
Directing
Born September 12, 1913 · Manila, Philippines
Gerardo de León (September 12, 1913 - July 25, 1981) was a Filipino actor turned film director, who made his acting debut in the 1934 movie Ang Dangal. De León, who was born as Gerardo Ilagan, was a member of the Ilagan clan of Philippine motion pictures, which includes Robert Arevalo, Liberty Ilagan and Ronaldo Valdez, and musical scorer Tito Arévalo. De León was a medical doctor by profession, but his ultimate love for film has won him over. He made eight more films as an actor before he became a director. He made his directorial debut in 1939's Bahay-Kubo, starring Fely Vallejo (who he later married). One of his unfinished projects was in the late Fernando Poe, Jr.'s Juan de la Cruz in 1972. Nicknamed "Manong", de León holds the sole distinction of being the most awarded film director in the history of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences' FAMAS Awards, the Philippines' Oscars. From 1952 to 1971, he was awarded seven FAMAS Awards, three of them he received three years in a row. All of the films in which he won for Best Director also won for Best Picture at the FAMAS: Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo (1952), Hanggang sa Dulo ng Daigdig (1958), Huwag Mo Akong Limutin (1960), Noli Me Tangere (1961, adaptation of the novel Noli Me Tangere ), El Filibusterismo (1962), Daigdig ng mga Api (1965), Lilet (1971).

Banaue: Stairway to the Sky
1975

Fe, Esperanza, Caridad
1974

Women in Cages
1971

Lilet
1971

Mad Doctor of Blood Island
1969

Brownout
1969

Brides of Blood
1968

Curse of the Vampires
1966

Wanted: Johnny L
1966

Ang Daigdig Ng Mga Api
1965

The Blood Drinkers
1964

The Walls of Hell
1964

Anak ni Dyesebel
1964

El Filibusterismo
1962

Noli Me Tángere
1961

The Moises Padilla Story
1961

Huwag Mo Akong Limutin
1960

Terror Is a Man
1959

Aawitan Kita
1959

Hanggang sa Dulo ng Daigdig
1958

Cavalry Command
1958

Bicol Express
1957

Saigon
1956

Sanda Wong
1955

Pedro Penduko
1954
Ifugao
1954

Dyesebel
1953

Ang Bagong Maestra
1953
Ang Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo
1952

Sisa
1951

Diego Silang
1951
Kamay ni Satanas
1950

48 Hours
1950

Padre Burgos
1949

Ikaw Ay Akin
1947

The Dawn of Freedom
1944

Tatlong Maria
1944

Ang Maestra
1941

Ama at Anak
1939

Bahay Kubo
1939