TV and Film Director Gilbert Perez Dies at Age 48

TV and film director Gilbert Perez passed away last night, July 16. He was 48.

The director, who was known to his friends and colleagues as Manong Gilbert, suffered a heart attack last July 1 on the set of his new ABS-CBN drama series, A Time For Us, starring Jericho Rosales and Malaysian actress Carmen Soo. He was rushed to St. Luke's Medical Center where he underwent an angioplasty on the same day.

But, unfortunately, he never recovered.

Manong Gilbert's friends from the industry held a fundraising show last July 10 at Esquinita for his hospitalization. The show reportedly raised P2 million.

Some of Manong Gilbert's credits as a TV director are the following: Maalaala Mo Kaya; Arriba, Arriba; Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka; Bituing Walang Ningning; Super Inggo; Super Inggo 1.5: Ang Bagong Bangis; Maging Sino Ka Man Book 2; and Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara.

Some of the films he directed are Kahit Isang Saglit, Trip, Jologs, Dreamboy, and Supah Papalicious. All these films were produced by Star Cinema, the film company of ABS-CBN, where Manong Gilbert spent most of his career as a director.