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Veteran theatre and concert director Freddie Santos passed away in his sleep due to complications from diabetes at 5 a.m. today, December 17. He was 64.

In a post on Facebook, Broadway star and Tony Award-winning singer Lea Salonga paid tribute to Direk Freddie, who played Daddy Warbucks in the 1980 Manila staging of the musical Annie. Then 9-year-old Lea played the titular role in the said musical.

"Rest In Peace, my Daddy Warbucks," she wrote in a Facebook post.

"Freddie Santos passed away this morning. He was my first lead man, a mentor, a teacher. A brilliant writer and director.

"You will be missed, Tito Freddie."

The Dawn lead singer Jett Pangan recalled the moment when Direk Freddie directed the band in their "first mainstream production experience," which eventually led to the signing of the band to OctoArts International.

He wrote, "Wish I owned old pics with him when he had long hair and a beard, when he directed The Dawn back in the late '80s for what was probably our first mainstream production experience involving an actual director... and a script.

"He carried the demeanor of someone who held an extensive resume in the field of entertainment but extended patience to a young band that only knew how to play loud and sweaty.

"I will never forget what he told me after the show: 'Jett, your spiels are getting better... and better..." in a fading, exasperated tone. The rest of the band laughed.

"In that gig at Light and Sound, a record exec watched and eventually took the risk of signing us up.

"A big THANK YOU to Direk Freddie Santos. May he now rest happily. He will be missed."

Throughout his career, Direk Freddie became a member of the Repertory Philippines, Teatro Pilipino, Musical Theater Philippines, and SRO Philippines. In 1983, Direk Freddie wrote a play based on the book Paper Moon, headlined by Lea Salonga.

His biggest break was when he joined the American leg of the musical Walang Sugat (No Wound) as technical director, performing in San Francisco Opera House, the Chicago Civic Opera House, and Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Center in New York City.

Aside from Paper Moon, Direk Freddie also wrote the musical plays First Name, Joseph the Dreamer, and many more.

From theater, Direk Freddie also began directing concerts of artists such as Lea Salonga, Regine Velasquez, Joey Albert, Gary Valenciano, Jamie Rivera, Janno Gibbs, and Ogie Alcasid, among others.

He also wrote a number of OPM classics like "Points of View," sung by Joey Albert and Pops Fernandez, and "Two Words," the wedding song of Lea Salonga.

Aside from directing, Direk Freddie was also a co-founder of the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-Aawit, Philstage, and Trumpets.

Meanwhile, here are other celebrities and personalities who passed away this year: