THE MAVERICK DIRECTOR CELSO AD CASTILLO

HIGHLIGHTS IN CELSO AD CASTILLO'S CAREER:

• Celso Ad Castillo is ranked along with Directors Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Marilou Diaz-Abaya and Mike de Leon for bringing about the Philippine cinema’s so-called Second Golden Age in the 70s.

• Celso was only 21 when he did his first film, Misyong Mapanganib (1965), which signaled his independent filmmaking years. The movie gave Tito Galla, brother of Gloria Romero, his first starring role opposite Helen Gamboa.

• At 27, he directed Fernando Poe Jr. in Asedillo (1971), a biographical sketch of one of the more charismatic local dissident leaders in Southern Tagalog which gave the action star a Famas best actor award. Celso went on to direct FPJ in other films: Ang Alamat (1971), Sto. Domingo (1972) and Esteban (1973).

• Castillo was also known for such classic as Nympha, an erotic film ahead of its time; Celso Ad Castillo made his mark in local movies by creating a stir in the early '70s, with his sex flicks which were once even condemned as "pornography." His original Nympha was hailed as one of the best movies of the decade, along with his Asedillo. Nympha became the second Filipino movie that qualified for competition category in the 1971 Venice Film Festival, after Manuel Conde's Genghis Khan. Nympha was shot in black and white and starred a relative newcomer whom Celso simply christened as Rizza (Estrella Fabian in real life). The film earned for Celso his first Famas nomination as best director, up against Gerry de Leon's "Lilet," which starred Celia Rodriguez.

• Celso further reinforced his reputation as director of sex flicks with "The Virgin" which again starred Rizza, "Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa" with Gloria Diaz in the original version and Ruffa Gutierrez in the remake, "Ang Madugong Daigdig ni Salvacion with Pilar Pilapil, "Virgin People" with Pepsi Paloma, Janet Bordon and Myrna Castillo, "Isla" with Maria Isabel Lopez, "Brown Emmanuelle" with Myrna Castillo and "Paradise Inn" with Lolita Rodriguez and Vivian Velez.

• Celso, however, tried in hand in other film genres. He wrote and directed even horror flicks like the Susan Roces-Rosanna Ortiz classic, Patayin Mo sa Sindak si Barbara in 1974 and Susan Roces award-winning movie, Maligno in 1977.

• Pagputi ng Uwak Pagitim ng Tagak (1976), a love story interwoven with the Hukbalahap Movement in the country, established Celso's identity as a filmmaker.

• Burlesk Queen (1997), which starred Vilma Santos, gave Celso his first best director award, besting other film greats such as Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Mike de Leon, Eddie Romero and Augusto Buenaventura

• Celso also directed Christopher de Leon in Ang Alamat ni Julian Makabayan, Dante Rivero and Hilda Koronel in Ang Gangster at ang Birhen, Jay Ilagan in Ato Ti Bondying, Elizabeth Oropesa in Uhaw na Dagat, Lito Lapid in Pedro Tunasan (1983), Dina Bonnevie and Gary Estrada in Tag-araw, Tag-ulan, German Moreno in Payaso, Gloria Diaz in Ang Daigdig ay Isang Butil na Luha, Sunshine Cruz in Lihim ni Madonna and Ramon Zamora in Ang Mahiwagang Daigdig ni Pedro Penduko (1973) and Return of the Dragon (1974).

Excerpts from the article, "Celso Remains a 'Kid' at Heart"
by Leah Salterio /Philippine Daily Inquirer

Misyong Mapanganib (1965) - Celso's first film / Stars Tito Galla and Helen Gamboa

Zebra (1965) - Stars Tito Galla, Stella Suarez and Ruby Regala in the title role

Mansanas sa Paraiso (1965)- Stars Stella Suarez in her first starring role

Nympha (1971) - released during the 'Bomba" era/ Stars Rizza

Asedillo (1971)- Stars Fernando Poe, Jr. and Barbara Perez

Ang Alamat (1971) - Stars Fernando Poe, Jr. and Pilar Pilapil

Sto. Domingo (1972) - Stars Fernando Poe, Jr. and Boots Anson-Roa

Esteban (1973) - Stars Fernando Poe, Jr., Alona Alegre and Boots Anson-Roa

Return of the Dragon (1974)- Stars Ramon Zamora and Lotis Key

Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa (1974)- stars Gloria Diaz, Elizabeth Oropesa and Vic Vargas in a very special role. It started the so-called 'wet look' in local cinema.

Patayin Mo sa Sindak si Barbara (1974) - Stars Susan Roces, Dante Rivero and Rosanna Ortiz

Ang Madugong Daigdig ni Salvacion (1975)- Stars Ricky Belmonte, Pilar Pilapil and Leila Hermosa

Daluyong at Habagat (1976) - Stars Vic Vargas, Ricky Belmonte, Alma Moreno and Pinky de Leon

Burlesk Queen (1977) - Stars Vilma Santos

Maligno (1977) - Stars Susan Roces, Dante Rivero, Celia Rodriguez and Eddie Garcia

Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak (1978) - Stars Vilma Santos and Bembol Roco


Aliw-iw (1979)- Stars Rio Locsin

Totoy Boogie (1980) - Stars Lloyd Samartino

Pedro Tunasan (1983_ - Stars Lito Lapid and Tina Revilla

Paradise Inn (1984) - Stars Lolita Rodriguez and Vivian Velez