PDI REPORT : MANILA, Philippines—Actor-director Jose Mari Avellana passed away on June 26. He was 70.
The son of two National Artists, Lamberto Avellana (for theater and film) and Daisy H. Avellana (for theater), Avellana began his career as a radio announcer in the 1960s, before moving to the theater and movies as an actor and director in the 1970s.
He appeared in international productions like “Bloodfist,” “Bloodfist 2,” “Saigon Commandos” and “Caged Fury,” among others.
He directed “Kung Mawawala Ka,” which won best picture in the Metro Manila Film Festival in 1993. He is also remembered for directing the acclaimed period film “Damong Ligaw” in 1997.
As an actor, his last films were the Cinemalaya entries “Colorum” (in 2009) and “Vox Populi” (in 2010).
The cause of his death was listed as splenic artery aneurysm.
Colleagues in the entertainment industry mourned his passing.
Leo Martinez, head of the Film Academy of the Philippines, told the Inquirer: “He was one of the best actors of our time. [The local plays] ‘Equus’ and ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ stand out as his acting masterpieces.”
Scriptwriter Bibeth Orteza, who penned “Kung Mawawala Ka,” recalled: “When you watched Jose Mari onstage, you not only remembered how he delivered his lines, you remembered his silent beats as well. He was that good.”
Boots Anson-Roa, head of the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund), said: “Between parents Bert and Daisy, Mari had no choice but to be outstanding himself as an actor and director. He had an untainted record in theater and films.”
Niece Ina Avellana Cosio said: “He was not only my uncle, but my godfather, too. He is resting now.”
Cremation was set on Monday but the wake will continue at Arlington Homes Chapel until Wednesday. Interment is at the Sacred Heart Parish in Makati on Thursday.
He is survived by his wife, four children and seven grandchildren.
Wife Cora remembered him fondly: “A true gentleman, he was a magnificent artist, loving husband and perfect father. He was the best.”
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JOSE MARI AVELLANA
A film director, actor, production designer and screenplay writer, Avellana brings his vast credentials as an actor/director/drama coach in Philippine Theatre, his broadcasting skills, and his expertise as a research and communications man to the film world.
His first job was as an announcer with DZFM radio in the early part of 1960, while still in college. Later, in 1962, and having graduated, he became the first TV director for PBS Channel 4. Within the next year, his uncle put up an advertising agency, Avellana and Associates, and recruited him to work for the company. Starting out as an Account Executive, he was later promoted as Director of the Radio-TV Section.
Because the call of the theatre and dramatics was too compelling to disregard, Avellana made sure he had time for stage-work. He appeared in a number of hit plays for Repertory Philippines and Teatro Pilipino and then moved on to become drama coach for San Beda College, bringing home trophies for the school’s Drama Guild.
In the 70’s, he got involved with ABS-CBN where he directed and wrote several soap operas, drama specials, action thrillers, and musicales. He eventually moved to KBS where he directed “Oh, Rosemarie”, and shared directorial tasks with George Rowe in the production of “Sinekulay”’ the first-ever series of “movies filmed for local television”.
In the 80’s, he joined his father, the late National Artist for Film and Theatre, Lamberto V. Avellana in the family business. As Producer-Director for Documentary Incorporated, he was responsible for a number of award-winning documentaries and specialized films. While working for his father, Avellana produced cultural, advocacy, and tourism-oriented films, as well as technical and informational audiovisual presentations for the National Media Production Center and other government agencies.
At about this time, he was hired by Cirio H. Santiago of Premiere Productions to appear in a co-production venture with Roger Corman’s company. Santiago saw the potential of developing him for production work and gave him full latitude and exposure in the world of low budget films as an actor, production designer, writer, and director. Avellana’s work as writer and director for “BlackBelt 2: Fatal Force” was awarded two stars by the Video Movie Guide – an internationally respected movie database publication. He is one of the few Filipino Directors included in the international filmography of films available on video.
Some notable films Avellana was involved in as actor, director, writer or production designer are “Fist of Glory”(writer/director), “Narco Dollars”(writer/director), “Killer Instinct”(writer/director), “Fast Gun”(writer/pd), “Bloodfist”(actor/pd), “The Boys in Company C”(actor), “The Third Hand”(actor), “Wheels of Fire”(actor/pd), “Dune Warriors”(pd), “Final Mission”(pd) and “Saigon Commandoes”(actor). Set in Hawaii, LA, Vietnam, Florida and Texas, all these motion pictures were actually filmed in the Philippines.
