Dan Santiago: Director of Kalawang sa Bakal

Of the three children of Premiere (later People’s Pictures) producers Don Ciriaco and Doña Adela Santiago (nee Hermoso), Cirio and Digna were the most popular. Cirio as producer-writer-director and Digna as over-all assistant to her parents. The third child, Dan, was the most low-key. He’s married to the former Lina Araneta and manages several family businesses.

Actually, Dan Santiago also directed several films during the heyday of Premiere and People’s, including the 1960 movie Kalawang sa Bakal, an action-drama, billed, ‘A suspenseful story of a breathtaking episode of the last war… full of blazing action, stormy romance and dramatic conflict!’

Kalawang sa Bakal was penned by Francisco V. Coching, serialized in Liwayway. Screenplay by Augusto Buenaventura, who’d later be writing and directing many Joseph Estrada movies. — RKC