FOR HIS screenplays that are never reluctant in examining the desires and aspirations of his characters—especially women—to defy convention and the dictates of society. His works are both sensitive and provocative while scrutinizing and criticizing inequitable and prejudicial human relationships. Unrelenting and refusing to compromise with formula and commercialism, he continues to hone his art for a deeper understanding of his subject and a fuller realization of his vision as man and artist. His narrative exhibits a consciousness of dramatic art that penetrates into the Filipino’s human condition, as evidenced by more than two decades of creative work. Further proof of his influence in the film industry is the quality of work by younger writers who came under his tutelage through his nurturing and innovative workshops.
BORN ON 6 September 1948 in Davao City but grew up in Gen. Santos City. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of the East, Manila in 1971. After graduation, he worked at the Philippine Banking Corporation in Gen. Santos City for one year and at the State Investment House Incorporated in Manila for three years. After winning the grand prize in the ECP scriptwriting contest in 1984, Lao decided he wanted to become a scriptwriter. His Urian-awarded works include Takaw-Tukso, Itanong Mo Sa Buwan, Pila-Balde, Tuhog and La Vida Rosa. Tuhog was an official competition entry in the Cinema of the Present section of the 2000 Venice International Film Festival. He had won awards for the same category for his other various films from the FAP, PMPC, CMMA and YCC. Lao had written for television for many years and for various programs, notable of which were Spotlight, a weekly drama anthology and the Davao teleserye, of which he was the head writer. Both programs were adjudged Ten Best TV Programs in 1991 and in 1992 by the CCP. He wrote the docu-drama Walang Bakas for GMA 7 which won 2nd place in an international competition in San Francisco, USA. Together with Fanny Garcia, he co-edited the books Pitong Teleplay and Apat Na Screenplay published in 1995 and 1997 respectively.