Maria Lourdes "Malou" Navarro Santos (born February 3, 1957) is a Filipino businesswoman and film producer. In 1993, she and her sister Charo Santos-Concio founded Star Cinema, for which she served as managing director from 1995 to 2017. During her tenure, Star Cinema rose from financial uncertainty to achieving high commercial success in the Philippine film industry.

Early life and education Malou Santos was born on February 3, 1957 to Winifredo Santos, a physician, and Nora Navarro-Santos. She has five siblings, including Maria Rosario ("Charo", born 1955).

Santos and her siblings grew up in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, with her and Charo being fans of radio host Inday Badiday and of actress Nora Aunor by the 1970s.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in hotel and restaurant management at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

Career After her graduation, Santos started work as an assistant manager at Perpetual Savings Bank. Upon the insistence of her sister, actress and producer Charo Santos-Concio, Santos became a production assistant on the set of the 1984 action film Batuigas II: Pasukuin si Waway, which began her career in the film industry. Santos later served as line producer and associate producer for Regal Films in the 1980s. Santos was credited by filmmaker Olivia Lamasan with encouraging her to pursue writing and directing as a profession instead of advertising.

On May 8, 1993, Santos and her sister Charo founded Star Cinema Productions, Inc., or simply Star Cinema, with Santos as head of production. It was a successor to the sisters' former production company Vision Films, and is a subsidiary of the media conglomerate ABS-CBN. After Simon Ongpin left as managing director in 1995, Santos served as Star Cinema's managing director from 1995 to December 2017. Santos in 2001 had expressed that the 1995 romantic drama film Sana Maulit Muli was the last film she was "100 percent hands-on" as a producer, and cited it as one of Star Cinema's film productions that "really left a lasting impression on me". She was later credited with encouraging assistant director Rory B. Quintos to pursue directing for the studio.

As head of Star Cinema, Santos has been characterized as maintaining a lower profile than her sister Charo, who was among the top management at ABS-CBN. In September 1997, Viva Films executive Eric Cuatico moved to Star Cinema and became joint managing director with Santos, but left after two years in July 1999 to join the newly established Seven Crown Ventures of Jesse Ejercito, President Joseph Estrada's brother. Although the film studio did not often produce profitable films for most of its early years, by fiscal year 1998, most of Star Cinema's output was noted to have turned a profit.

In the 2000s, the films produced by Star Cinema under the management of Santos were among the most commercially successful films produced in the industry, regularly ranking among the top-grossing Filipino films of the year. By the time Santos stepped down as chief operating officer in 2017, Star Cinema films had surpassed on ten occasions the record for the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time: Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay Ko... (1999), Anak (2000), Ang Tanging Ina (2003), Sukob (2006), You Changed My Life (2009), No Other Woman and Praybeyt Benjamin (both 2011), Sisterakas (2012), It Takes a Man and a Woman (2013), and A Second Chance (2015).

In February 2016, Santos was named COO of Star Creatives. After Santos stepped down as Star Cinema's COO in December 2017, Lamasan was appointed as the new managing director while Santos remained as an executive adviser for the production company.

Filmography Film (pre-Star Cinema) Year Title Credited as Director Studio Note(s) SupervisingProducer AssociateProducer LineProducer 1984 Batuigas II: Pasukuin si Waway Manuel 'Fyke' Cinco Vanguard Films as production assistant only 1985 Hindi Nahahati ang Langit Mike de Leon as production manager onlywith Eriberto Amazan Jr. Turuang Apoy Luis Enriquez Brown Fox Organization Bomba Arienda Mel Chionglo 1986 Horsey-Horsey: Tigidig-Tigidig Luciano B. Carlos Regal Films I Love You, Mama, I Love You, Papa Maryo J. de los Reyes Paalam... Bukas ang Kasal Ko Maning Borlaza Inday Inday sa Balitaw Luciano B. Carlos Batang Quiapo Pablo Santiago 1987 Forward March Luciano B. Carlos Jack en Poy: Hale-Hale Hoy! Luciano B. Carlos Bunsong Kerubin Luciano B. Carlos Asawa Ko, Huwag Mong Agawin Maning Borlaza Maria Went to Town Luciano B. Carlos 1988 Ibulong Mo sa Diyos Elwood Perez Rosa Mistica Emmanuel H. Borlaza Wake Up Little Susie Luciano B. Carlos Super Inday and the Golden Bibe Luciano B. Carlos Nagbabagang Luha Ishmael Bernal One Day, Isang Araw Pablo Santiago Petrang Kabayo at ang Pilyang Kuting Luciano B. Carlos Me & Ninja Liit Jun P. Cabreira 1989 Gorio en Tekla Luciano B. Carlos Impaktita Teddy Chiu Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit Elwood Perez with Olive Lamasan 1990 Papa's Girl Luciano B. Carlos Bala at Rosaryo Pepe Marcos Vision Films Kapag Langit ang Humatol Laurice Guillen 1991 Ganti ng Api Marlon Bautista Kailan Ka Magiging Akin Chito S. Roño 1992 Yakapin Mo Akong Muli Elwood Perez Regal Films Hanggang May Buhay Pepe Marcos Bonanza Films Mahal Kita, Walang Iba Ishmael Bernal Regal Films 1993 Ms. Dolora X: Ipagtatanggol Kita Elwood Perez with Ray Maliuanag

