Mel Chionglo
- September 21, 2019
- 73 years
About Mel Chionglo
Mel Chionglo, 73, Filipino film director (Sibak: Midnight Dancers, Burlesk King, Twilight Dancers).
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Full Biography
|Carmelo Chionglo (July 16, 1946 – September 21, 2019), better known as Mel Chionglo, was a Filipino film director and production designer. He has directed more than 40 films since 1981.
From 1966 to 1976, he worked and studied acting and directing at the New York Academy of Theatrical Arts. Returning to Manila, he worked as production designer. His directorial debut was Regal Films' Playgirl (1981).
He was one of the founding members of the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines Inc. He also served as board member on the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.
Career
Chionglo began working in the film industry as production designer on such films as Mike de Leon's Itim, Lino Brocka's Mother, Sister, Daughter, and Eddie Romero's Aguila.
He directed Playgirl, his first film, in 1981. It was scripted by Ricardo Lee and starred Gina Alajar.
He also directed Sibak: Midnight Dancers, Burlesk King, Iadya Mo Kami, Lauriana, and Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita. Burlesk King was screened at the 2000 Berlin International Film Festival.
Filmography
- Itim (Rites of May) (1976) (production designer)
- Salawahan (1979) (production designer)
- Temptation Island (1980) (production designer)
- Aguila (1980) (art director)
- Playgirl (1981) (director); starring Gina Alajar
- Sibak: Midnight Dancers (1994) (director)
- Lagarista (2000) (director); starring Piolo Pascual
- Burlesk King (1999) (director)
- Lucia (1992) (director); written by Lino Brocka; starring Lolita Rodriguez and Gina Alajar
- Twilight Dancers (2006) (director)
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Chionglo
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 8, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Mel Chionglo's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Mel Chionglo born?
- A.July 16, 1981
- B.January 16, 1946
- C.September 21, 2019
- D.July 16, 1946correct
Mel Chionglo was born on July 16, 1946.
Source: biographical intro
2.What was the name of the film that served as Mel Chionglo's directorial debut?
- A.Lagarista
- B.Burlesk King
- C.Playgirlcorrect
- D.Sibak
Mel Chionglo's directorial debut was the Regal Films production titled Playgirl released in 1981.
Source: biographical intro
3.Where did Mel Chionglo study acting and directing between 1966 and 1976?
- A.University of the Philippines
- B.New York Academy of Theatrical Artscorrect
- C.Berlin Film Academy
- D.Manila Film Institute
Mel Chionglo worked and studied acting and directing at the New York Academy of Theatrical Arts from 1966 to 1976.
Source: biographical intro
4.Which film was screened at the 2000 Berlin International Film Festival?
- A.Playgirl
- B.Iadya Mo Kami
- C.Burlesk Kingcorrect
- D.Twilight Dancers
Mel Chionglo's film Burlesk King was screened at the 2000 Berlin International Film Festival.
Source: career section
5.What was Mel Chionglo's role in the film Itim?
- A.Director
- B.Lead actor
- C.Production designercorrect
- D.Screenwriter
Mel Chionglo worked in the film industry as a production designer on the film Itim.
Source: career section
6.Who scripted the film Playgirl directed by Mel Chionglo?
- A.Mike de Leon
- B.Ricardo Leecorrect
- C.Eddie Romero
- D.Lino Brocka
Playgirl was scripted by Ricardo Lee and starred Gina Alajar.
Source: career section
7.Which organization was Mel Chionglo a founding member of?
- A.Film Academy of the Philippines
- B.Philippine Cinematheque Board
- C.Directors’ Guild of the Philippines Inc.correct
- D.Manila Film Critics Circle
Mel Chionglo was one of the founding members of the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines Inc.
Source: biographical intro
8.In which professional capacity did Mel Chionglo serve on the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board?
- A.Chairman
- B.Public relations officer
- C.Legal advisor
- D.Board membercorrect
Mel Chionglo served as a board member on the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.
Source: biographical intro
9.Approximately how many films did Mel Chionglo direct since 1981?
- A.More than 20
- B.More than 30
- C.More than 10
- D.More than 40correct
Mel Chionglo has directed more than 40 films since 1981.
Source: biographical intro
10.Which actor starred in the film Lagarista directed by Mel Chionglo?
- A.Piolo Pascualcorrect
- B.Lolita Rodriguez
- C.Mike de Leon
- D.Gina Alajar
Lagarista, directed by Mel Chionglo in 2000, starred Piolo Pascual.
Source: filmography section
11.What role did Mel Chionglo perform for the 1980 film Aguila?
- A.Producer
- B.Director
- C.Editor
- D.Art directorcorrect
Mel Chionglo worked as an art director on the film Aguila in 1980.
Source: filmography section
12.Who wrote the 1992 film Lucia directed by Mel Chionglo?
- A.Ricardo Lee
- B.Gina Alajar
- C.Lino Brockacorrect
- D.Eddie Romero
The 1992 film Lucia, directed by Mel Chionglo, was written by Lino Brocka.
Source: filmography section
13.On what date did Mel Chionglo pass away?
- A.September 21, 1946
- B.September 21, 2019correct
- C.July 16, 2019
- D.July 16, 1946
Mel Chionglo passed away on September 21, 2019.
Source: biographical intro
14.Which of these films did Mel Chionglo serve as production designer for before his directorial debut?
- A.Salawahancorrect
- B.Sibak
- C.Lagarista
- D.Twilight Dancers
Mel Chionglo was the production designer for the 1979 film Salawahan.
Source: filmography section
15.Which actress starred alongside Lolita Rodriguez in the Mel Chionglo film Lucia?
- A.Gina Alajarcorrect
- B.Lino Brocka
- C.Piolo Pascual
- D.None of these
Lucia starred both Lolita Rodriguez and Gina Alajar.
Source: filmography section
16.What professional role did Mel Chionglo return to Manila to pursue after his time in New York?
- A.Film critic
- B.University professor
- C.Production designercorrect
- D.Art director
Returning to Manila from New York, Mel Chionglo worked as a production designer.
Source: biographical intro
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