Marilou Diaz-Abaya

Marilou Correa Diaz-Abaya (née Diaz; March 30, 1955 – October 8, 2012 she was the founder and president of the Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film Institute and Arts Center, a film school based in Antipolo. She was the director of the 1998 film José Rizal, a biographical film on the Philippines' national hero of the same name. She was part of the Second Golden Age of Philippine Cinema.

Early life Diaz was born in Quezon City 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, who was one of the founding signatories in 1892 of the nationalist association La Liga Filipina with José Rizal, whom her famous film was about.

Career She entered the Philippine cinema industry in 1980 as a director. 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.

Personal life She was married to cinematographer and educator Manolo Abaya, relative of Plaridel Abaya and they have two sons: singer/actor Marc Abaya and David Abaya, a cinematographer. Her nephew, Joseph Emilio "Jun" Abaya, who was Congressman of Cavite 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.

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 Urian Awards, the Film Academy of the Philippines, the Famas Awards, the Star Awards, the Catholic Mass Media Awards the British Film Institute Award, the International Federation of Film Critics Award (FIPRESCI), and the Network of Pan Asian Cinema Award (NETPAC).

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, 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. Tanikala (Chains; 1980) Brutal (Brutal; 1980) Moral (1982) Karnal (Of the Flesh; 1983) Minsan Nating Hagkan Ang Nakaraan (1983) Baby Tsina (1984) Sensual (Of the Senses; 1986) Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo (1993) Ang Ika-Labing 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 (In the Navel of the Sea; 1998) José Rizal (1998) Muro-Ami (Reef Hunters; 1999) Bagong Buwan (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, 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:

Frequent collaborators ! Ricky Lee Amado Lacuesta Jr. Jose Y. Dalisay Jr. Jose Javier Reyes Jun Robles Lana Lorna Tolentino Gina Alajar Sharmaine Arnaiz Cesar Montano Joel Torre Vilma Santos Rolando Tinio Jaime Fabregas Sandy Andolong Charito Solis Jhong Hilario