Did you know? National Artist for Film Gerardo de Leon

National Artist for Film Gerardo “Gerry” de Leon was born on Sept. 12, 1913, in Sampaloc, Manila. An award-winning director, he was the first to receive the best director award from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (Famas) in 1952. He was later inducted into the Famas Hall of Fame for winning the best director award seven times. Among De Leon’s works that are now considered classics are “Daigdig ng Mga Api,” “Noli Me Tangere,” “El Filibusterismo” and “Sisa.” He died on July 25, 1981, and was conferred the National Artist Award in 1982. Marielle Medina, Inquirer Research