Fans and friends mourned over the sudden death Wenn V. Dermas who succumbed to cardiac arrest on February 29. He leaves behind a legacy of blockbuster movies and hit TV shows. In a portrait made by actor-photographer

Jojit Lorenzo

, one can see a collage of the director’s iconic movies and TV series that he has made through the years.

Here’s a look back on the life and career of the blockbuster director

1. Direk Wenn as a waiter

Direk Wenn finished B.S. in Hotel and Restaurant Management and becamea waiter for some time.

2. Direk Wenn as a P.A. (Production Assistant)

Direk Wenn started in the industry as a production assistant before hewas assigned to be a writer on Teysi ngTahanan.

3. Direk Wenn as a writer

After being a production assistant on the TV show Tatak Pilipino, he was assigned to be a writer on Teysi ng Tahanan and eventually becamean executive producer for the 1995 TV show CalventoFiles.

4. Direk Wenn as a director

After picking up tips and experience in filmmaking, he eventually becamea director.

TV Series

Marina (2004)

Marina was an ABS-CBN fantaserye where OptimumStar Claudine Barretto portrayed Marina, a mermaid.

Kampanerang Kuba (2005)

Kampanerang Kuba is another ABS-CBN fantasy soap opera,which was inspired by the 1973 film KampanerangKuba which starred Vilma Santos and Bobot Mortiz. Anne Curtis portrayed asImang, the hunchbacked bell-ringer.

Kokey (2007)

Kokey was directed by Wenn Deramas and RuelBayani. Direk Wenn also directed the sequel of this series entitled Kokey @ Ako which starred Toni Gonzagaand Vhong Navarro.

Dyosa (2008)

Dyosa had Anne Curtis playing the role of a goddess.(Anne is frequently dubbed as “Dyosa” because of this TV series.) Her co-starswere Sam Milby and Luis Manzano.

Galema: Anak ni Zuma (2013)

Galema: Anak ni Zuma was based on the comic book Zuma by Jim Fernandez. Andi Eigenmannportrayed Galema Castillo-Villalobos.

MOVIES

Ang Tanging Ina (2003)

Ang Tanging Ina was a comedy film which starred Ai-Ai delasAlas. The movie had sequels which were also helmed by Direk Wenn: Ang Tanging Ina niyong Lahat (2008) and Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na ‘to!) (2010).

The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin(2011)

The Unkabogable PraybeytBenjamin starring ViceGanda was the first Filipino film to break the P300 million mark at the boxoffice. It was the highest grossing Filipino film in 2011 and after thissuccess, every movie team up of Vice and direk Wenn became a blockbuster.

Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy(2013)

This movie had Vice playing quadruplets who have been separated for along time.

Maria Leonora Teresa (2014)

Maria Leonora Teresa is a horror-suspense film that starredactors Zanjoe Marudo, Iza Calzado, and Jodi Sta. Maria.

The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin(2014)

The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin is the sequel to The Unkabogable PraybeytBenjamin. The movie earned P435 million and it became the highest-grossingfilms in the Philippines then.

Beauty and the Bestie (2015)

Beauty and the Bestie is direk Wenn’s last film to compete inthe Metro Manila Film Fest. The movie starred Coco Martin, Vice Ganda and thepopular love team of James Reid and Nadine Lustre. It is currently the highestgrossing Filipino film of all time for domestic gross sales.