Filipino film producer Digna Santiago dies at 81

MANILA, Philippines – Veteran Filipino film producer Digna Santiago, sister of the late filmmaker Cirio H. Santiago, died at the age of 81. (FAST FACTS: The big 4 of Philippine Cinema’s ‘Golden Era’)

Her death was confirmed to Rappler by her daughter, Myta Santiago, who announced the news on Facebook on Tuesday, August 5.

“Thanks, mom. You finished your performance with grace and finesse. It’s time for the star to take her final bow,” wrote Myta, who geotagged her Facebook post at Makati Medical Center. “You can rest easy now. Ako na bahala.”

Born on October 29, 1943, Digna was part of the prolific Santiago film dynasty, known for producing several Filipino and international co-production films under Premiere Productions and later under Cirio Santiago. According to a Philippine Star report, she is the only daughter of Premiere producers Dr. and Mrs. Ciriaco Santiago, and has another brother named Dan.

According to the same article, she appeared in two Premiere Productions films — Perfidia and Magkapilas ng Langit — when she was just six years old.

She later pursued higher studies in business at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and continued to remain active in the film community, serving as chair of the Metro Manila Film Festival’s New Wave category in 2013.

She co-produced many of the films directed by her brother Cirio, whose work gained international cult status and eventually caught the attention of Quentin Tarantino, who has since preserved many of Cirio’s 35mm film reels in his vault.

In interviews, Tarantino confirmed he owns an extensive collection of Cirio H. Santiago films, which he has screened at his New Beverly Cinema and brought to Manila for shows, according to an Inquirer report. He has acknowledged Santiago as among the key influences on his filmmaking, including borrowing dialogue from Santiago’s The Muthers in Death Proof. – Rappler.com