Direk Maryo J de los Reyes Part One

Direk Maryo J

 GETTING TO KNOW DIREK MARYO J DE LOS REYES

Did you know that Maryo J. de los Reyes, one of the country’s most accomplished and most prolific television and film directors is a Boholano?

His parents are Pastor de los Reyes of Manila and Lourdes Jorolan de los Reyes from Alicia, Bohol

He has a house here in Tagbilaran City, Bohol

EARLY CHILDHOOD & EDUCATION

He finished his primary education at Malate Catholic School

Even as a young boy, he had always wanted to be a director and he showed hints of his potential when he would entertain brothers and sister, his playmates and even their housemaids with his make- believe stories and plays

However, when he reached high school, he decided to give priesthood a chance and graduated at Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary.

His dream of directing films never left him and so when he entered college, he enrolled at the College of Mass Communications, University of the Philippines where he graduated with honors in 1974.

DIREK MARYO J & THE PETA CONNECTION

While in school back in the early 70’s, he was very active with the Philippine Educational Theater PETA, the country’s premiere theater group.

From 1965 to 1975, he participated in various art and theater seminars and workshops as organizer, moderator and instructor until he was sent as a youth panelist to the UNESCO International Woman’s Year in Mexico City on June 1975

Upon his return to the Philippines, he became active again with PETA as its project director for their summer theater arts program.

He also became a professor and lecturer at the UP College of Mass Communications. He began writing for television drama anthologies.

THE EARLY YEARS  

In time, he was writing and directing the award- winning drama series of the country’s premiere actress, Nora Aunor “Ang Makulay na Daigdig ni Nora Aunor”.

After he won the prestigious PATAS Award for Best Television Director and Best Television Writer, Nora Aunor asked him to handle two workshops under her own production outfit

In 1978, the creative head of the newly- formed Agrix Productions, Tom Adrales, recommended him to direct the company’s “High School Circa 1965”.

His film directorial debut was a critical and commercial hit and got him nominations from both the Catholic Mass Media Awards and Urian that effectively launched an illustrious directorial career.

“High School Circa 1965” was immediately followed by the intense “Gabun” and the classic musical “Annie Batungbakal”.

All these at the Second Golden Age of Philippine Cinema

He has directed almost 60 films since his brilliant directorial debut in 1978.

In between filmmaking are directing numerous television anthologies & teleseryes, accepting speaking engagements, conducting acting workshops and judging prestigious international film festivals 

during "Bamboo Flowers" location shoot in Bohol

May 2013

 

MARIO'S MOST MEMORABLE MOVIES

Among his most memorable films were Sinungaling Mong Puso, Tagos ng Dugo, Kapag Napagod ang Puso, Kaya Kong Abutin Ang Langit, Abel Morado, Bagets, My Other Woman and Magnifico

INNOVATION & VERSATILITY

Direk Maryo is one of the very few Filipino filmamakers who can easily switch from one fim genre to the other with equal success.

From successful youth- oriented films like “Bagets” to musical comedies like “Annie Batungbakal” and fantasy films like “Mga Kuwento ni Aling Basyang

He also directed Vilma Santos in one of her most unforgettable and most provocative films ”Tagos ng Dugo”

NEXT: Direk Maryo's Bohol Connection & Awards Won