Description
Written by Simon Godfrey Rodriguez
Edited by Nina Macaraig-Gamboa
Illustrated by Wylzter Gutierrez
Lamberto Vera Avellana was born on February 12, 1915 in Bontoc, Mountain Province. He moved to Manila to study at the Ateneo de Manila, where he developed his love for theater. It was also during that time that he met the love of his life in the young and talented Daisy Hontiveros. He directed and starred in many plays alongside Daisy.
In 1939, the newlywed Avellanas, along with friends, established the Barangay Theater Guild (BTG) to promote Philippine theater. The BTG staged many Filipino and classical plays, such as plays by Shakespeare and Ibsen.
After one such play, Carlos P. Romulo, then president of Philippine Films, a local production company, approached Avellana and invited him to direct a film. After considering his options, Avellana decided to follow Romulo’s advice.
Avellana’s directorial debut was “Sakay,” about the revolutionary Macario Sakay. Critics and the public praised the film for its innovation, technical merits, and realistic storytelling. It won the Best Film for 1939, and soon Avellana was dubbed the “Boy Wonder of Philippine Movies.”
Avellana had an illustrious career spanning 6 decades directing over 70 films including “Anak Dalita” (1956) that won the Grand Prix at the 1956 Asia-Pacific Film Festival; “Badjao” (1957) that won for Avellana the Best Director of Asia award; and “Portrait of the Artist as Filipino” (1965), written by Nick Joaquin and starring Daisy Avellana.
In 1976, Avellana was named the first Philippine National Artist for Film.
Avellana died on April 25, 1991, at the age of 76.
Copyright © 2015
ISBN: 978-971-569-849-8
Size: 8 x 10. 16 pages. Full-color
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