Film (Star Cinema) As "producer" only Year Title Director Note(s) 1994 Separada Chito S. Roño with Simon C. Ongpin 1995 Basta't Kasama Kita Rory B. Quintos Sarah... Ang Munting Prinsesa Romy V. Suzara Home Sic Home Efren "Loging" Jarlego Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara Chito S. Roño Sana Maulit Muli Olivia M. Lamasan Asero Joey del Rosario Hataw Na! Jose Javier Reyes Matimbang Pa sa Dugo Jose N. Carreon Mangarap Ka Rory B. Quintos 1996 Oki Doki Doc Efren "Loging" Jarlego Madonna and Child Marilou Diaz-Abaya Original title: May Nagmamahal Sa'yo Radio Romance Jose Javier Reyes Ama, Ina, Anak Jose Javier Reyes Milyonaryong Mini Tony Y. Reyes Sa Aking mga Kamay Rory B. Quintos Utol Toto Natividad Cedie Romy V. Suzara Mula Noon Hanggang Ngayon Khryss Adalia Madrasta Olivia M. Lamasan Lahar Mel Chionglo Mara Clara: The Movie Emil Cruz Jr.Jerry Lopez Sineneng Hangga't May Hininga Toto Natividad Ang TV Movie: The Adarna Adventure Johnny Manahan Kung Kaya Mo, Kaya Ko Rin! Danilo P. Cabreira Magic Temple Peque GallagaLore Reyes 1997 Ang Pulubi at ang Prinsesa Jerry Lopez Sineneng Iskalawag: Ang Batas Ay Batas Francis "Jun" Posadas Paano ang Puso Ko? Rory B. Quintos Mariano Mison... NBI Joey del Rosario I Do? I Die! (D'yos Ko Day!) Efren "Loging" Jarlego Batang PX Jose Javier Reyes Calvento Files: The Movie Laurenti DyogiMichael de Mesa Wanted Perfect Murder Boots Plata Amanos, Patas ang Laban Francis "Jun" Posadas Flames: The Movie Jerry Lopez-SinenengKhryss Adalia Hanggang Kailan Kita Mamahalin? Olivia M. Lamasan Wala Ka Nang Puwang sa Mundo Ronn-Rick Ipaglaban Mo: The Movie II Rory B. Quintos Kokey Romy V. Suzara Ikaw Pala ang Mahal Ko Jose Javier Reyes 1998 Haba-Baba-Doo! Puti-Puti-Poo! Efren "Loging" Jarlego Kung Ayaw Mo, Huwag Mo! Jerry Lopez Sineneng April, May, June Manny Castañeda Muling Ibalik ang Tamis ng Pag-ibig Boots Plata Nagbibinata Jose Javier Reyes Dahil Mahal Na Mahal Kita Wenn V. Deramas Labs Kita, Okey Ka Lang? Jerry Lopez Sineneng Lualhati Bautista's Bata, Bata... Paano Ka Ginawa? Chito S. Roño Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay Rory B. Quintos Magandang Hatinggabi Laurenti Dyogi Hiling Jose Javier Reyes 1999 Type Kita... Walang Kokontra Toto Natividad Mula sa Puso Wenn V. Deramas Di Puwedeng Hindi Puwede! Francis "Jun" Posadas with Rose L. Flaminiano Wansapanataym Johnny Manahan Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay Ko... Boots Plata Soltera Jerry Lopez Sineneng Alyas Pogi: Ang Pagbabalik Joey del Rosario Hey Babe! Joyce Bernal Suspek Toto Natividad Oo Na... Mahal Na Kung Mahal Johnny Manahan Tar-San Efren "Lodging" Jarlego Esperanza Jerry Lopez Sineneng 2000 Minsan, Minahal Kita Olivia M. Lamasan Tunay Na Tunay: Gets Mo? Gets Ko! Bb. Joyce Bernal

Television Year Title Credited as Notes . 1991–2020 Maalaala Mo Kaya Supervising producer 1998–1999 Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako Executive-in-charge of production 2000–2002 Pangako sa 'Yo Executive-in-charge of production 2002–2003 Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay Executive-in-charge of production 2005 Kampanerang Kuba Executive-in-charge of production 2006 Sa Piling Mo Executive-in-charge of production 2006–2007 Maging Sino Ka Man Executive-in-charge of production 2007 Maria Flordeluna Executive-in-charge of production 2007–2008 Ysabella Executive-in-charge of production 2008 Lobo Executive-in-charge of production 2008 Kahit Isang Saglit Executive-in-charge of production 2009 Only You Executive-in-charge of production 2009–2010 Dahil May Isang Ikaw Executive-in-charge of production 2009–2010 Lovers in Paris Executive-in-charge of production 2010 Rosalka Executive-in-charge of production 2010 Magkaribal Executive-in-charge of production 2010–2011 Imortal Executive-in-charge of production 2011 Guns and Roses Executive-in-charge of production 2012 E-Boy Executive-in-charge of production 2012–2013 Princess and I Executive-in-charge of production 2013–2014 Got to Believe Executive-in-charge of production 2014–2015 Forevermore Executive-in-charge of production 2015 Bridges of Love Executive-in-charge of production 2015–2016 Pangako sa 'Yo (2015 remake) Executive-in-charge of production 2015–2016 You're My Home Executive-in-charge of production 2016 Dolce Amore Executive-in-charge of production 2016 The Story of Us Executive-in-charge of production 2017 A Love to Last Executive-in-charge of production 2017–2018 Pusong Ligaw Executive-in-charge of production 2017–2018 La Luna Sangre Executive-in-charge of production 2018 Bagani Executive-in-charge of production 2018–2019 Ngayon at Kailanman Executive-in-charge of production

Discography As executive producer Timeless, Piolo Pascual (2007) Para Lang sa 'Yo, Aiza Seguerra (2007) A Little Too Perfect, Sam Milby (2007) Charice, Charice Pempengco/Jake Zyrus (EP; 2008)

Accolades Year Award-giving body Category Nominated work Result 1998 10th Gawad CCP Awards Ten Outstanding TV Programs Maalaala Mo Kaya 2013 The Philippine Quill Awards 2013 Communication Excellence in Organizations

References

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