The University of the East condoles with the family of UE alumnus, screenwriter and director-filmmaker Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez, who passed away last Monday, January 3, at age 46.
A longtime Manila resident born in Tondo on June 7, 1975, Mr. Barros-Sanchez was a Bachelor of Arts, major in Political Science student of the UE College of Arts and Sciences-Manila from 1991 to 1996. (His father, the late Eduardo P. Sanchez Jr., had also briefly studied in UE, and Mr. Eduardo’s own father, Eduardo M. Sanchez, was a Banking and Finance professor in UE.)
While in UE, Mr. Barros-Sanchez tried out for the UE Red Warriors Men’s Basketball Team given his 6’4 height, but eventually found his passion in the arts after reading “Ang Pluma,” a short story published by eventual UE graduate Prestoline G. Suyat in the Dawn, UE’s student newspaper. Mr. Barros-Sanchez would further expound on the influence of “Ang Pluma” in his life as a writer-filmmaker in what would be his last video-recorded interview, via Off The Record, last November 12, 2021: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwqOv8uydMg
Mr. Barros-Sanchez himself eventually became a senior writer and assistant news editor for the Dawn from 1990 to 1992. He was also active in Pinsel-Sining, said to be the only active cultural organizations in UE at the time.
He eventually found himself in the visual arts, initially working as a script reader for Viva Films and Seiko Films, before becoming a scriptwriter for the Viva film ‘Alas Dose’. He also wrote scripts for television, including for the horror series ‘Kagat ng Dilim’ and the soap opera ‘Darating ang Umaga’. He also acted on-camera, with his first foray being the 2001 movie ‘Dos Ekis’, followed by ‘Hirayamanawari’, ‘Detek-Kids’ and ‘Tribu’, among others.
Mr. Barros-Sanchez’s directorial debut, ‘Lasponggols,’ participated in the 2004 Fribourg International Film Festival in Switzerland. It made its Philippine debut in the 2005 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, and was also a participant in the 2006 New York Imagin-Asian Film Festival.
His second film, ‘Ang Anak ni Brocka,’ premiered at the 2005 CinemaOne Originals. It would also be a part of the 2006 Pesaro International Film Festival in Italy, and the 13th Annual Pinoy Visions in San Pedro, California, in 2006. ‘Ang Anak ni Brocka’ was likewise a participant in the the 2006 New York Imagin-Asian Film Festival.
His third film, 2006’s ‘Aksyon Star’ was a part of Imahe-Nasyon: 20 Short Films by 20 Indie Directors. It was also shown at the 2007 Singapore International Film Festival.
He would go on to direct a number of other films, including ‘Ang mga Kidnaper ni Ronnie Lazaro,’ ‘Tsardyer,’ and ‘Baklad’.
He would also continue writing for television, with the series ‘Green Rose,’ ‘Gimik 2010,’ and ‘Growing Up’ among his works.
He also dabbled in directing music videos, including for Hale’s “The Day You Said Goodnight” (which was partly shot in the Manila dormitory where he stayed as a UE student), Sugarfree’s “Hari ng Sablay,” Kyla’s “’Til They Take My Heart Away,” The Brockas’ “Action!” and “Olats,” and Parokya ni Edgar’s “Gitara,” among many others.
Direk Sig, as he was also called, was invited by his Alma Mater to be part of the fourth UE Diamond Jubilee Colloquium, which discussed “Media in the Shaping of the Filipino Mind,” held on September 6, 2006, at the UE Conference Hall, on the occasion of UE’s 60th Foundation Anniversary. In 2007, he was awarded by the UE Alumni Association Inc. (UEAAI) as one of its Special Achievement Awardees. Years later, he gave a filmmaking seminar to UE CAS Manila students at the Admissions lobby, near the UE Manila Quadrangle.
He is survived by his wife Kaye, and their four children, as well as his four younger siblings and other relatives.
Rest in peace, Warrior Alumnus-Director Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez, and thank you for your boundless contribution to the Philippine entertainment and indie film industries.
Photo from the Cinemalaya Facebook page: //www.facebook.com/CinemalayaOfficial/photos/5042603319083555