The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
by Boy Villasanta
The Philippine movie industry is once more in mourning with the passing of one of its beloved and respected denizens.
Mike de Leon, a legendary filmmaker, died yesterday at 78.
This was announced by Carlotta films and his family.
De Leon, an award-winning director has given honors to the country by screening his no-nonsense films locally and intenationally.
Mike broke into filmmaking–despite his family’s rich tradition in moviemaking through LVN Pictures owned by his grandmother Dona Narcisa B. vda. de Leon–when he became the cinematographer of now National Artist for Film Lino Brocka in the masterpiece “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag.”
After his coveted work for Brocka, De Leon embarked on his own directorial berth for Cinema Artists’ “Itim” (1976), a foray into the mysticism of paranormal behavior and religious rituals.
His other notable and award-winning films include “Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising” (1977), “Kakaba-Kaba Ka Ba?” (1980), “Kisapmata” (1981), “Batch ’81” (1982), “Sister Stella L” (1984), “Hindi Nahahati ang Langit” (1985), “Bilanggo sa Dilim” (1986), “Aliwan Paradise” (1992), “Bayaning Third World” (2000), “Citizen Jake” (2018), among others.
Here are some of the memories created by Mike among his colleagues and institutions in the film community.
Chuck Gutierrez, producer, director, editor: “Mike de Leon defined what it means to be a Filpino filmmaker. As director, writer, cinematographer, editor, and producer, he set the standard and showed the world the depth of the Filipino spirit. His films remain timeless testaments to truth, courage, and the soul of our nation.
“Generations of artists will forever draw strength and inspiration from his vision. Thank you, Mike, for your life and your work that shaped us all. Rest in power, my hero.”
Renz Spangler, movie scribe: “Rest In Peace to one of the finest directors of Philippine Cinema…
“I had a photo taken with him on April 23, 2023 during the screening of restored LVN movie ‘Mutya ng Pasig’ (1950) in UP Film Center while we were discussing the contribution of LVN to the history of Philippine Cinema.”
Audie Gemora, actor: “I just caught wind that Mike de Leon passed. Not many know that he was my film teacher in DLSU Com Arts. I did my OJT doing production work for his award winning film ‘Batch 81.’ During the shoot of the talent show sequence (done in the San Agustin gym), he instructed me to go up the stage and play the emcee. If you blink you’ll miss this shot. But for an impressionable young theater actor it was an unforgettable experience. Mike is one of Philippine cinema’s greats. He will live on thru his masterworks.”
Jose Javier Reyes, director, Chairman of the Film Development Council of the Philippines: “Today, August 28, 2025 the FDCP joins the entire film industry in mourning the passing of visionary filmmmaker Mike De Leon.
“He was the genius behind generation-defining cinematic classics…
“(His) life was dedicated to film. His consistent imagination to explore the language of cinema shaped what we understand of Philippine filmmaking today…”
Film Development Council of the Philippines, film agency: “Mike De Leon shone a light on the beauty and pain of the downtrodden and repressed, bringing their stories to the cultural forefront.
“May he rest in peace.”