Ishmael Bernal

Biography

Ishmael Bernal (September 30, 1938 – June 2, 1996) was a Filipino film, stage and television director, actor and screenwriter. Noted for melodramas with feminist and moral themes, he directed many landmark Filipino films such as Pagdating sa Dulo (1971), Nunal sa Tubig (1976), Manila by Night (1980), Himala (1982), and Working Girls (1984). Bernal was declared a National Artist of the Philippines in 2001.

Directed

1. Miracle (1982) — Director
2. Manila by Night (1980) — Director
3. Shake, Rattle & Roll (1984) — Director
4. Working Girls (1984) — Director
5. An Affair (1982) — Director
6. You Are Mine (1978) — Director
7. Broken Marriage (1983) — Director
8. Salawahan (1979) — Director
9. Gamitin Mo Ako (1985) — Director
10. Menor de Edad (1979) — Director
11. A Speck in the Water (1976) — Director
12. Pleasure (1979) — Director
13. Bilibid Boys (1981) — Director
14. Dalawang Pugad... Isang Ibon (1977) — Director
15. Smouldering Tears (1988) — Director
16. Lumapit, Lumayo ang Umaga (1975) — Director
17. Tisoy! (1977) — Director
18. Will I Always Be a Woman? (1978) — Director
19. Wrenched From Heaven (1985) — Director
20. At the Top (1971) — Director
21. To Live Another Day (1989) — Director
22. The Graduates (1986) — Director
23. Wating (1994) — Director
24. Bakit May Pag-ibig Pa? (1979) — Director
25. Till Death Do Us Part (1972) — Director
26. I Can't Forget You (1982) — Director
27. Vein Wound (1980) — Director
28. Inspiration (1972) — Director
29. Zoom, Zoom, Superman! (1973) — Director
30. Si Popeye, Atbp (1973) — Director
31. Bad Example: I Have Seven Wives (1974) — Director
32. Scotch on the Rocks to Remember, Black Coffee to Forget (1976) — Director
33. Girlfriend (1980) — Director
34. Good Morning, Sunshine (1980) — Director
35. Wild Flower (1976) — Director
36. Isang Gabi sa Iyo... Isang Gabi sa Akin (1978) — Director
37. Pabling (1981) — Director
38. Mahal Kita, Walang Iba (1992) — Director
39. Walang Katapusang Tag-araw (1977) — Director
40. Mister Mo, Lover Boy Ko (1975) — Director

Also appeared in

1. Visions Cinema: Film in the Philippines - A Report by Tony Rayns (1983) — Self
2. Annie Batungbakal (1979)
3. Himala Ngayon (2012) — Self (archive footage)
4. Ishmael Bernal - Truth and Dare (1993)
5. Brocka x Bernal (2024) — Self (archival footage)
6. Bomba Bernal (2025) — Self
7. Noli Me Tangere (1993) — Kapitan Valentin