Laurice Ilagan Guillen-Feleo (born January 31, 1947) is a Filipino actress, film and television director, and college professor.

Laurice Guillen
Born
Laurice Ilagan Guillen-Feleo

(1947-01-31) January 31, 1947 (age 77)
Occupation(s)Actress, film and television director, college professor
Years active1971–present
Employer(s)GMA Network (1986–1996; 2013–present)
ABS-CBN (2008; 2009–2013)
TV5 (2008–2009)
SpouseJohnny Delgado
Children2, including Ina Feleo

Early life and acting career

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Guillen studied at St. Theresa's College, Cebu City,[1] earned an AB English degree before finishing an MA in Communication at Ateneo de Manila University, where she taught at the college level. She took a television production course under Nestor Torre, in 1967. She then began work as an actress, starring in productions of Mrs. Warren's Profession, before crossing over to film and television work, playing a seductress in Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang,[2] and Corazon Aquino in the drama A Dangerous Life.[3]

In 2009, she accepted a role in the indie film Karera, her first role in an independent production.[4] Other credits include such notable films as Tinimbang ka Ngunit Kulang (1974), Lunes, Martes ... (1975), Inay (1977); Init (1978); Ina, Kapatid, Anak (1979), Moral (1982); Nagalit ang Buwan sa haba ng Gabi (1983); and Sister Stella L (1984).[citation needed]

However, it was on television that she became a household name when she joined the cast of Flor de Luna in 1978 as Jo Alicante, Flor de Luna's temperamental step mother. She went on to portray the role until the mid-1980s when the show folded.[citation needed]

Directing career

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A protégé of Lino Brocka,[5] Guillen began her first major work as a director with Kasal in 1979, followed by Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo in 1980. In 1981, she made Salome for Bancom Audiovision with Gina Alajar in the lead, establishing herself as director with depth and substance. The movie was a critical success, and she won Best Director at the Gawad Urian. The same film was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival and described as "the kind of cinematic discovery that single-handedly justifies the festival's existence".[6][5] Ipagpatawad Mo was also directed by Guillen,[7] as was Dahil Mahal Kita: The Dolzura Cortez Story in 1993,[8] before her retirement from filmmaking.

Dedicating herself to the Marian movement, Guillen made pilgrimages to churches and cathedrals throughout the Philippines with her husband, believing that Mary had called on her to experience a spiritual renewal. By 1998 she was thinking about returning to filmmaking, and following a good reception of Ipagpatawad Mo by a group of priests, who encouraged her to back into filmmaking, along with an appearance on Kris Aquino's talk show, she did so.[9]

Her first new production was Tanging Yaman, released in 2001,[8] which won several awards at the Metro Manila Film Festival.[10] Following 2002's American Adobo,[11] Guillen directed Santa Santita in 2004,[12] which represented the Philippines at the Bangkok International Film Festival.[13]

In 2006, she was awarded the Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi by Ateneo de Manila University for services to the Arts.[14] In 2009 she directed I Love You Goodbye,[15] following it up with Sa 'yo Lamang in 2010, starring Lorna Tolentino.[16] As well as working as a director, Guillen also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, before her appointment was unexpectedly not renewed in 2005.[17] After breaking away from the previous Filipino directors guild due to a desire for reform, Guillen helped found the Directors Guild of the Philippines, resigning on March 26, 2001, due to her feeling that this reform had not been carried out.[18]

Personal life

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Guillen was married to Johnny Delgado, with whom she had two daughters,[19] her youngest being actress Ina Feleo.[20] He died of lymphoma[4] in November 2009.[16] Guillen is the cousin of former Piddig, Ilocos Norte mayor turned NIA acting administrator Eduardo Guillen.

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Network
1979 Flordeluna Jo RPN
2008 Iisa Pa Lamang Estelle Torralba ABS-CBN
2009–2010 Nagsimula sa Puso Teresa Pagdanganan
2011–2012 Reputasyon Doña Concordia Villamayor
2012 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Tumba-Tumba Ofelia
2012–2013 Aryana Doña Elnora Mendez
2013 Genesis Rosario Macalintal GMA Network
2014 Carmela Dra. Fides Hernando-Torres†
2023 Unbreak My Heart Doña Lily Tansengco-Zhang†

Film

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Year Title Role Film Company
1974 Fe, Esperanza, Caridad Martha
Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang Milagros
CineManila Corporation
1977 Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising Cecile
1982 Moral Maggie
1983 Nagalit ang Buwan sa Haba ng Gabi Delza Almeda
Essex Films
1986 Palimos ng Pag-ibig Mitos
1987 Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat sa Akin Donya Clara Andrada
1988 A Dangerous Life Corazon Aquino
1989 Sa Kuko Ng Agila Lumeng
JE Productions
2003 Noon at Ngayon: Pagsasamang Kay Ganda Maggie
2008 Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elementalia Bruha / Diwata / Kapress
Cutting Edge Productions
2010 Babe, I Love You Isabel Veneracion-Borromeo

