Lamberto Avellana

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

FEBRUARY 12, 1915

Lamberto Avellana (February 12, 1915 - April 25, 1991), a prominent film and stage director, was born on February 12, 1915 in Bontoc, Mountain Province. 

He studied at the Ateneo de Manila and became a teacher and was an advocate for the promotion of the Filipino theatre. 

He made his first film “Sakay” in 1939, a biopic of Macario Sakay, a Filipino revolutionary leader. 

He did a different style in filmmaking, where he used his camera to present a point-of-view. 

Avellana was the first Filipino director whose film “Kandelerong Pilak” was screened at the Cannes Film Festival. 

He made more than 70 films and famous among them were “Anak Dalita” (1956) and “Badjao” (1957), which both gained international acclaim. 

Lamberto Avellana married Daisy Hontiveros, a stage actress and theatre director. 

Together with other artists, they founded the first theatre group in 1939 called the Barangay Theatre Guild. 

This endeavor led to the popularization of theatre and the dramatic arts in the Philippines. 

Lamberto Avellana was awarded the title as the first National Artist in Theatre and Film in 1996 while Daisy was awarded the same title in 1999. 

He passed away on April 25, 1991.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: Casa Grande Vintage Filipino Cinema