Director Marilou Diaz-Abaya laid to rest in Parañaque

Critically acclaimed director Marilou Diaz-Abaya was laid to rest Saturday, five days after succumbing to breast cancer at age 57. Diaz-Abaya was laid to rest at the Loyola Memorial Park in Parañaque City after a Mass at the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City, "Balitanghali" reported. A Mass officiated by Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi was held at 8 a.m., after which her son thanked those who helped and supported her family. Before Diaz-Abaya's remains were brought out of the church to be brought to the Loyola Memorial Park, everyone applauded. Diaz-Abaya, born March 30, 1955, won several awards for her work. She won directing awards from award-giving bodies such as the Metro Manila Film Festival, the Urian Awards, the Film Academy of the Philippines, the FAMAS Awards, the Star Awards, the Catholic Mass Media Awards, the British Film Institute Award, the International Federation of Film Critics Award, and the Network of Pan Asian Cinema Award. Her critically acclaimed movies included Jose Rizal (1998), which won numerous awards in that year's Metro Manila Film Festival, including Best Picture. She also directed other notable Filipino movies like Karnal (1983) and Muro-ami (1999). She was also the founder and president of the Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film Institute and Arts Center, a film school based in Antipolo City. — LBG, GMA News