Pablo Santiago (director)

Pablo Santiago
Born(1931-06-20)June 20, 1931
DiedAugust 16, 1998(1998-08-16) (aged 67)
Manila Memorial Park, Parañaque City
Occupations
  • Film director
  • producer
  • screenwriter
Years active1956–1996
Notable work
SpouseCielito Legaspi-Santiago
ChildrenRowell Santiago
Randy Santiago
Raymart Santiago

Pablo P. Santiago (June 20, 1931 – August 16, 1998) was a Filipino film director, producer and screenwriter.[1][2][3]

Career

Santiago was known for his big-budget action films, most of which starred Fernando Poe Jr. in the lead role. In 1956, his directorial career began with the film, Lo' Waist Gang, which was also Poe's breakout film.[4][5]

For five decades, Santiago produced award-winning films such as Batingaw , Nueva Vizcaya , Perlas ng Silangan, Ibong Adarna and Digmaan ng Mga Angkan.[1]

His last film as director was Ang Syota Kong Balikbayan, starred Poe and Anajette Abayari in 1996.[6][7][8][9]

Personal life

Santiago was married to actress Cielito Legaspi-Santiago known as "Mama Ling", his wife of 39 years. They have six children: Randy Santiago, Rowell Santiago, Rhea Santiago, Jun-Jun Santiago, Raymart Santiago and Chi-Chi Santiago.[1][10]

Four of his children also joined the entertainment industry: Randy Santiago, a singer and television host, Rowell Santiago, an actor and film director, Raymart Santiago, an action star, and Jun-Jun Santiago worked as a line producer for Star Cinema.

Santiago passed away on August 16, 1998. His funeral was held at the Santuario de San Jose in Greenhills, San Juan City . On August 22, 1998, he was buried at the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque City.[1][11]

His wife, Cielito Legaspi-Santiago died of penumonia in September 2014.[12][13]

Filmography

As director

  • 1956 – Lo' Waist Gang
  • 1957 – Ukelele Boy
  • 1957 – Bakasyon Grande
  • 1957 – Los Lacuacheros
  • 1958 – Lutong Makaw
  • 1958 – Mga Liham kay Tiya Dely
  • 1958 – Ang Lo' Waist Gang at si Og sa Mindoro
  • 1959 – Sumpa at Pangako
  • 1960 – Rancho Grande
  • 1960 – Lo' Waist Gang Joins the Armed Forces
  • 1960 – Gabi ng Lagim
  • 1960 – Walang Daigdig
  • 1960 – Big Time Berto
  • 1961 – Nagsasalitang Kalansay
  • 1961 – Asiong Salonga
  • 1961 – Nag-uumpugang Bato
  • 1962 – Walang Pagkalupig
  • 1962 – Gorio and His Jeepney
  • 1963 – Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Daigdig
  • 1963 – Istambay
  • 1963 – Pulong Diablo
  • 1964 – The Nite Owl
  • 1964 – Kumander Fidela
  • 1964 – Let's Go
  • 1964 – DJ Dance Time
  • 1965 – Danilo Ronquillo: Cavite Boy
  • 1965 – Dandansoy
  • 1965 – Salonga Brothers
  • 1966 – Let's Do the Freddie
  • 1966 – Katapat ng Bawat Lakas
  • 1966 – Batang Iwahig
  • 1967 – Yesterday
  • 1967 – Umpisahan Mo... at Tatapusin Ko!
  • 1967 – Let's Hang On (Discotheque)
  • 1967 – Metrocom
  • 1968 – Quintin Salazar
  • 1968 – Operation: Discotheque
  • 1968 – Mine Hunter
  • 1968 – Let's Go Hippie
  • 1968 – Jeepney King
  • 1968 – Barbaro Cristobal
  • 1968 – Ang Mangliligpit
  • 1969 – Perlas ng Silangan
  • 1969 – Nardong Kutsero
  • 1969 – Batang Matadero
  • 1970 – Ang Matitinik
  • 1970 – Tierra... Sangre
  • 1970 – Bagsik ng Kamao
  • 1970 – Zoom-Zoom
  • 1970 – Dampot... Pukol... Salo!
  • 1971 – Micaela
  • 1971 – Adios Mi Amor
  • 1971 – Digmaan ng Mga Angkan
  • 1971 – Kami'y Nagkasala
  • 1971 – Divina Bastarda
  • 1971 – Ang Kampana sa Santa Quiteria
  • 1971 – Apat Na Patak ng Dugo ni Adan
  • 1972 – Florante at Laura
  • 1972 – Salaginto't Salagubang
  • 1972 – Rockfest '72
  • 1972 – Blood Compact
  • 1973 – Ang Hiwaga ng Ibong Adarna
  • 1973 – Nueva Vizcaya
  • 1973 – Ako'y Paru-paro, Bulaklak Naman Ako
  • 1974 – Batingaw
  • 1974 – Pinoy Crazy Boys
  • 1974 – Batya't Palu-palo
  • 1974 – South Seas
  • 1975 – Hit and Run
  • 1975 – Vilma Veinte Nueve
  • 1976 – Ang Erpat Kong Groovy
  • 1976 – Big Ike's Happening
  • 1976 – Iniibig Kita... Father Salvador
  • 1976 – Bato sa Buhangin
  • 1977 – Ang Diwata
  • 1977 – Bontoc
  • 1977 – Little Christmas Tree
  • 1978 – Kumander Ulupong
  • 1978 – Camerino
  • 1979 – Mabango Ba ang Bawat Bulaklak
  • 1979 – Kasal-kasalan, Bahay-bahayan
  • 1980 – Six Million Centavo Man
  • 1980 – Wander Woman si Ako!
  • 1981 – Sierra Madre
  • 1981 – Sambahin ang Ngalan Mo
  • 1981 – Bandido sa Sapang Bato
  • 1982 – Pepeng Kaliwete
  • 1982 – Annie Sabungera
  • 1982 – Manedyer... si Kumander
  • 1982 – Daniel Bartolo ng Sapang Bato
  • 1982 – Bad Boy from Dadiangas
  • 1983 – Kapag Buhay ang Inutang
  • 1983 – JR
  • 1984 – Sigaw ng Katarungan
  • 1984 – Sierra Madre
  • 1985 – Isa-isa Lang!
  • 1986 – Iyo ang Tondo, Kanya ang Cavite
  • 1986 – Ninja Kids
  • 1986 – Batang Quiapo
  • 1987 – Operation: Get Victor Corpus, the Rebel Soldier
  • 1987 - Feliciano Luces: Alyas Kumander Toothpick, Mindanao
  • 1987 – No Retreat... No Surrender... Si Kumander
  • 1988 – Taray at Teroy
  • 1988 – Alyas Pusa: Ang Taong May 13 Buhay
  • 1988 – Buy One, Take One
  • 1988 – One Day, Isang Araw
  • 1988 – Agila ng Maynila
  • 1989 – Wanted: Pamilya Banal (as Pablo P. Santiago)
  • 1990 – Kahit Konting Pagtingin
  • 1990 – Hindi Ka Na Sisikatan ng Araw: Kapag Puno Na ang Salop Part-III
  • 1990 – May Isang Tsuper ng Taxi
  • 1992 – Dito sa Pitong Gatang
  • 1992 – Jaime Labrador: Sakristan Mayor
  • 1993 – Anak ng Pasig
  • 1994 – Ikaw lamang, Wala Nang Iba
  • 1996 – Ang Syota Kong Balikbayan

As screenwriter

  • 1958 – Ang Lo' Waist Gang at si Og sa Mindoro
  • 1960 – Gabi ng Lagim
  • 1960 – True Confessions
  • 1961 – Nag-uumpugang Bato
  • 1963 – Pulong Diablo
  • 1964 – Mga Kanang Kamay (story)
  • 1987 – Family Tree (story)
  • 1992 – Jamie Labrador: Sakristan Mayor

As producer

  • 1966 – Let's Do the Freddie
  • 1967 – Yesterday
  • 1967 – Metrocom
  • 1968 – Quintin Salazar (as executive producer)
  • 1974 – South Seas
  • 1980 – Six Million Centavo Man
  • 1982 – Annie Sabungera

Awards

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
FAMAS Award 1962 Best Director Nag-uumpugang Bato Nominated [14]
1963 Best Director Walang Pagkalupig Nominated
1965 Best Director Kumander Fidela Nominated
1969 Best Director Barbaro Cristobal Nominated
1974 Best Director Nueva Vizcaya Nominated
1975 Best Director Batingaw Nominated
1978 Best Director Bontoc Nominated
1989 Best Director Kasal-kasalan, Bahay-bahayan Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Director Pablo Santiago, dead at 67". Newsflash. August 17, 1998. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  2. ^ "Pablo Santiago". IMDb Pablo Santiago. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  3. ^ "Showbiz Santiago brothers Rowell, Randy, Raymart remember late father on his birthday". Abscbn. June 22, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  4. ^ "Los lacuacheros". IMDb. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  5. ^ Yeatter, Bryan (2007). Cinema of the Philippines: 1897-2005. McFarland & Company. ISBN 9780786430475. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ Yeatter, Bryan (2007). Cinema of the Philippines: 1897-2005. McFarland & Company. ISBN 9780786430475. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Lo, Ricky (2001). Conversations with Ricky Lo. Anvil Publishing. ISBN 9789712710629. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "AJ Meets FPJ in "Balikbayan"". Manila Standard. Philippine Manila Standard Publishing. November 15, 1996. p. 34. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Google News.
  9. ^ Japitana, Norma (November 29, 1996). "Lucky Break for AJ". Manila Standard. Philippine Manila Standard Publishing. p. 35. Retrieved October 16, 2022 – via Google News.
  10. ^ "'Mama Ling' Santiago's sardines—almost as famous as sons Raymart, Randy, Rowell". Inquirer Lifestyle. July 11, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  11. ^ Gatdula, Leah Salterio (1998). "Director Pablo Santiago dies". Tuklas. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  12. ^ "Unlike mothers, unlike daughters". PhilStar. September 7, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  13. ^ "Former actress Cielito Legaspi-Santiago dies". PEP. September 26, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  14. ^ "Pablo Santiago Awards". IMDb. Retrieved December 1, 2025.