Television director

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Year Title Network
1986 Lovingly Yours, Helen GMA Network
2008 HushHush TV5
2013 Akin Pa Rin ang Bukas GMA Network
2015 Second Chances
2016 Hanggang Makita Kang Muli
2016–2018 Ika-6 na Utos
2018–2019 Ika-5 Utos
2020–2021 Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit
2022 Apoy sa Langit
2024 Asawa ng Asawa Ko

Film director

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Year Name Production Notes
1980 Kasal? Trigon Cinema Arts Directorial debut
1989 Magkano Ang Iyong Dangal? Seiko Films
1990 Kapag Langit ang Humatol Vision Films
1991 Una Kang Naging Akin VIVA Films
Ipagpatawad Mo
1993 Dahil Mahal Kita: The Dolzura Cortez Story OctoArt Films
2000 Tanging Yaman Star Cinema
2001 American Adobo Star Cinema, Unitel Pictures, Magic Adobo Productions, Outrider Pictures
2004 Santa Santita Unitel Pictures International
2009 I Love You, Goodbye Star Cinema
2010 Sa 'yo Lamang
2014 Once a Princess Regal Entertainment
2019 Man and Wife Cineko Productions

Awards and recognitions

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Year Award-Giving Body Category Work Result
1988 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Director Magkano ang Iyong Dangal?[21] Won
2000 Tanging Yaman[22] Won
Best Screenplay (with Shaira Mella Salvador and Raymond Lee) Won
Best Original Story Won
2011 9th Gawad Tanglaw Awards Presidential Jury Award Won
Best Director Sa 'Yo Lamang Won

References

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  1. ^ "Laurice Guillen classics on the small screen". Manila Times. October 15, 2009.
  2. ^ Cervantes, Behn (July 28, 2006). "Take Ten: Laurice". BusinessWorld.
  3. ^ Moseley, Chris (November 22, 1988). "Making up the differences between Cory and Imelda". The Advertiser.
  4. ^ a b San Diego Jr., Bayani (January 26, 2009). "Laurice: Johnny's Condition Brings Us Closer". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  5. ^ a b Scott, Jay (September 12, 1984). "Festival of Festivals: Salome Introduces New Talent". The Globe and Mail.
  6. ^ Defensor, Teresa (December 29, 2000). "Tanging Yaman bags top film fest prizes". BusinessWorld.
  7. ^ Torre, Noelani (August 11, 2001). "Saturdan Special Vilma-Boyet Sceen Tandem Revived". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  8. ^ a b Torre, Nestor U. (April 15, 2004). "Singapore Film Fest Honors Laurice Guillen With Retrospective". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  9. ^ Salterio, Leah (November 29, 2000). "The Pillgrimage of Laurice Guillen". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  10. ^ Saltiero, Leah (December 19, 2000). "Entertainment: No Big Stars, Only Hard Workers, in Laurice Guillen's Movie". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  11. ^ Holden, Stephen (January 25, 2002). "'American Adobo'". The New York Times.
  12. ^ Torre, Nestor U. (August 14, 2004). "Laurice Guillen Shoots Modern Magdalene Story". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  13. ^ Torre, Nestor U. (February 18, 2006). "50 Countries Represented in Bangkok Filmfest". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  14. ^ Cervantes, Behn (July 31, 2006). "Take Ten: What a Surprise!". BusinessWorld.
  15. ^ Valisno, Jeffrey O. (December 29, 2009). "The good, the bad and the really, really ugly". BusinessWorld.
  16. ^ a b "Widows Speak: Sharing Illuminates Movie". Philippine Daily Inquirer. September 1, 2010.
  17. ^ San Diego Jr, Bayani (December 5, 2005). "I felt very humiliated". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  18. ^ Torre, Nestor U. (March 31, 2001). "SATURDAY SPECIAL: LAURICE GUILLEN RESIGNS FROM THE DIRECTORS GUILD OF THE PHILIPPINES". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  19. ^ San Diego Jr., Bayani (November 10, 2006). "Laurice Guillen". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  20. ^ Sicam, Edmund L. (May 11, 2002). ""Kahit Kailan" Showcases GMA's Young Talents". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  21. ^ "Metro Manila Film Festival:1988". IMDB. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  22. ^ "Metro Manila Film Festival:2000". IMDB. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
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