman searching for the child she put up for adoption.
Kapag May Katwiran... Ipaglaban Mo: The Movie
Line Producer
The melding together of two separate stories that share a similar premise - each detail the account of a young Filipino woman who becomes a victim of sexual violence and takes her attacker to court.
Kapag May Katwiran... Ipaglaban Mo: The Movie
Director
The melding together of two separate stories that share a similar premise - each detail the account of a young Filipino woman who becomes a victim of sexual violence and takes her attacker to court.
The 11th Commandment: Love Your Wife
Director
This film is about domestic violence.
Tanikala
Director
Secret muna.
Sensual
Director
Written by Jose Javier Reyes. Produced by Regal Films. Starring Barbara Benitez, Lito Gruet, and Charito Solis. Opened on February 22, the first day of 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.
Alias Baby Tsina
Director
Baby Tsina a famous underworld figure during the 50's who acquired the nickname because of her ivory skin and slanting eyes. She led the police in a frenetic chase before she was convicted for murder. Ironically it was a crime she did not commit. While in jail though she underwent a transformation and led the other inmates in seeking for reforms in the local penal system. An engrossing film with superior performances from the entire cast.
Working Girls
Mrs. Kalaw (uncredited)
Women cope with various problems while earning a living in the city.
Of the Flesh
Director
When Narcing brings home his wife Puring to their hometown Mulawin in the 1930s, it sets off a series of events that include parricide, infidelity, betrayal, guilt and redemption.
Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan Ang Nakaraan
Director
Rod leaves Helen for his career and she falls in love with another. Rod becomes successful and goes back to Helen who obviously still feels strongly for him. An illicit affair ensues.
Visions Cinema: Film in the Philippines - A Report by Tony Rayns
Self
Film critic Tony Rayns interviews Lino Brocka and other prominent Filipino filmmakers.
Moral
Director
The episodically connected lives of four college friends unfold throughout the incipient martial law years, as they struggle to define their sexual and professional desires and how best to attain them.
Macho Gigolo
Director
Boystown
Director
Brutal
Director
A woman after killing her husband and his friends goes into post-traumatic shock and withdraws from any form of communication. A feminist journalist becomes interested in the case and resolves to unravel the truth behind the murders.