Because of his work in several co-ventures between Roger Corman’s New World Horizons and Premiere Productions, he has had the opportunity to work with such actors as David Carradine, Richard Grieco, Robert Vaughn, Robert Patrick, Jim Eiglehart, Jeannie Belle, Lindsay Bloom, Stacy Keach, Lynn Holly Johnson, Corinne Wahl, Cheryl Ladd, Caesar Romero, Stan Shaw, Theresa Randle, Jeff Fahey. Mark Dacascos, Rutger Hauer, and Don “The Dragon” Wilson, to name a few.
His latest participation in co-productions was in 1999 as actor and producer for the filming of Harold Robbin’s novel, “Lipstck Lies”, a Concord/New Horizons project; producion designer, actor and co-director of the 2003 production of “When Eagles Strike” starring Christian Boeving which was shown locally as “Operation Balikatan”; “Bloodfist 2004” where he designed the set and co-directed the film; and in 2007, the two films starring Mark Dacascos, “Hunt for Eagle One” and ”Crash Point”.
In between films, Avellana put in time as communications consultant with the Civil Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Later, he signed up as consultant for the Philippine Tourist Association, the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center, and the Department of National Defense.
During the 90’s with the demise of his father, Avellana entered the local film industry where he carved a small niche for himself as a actor, writer and director. His initial directorial venture into commercial filmmaking, titled “Kung Mawawala Ka Pa”, bagged the Best Film Trophy at the Metro Manila Film Festival of 1993 for Reyna Films. As an actor, Avellana won the Best Supporting Actor award during the Manila Film Festival 2003 for his role in “Operation Balikatan”.
Avellana has a written and directed several award winning specialized films, documentaries and short features. He is a Famas and NCC Centennial Awardee because of his direction of “Damong Ligaw”. He won Best Screenplay for the same film; the Golden Globe Award for Best Specialized film with “Geothermal Energy Now”; was given an Oscar Special Award for Foreign Soap Operas because of “Salisalising Buhay”; and brought home an Emmy Award for Best Foreign Docu-drama with “The Lenny Villa Story”.
Referred to as an Actor’s Director, because he can draw out the best in each performer; Avellana’s passionate nationalism, his deep sense of history, extensive theatre experience, keen creativity, his background in journalism, photography, broadcasting, and his penchant for research and attention-to-detail bring out the legendary “Avellana Touch” that his father was known for. His mother, Daisy Hontiveros Avellana has herself been conferred the National Artist Award for outstanding work in theatre.
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
8 Famas
3 Filipino Artists of the Philippines
12 Urian Critics Circle
Nominations
BEST PICTURE
“Kung Mawawala Ka Pa”
Mertro Manila Film Festival
BEST SCREENPLAY
“Damong Ligaw”
Manila Film Festival
CENTENNIAL AWARDEE
“Damong Ligaw”
NCC and Famas
SPECIAL AWARD
FOR FOREIGN SOAP OPERAS
“Salisalising Buhay”
Oscar Awards
BEST FOREIGN
DOCU-DRAMA
“The Lenny Villa Story”
Emmy Awards
FIRST AWARDEE FOR TELEMOVIES
“Taghoy Ng Dagat”
Star Awards
BEST SPECIALIZED FILM
“Geothemal Energy Now”
International Golden Globe Awards
MEMBERSHIPS
DIRECTOR’S GUILD OF THE PHILIPPINES
Founding Member
SCREENWRITER’S GUILD OF THE PHILIPPINES
Regular Member
ORGANIZATION OF SPECIALIZED
FILIPINO FILMMAKERS
Member
BARANGAY THEATRE GUILD
Stage Director/Actor
BARASOAIN COMMUNITY THEATRE
Director
THEATER CREDITS:
REPERTORY PHILIPPINES
BELCHER’S LUCK / ST. JOAN / DIARY OF ANNE FRANK / RASHOMON / PLAZA SUITE / LOOT / ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDERNSTERN / EQUUS / WOMAN IN BLACK /
WITH BARANGAY THEATRE GUILD:
PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST / HAMLET / THE BOOR / MARRIAGE PROPOSAL / DEATH OF A SALESMAN / THE VIGIL / LOLNG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT / CAMINO REAL /
WITH TEATRO PILIPINO:
HARING EDIPO / CYRANO NG BERGERAC
Text courtesy : REPERTORY PHILIPPINES
Aliwan Avenue 