Mae Cruz-Alviar

Mae Cruz was born on April 30, 1974.^[1] She has three sisters, and was raised in the Roman Catholic faith.^[2] Cruz attended elementary and high school at Colegio San Agustin – Makati, and later graduated with a degree in mass communication (major in film) at the University of the Philippines Diliman.^[3]

In 1991, during her fourth year in high school, Cruz attended the shoot of a Swatch commercial starring her best friend Mikee Cojuangco and directed by Rowell Santiago, where she was inspired to enter the film industry.^[4]

In 1994, Cruz was initially cast in a brief speaking role in Mikee Cojuangco's debut film Forever for a party scene alongside future talk show host Patricia Daza, but although her and Daza's scene was filmed, it was ultimately cut in post-production.^[4][5]

In 1996, Cruz was hired by the production company Star Cinema, beginning her film career as a junior production assistant for the fantasy film Magic Temple.^[3]

In 2002, Cruz began directing episodes for the ABS-CBN anthology drama Maalaala Mo Kaya with the episode "Kurtina" starring Marvin Agustin. In 2004, Cruz directed her first film, a composite romantic comedy titled Bcuz of U, alongside John D. Lazatin and fellow first-time director Cathy Garcia-Molina.^[6] She later directed her first solo film, the romantic comedy Babe, I Love You starring Anne Curtis and Sam Milby, in 2010.^[6]

Cruz met Benjamin Alviar in 1988 while attending high school at Colegio San Agustin – Makati, with Alviar leaving for the United States in 1992.^[7][3] After meeting each other again during a high school reunion in 2011, Cruz and Alviar married each other in 2014.^{[7][better source needed]} Cruz has a step-son from Alviar's previous marriage in the US.^[2]

Cruz is a long-time best friend of actress and equestrian Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, who was her high school classmate at Colegio San Agustin.^[4][5]