Richard Velayo Abelardo (29 September 1902 – 27 August 1993) was a Filipino film director.

Early life

Abelardo was born to Juan Henson Abelardo, a painter, and Cecilia Velayo in San Miguel de Mayumo,

Bulacan Bulacan, officially the Province of Bulacan (; ; ; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Regions of the Philippines, region. Its capital is the city of Malolos. Bulacan was established on ...

. At a young age, he boarded a ship destined for

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. Upon arriving, he jumped ship and was later hired as a service painter in theaters with the Flag Company. He secured a painting job at

Universal Studios Universal Studios may refer to: * Universal Studios, Inc., an American media and entertainment conglomerate ** Universal Pictures, an American film studio ** Universal Studios Lot, a film and television studio complex * Various theme parks operat ...

. Proving himself at Universal, he was given work at

Warner Brothers Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...

and

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

Career

He married an embroiderer from Malate, Salud (née Carmona), and had two daughters, Louise and Rita. In 1935, the whole family went back to the

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

due to the Depression. Abelardo's most famous films were: *''El Diablo'' – starring

Leopoldo Salcedo Leopoldo Ganal Salcedo Sr. (March 12, 1912 – June 11, 1998) was a Filipino film actor dubbed as "The Great Profile" who specialized in portraying dramatic heroes. Early life Salcedo was born in Cavite. His father was of Spanish descent who ...

and Rebecca Gonzales, script written by him based on the story, ''Faustus'', one of the first Filipino movies that had the main lead die. Many trick shots were displayed here. *''Mutya ng Pasig'' – based on the music of his cousin,

Nicanor Abelardo Nicanor Santa Ana Abelardo (February 7, 1893 – March 21, 1934) was a Filipino composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by ...

, it stars Rebecca Gonzales and Roger Nite. Abelardo was noted for the special effects he employed in his films. In ''Encantada'', he showed his superb camera work by the aging changes in Dizon. In ''Kambal sa Sinukuan'', starring

Rogelio de la Rosa Regidor Lim de la Rosa"Filipinos in History Vol. 3", page 75. (November 12, 1916 – November 26, 1986), professionally known as Rogelio de la Rosa, was a Filipino actor and politician. He was one of the most popular Filipino matinee idols of ...

, Rogelio played three persons and the film showed them touching one another. In '' Ibon Adarna'', people were transformed into stone.

Death

Richard Abelardo died on 27 August 1993 in

Quezon City Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...

, aged 90.

Filmography

* 1948 - Malikmata (In the Wink of an Eye) * 1950 - Mutya ng Pasig (The Muse of Pasig) * 1950 - Nuno sa Punso * 1950 - Doble Cara (Two-Faced) * 1950 - Doctor X * 1951 - Shalimar * 1951 - Haring Cobra (King Cobra) * 1952 - Taong Paniki * 1953 - 3 Labuyo * 1954 - Krus na Bakal (Metal Crucifix) * 1955 - Mariang Sinukuan * 1955 - Anak ng Berdugo (Son of the Executioner) * 1956 - Big Shot * 1956 - Higit sa Korona (More than the Crown) * 1957 - Conde de Amor (Count of Love) * 1957 - Si Meyor Naman (Oh Mayor) * 1958 - Zarex

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Abelardo, Richard 1902 births 1993 deaths Filipino film directors People from San Miguel, Bulacan Artists from Bulacan