Mel Mendoza-del Rosario
Filipino screenwriter
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Melissa Mendoza-del Rosario is a Filipino screenwriter. She won the Gawad Urian Award for Best Screenplay in 1996 for the film Sana Maulit Muli. In 2003, she wrote the comedy film Ang Tanging Ina that broke the record for the highest-grossing Philippine film of all time and spawned a franchise.
Early life and education
Career
In 1992, Mendoza-del Rosario began her career in the film industry writing scripts for the ABS-CBN television anthology series Maalaala Mo Kaya. In 1994, she wrote her first screenplay for the film adaptation of the series, Maalaala Mo Kaya: The Movie, alongside director Olivia Lamasan, Shaira Mella-Salvador, and Don Cuaresma. By 1996, she, Lamasan and Mella-Salvador jointly won the Gawad Urian Award for Best Screenplay for the romance film Sana Maulit Muli.[2][3] Her next film as screenwriter, Campus Girls, was produced by Viva Films and composed by her husband Ricky del Rosario.
In 1999, Mendoza-del Rosario wrote a screenplay about two sisters titled Magkapatid, having actress Sharon Cuneta in mind for the part of the elder sister.[4] Due to Cuneta's busy schedule, Mendoza-del Rosario waited three years for Cuneta's availability before submitting her script, while concerns from actress Judy Ann Santos in portraying a young mother of four nearly caused the project to be shelved; Mendoza-del Rosario compromised with Santos by rewriting her role to instead be a mother of two.[4]
Personal life
Mendoza-del Rosario was married to Ricky "Boy" R. del Rosario, a record executive, film composer and Quezon City councilor,[4][5][6] who passed away on January 27, 2026 at the age of 74.[7]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Director | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Maalaala Mo Kaya: The Movie | Olivia M. Lamasan | with Shaira Mella-Salvador, Don Cuaresma, Olivia M. Lamasan |
| 1995 | Campus Girls | Mac Alejandre | with Shaira Mella Salvador |
| Basta't Kasama Kita | Rory B. Quintos | with Jerry Lopez Sineneng, Don Cuaresma, Olivia M. Lamasan | |
| Sana Maulit Muli | Olivia M. Lamasan | with Olivia Lamasan, Shaira M. Salvador | |
| Manalo, Matalo, Mahal Kita | Edgardo "Boy" Vinarao | ||
| 1996 | Sa Aking mga Kamay | Rory B. Quintos | with Ricky Lee, Benjou Elgincolin |
| Wanted: Perfect Mother | Ike Jarlego Jr. | credited as "Melissa Mendoza del Rosario" | |
| Hindi Ako Ander (Itanong Mo Kay Kumander) | Edgardo "Boy" Vinarao | ||
| Mula Noon Hanggang Ngayon | Khryss Adalia | with Shaira Mella-Salvador, Jojo Atienza, Khryss Adalia also story | |
| Mahal Kita, Alam Mo Ba | Edgardo "Boy" Vinarao | ||
| Do Re Mi | Ike Jarlego Jr. | ||
| Strict ang Peyrents Ko | Edgardo 'Boy' Vinarao | ||
| 1997 | Dahil Tanging Ikaw | Mac C. Alejandre | |
| Roberta | Ike Jarlego Jr. | ||
| Isang Tanong, Isang Sagot | Mac C. U. Alejandre | ||
| Hanggang Ngayon Ika'y Minamahal | Ike Jarlego Jr. | ||
| Honey, Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako? | Edgardo "Boy" Vinarao | ||
| 1998 | Kung Ayaw Mo, Huwag Mo! | Jerry Lopez Sineneng | with Jerry Lopez Sineneng also story |
| Pusong Mamon | Joel Lamangan Enrico Quizon |
with Ricardo Lee | |
| Muling Ibalik ang Tamis ng Pag-ibig | Boots Plata | ||
| MysTrio (Uno...Dos...Tres Pilyos!) | Edgardo "Boy" Vinarao | ||
| 1999 | My Pledge of Love Cannot Be Broken | Boots Plata | |
| Dahil May Isang Ikaw | Binibining Joyce Bernal | ||
| Tigasin | Ike Jarlego Jr. | ||
| Hey Babe! | Bb. Joyce Bernal | with Ricky Lee also story | |
| Dito sa Puso Ko | Enrico S. Quizon | ||
| Weder-Weder Lang 'Yan | Boots Plata | ||
| 2000 | Daddy O, Baby O! | Enrico S. Quizon | |
| Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw | Binibining Joyce Bernal | ||
| 2001 | Booba | Binibining Joyce Bernal | |
| Pangako... Ikaw Lang | Binibining Joyce Bernal | ||
| 2002 | Mahal Kita, Final Answer | Ike Jarlego Jr. | |
| Kung Ikaw Ay Isang Panaginip. | Wenn V. Deramas | with Ricky Lee, Wenn V. Deramas | |
| Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon | Yam Laranas | ||
| Akala Mo... | Lyle Sacris | ||
| Magkapatid | Joel C. Lamangan | ||
| 2003 | Till There Was You | Bb. Joyce Bernal | with Dindo Perez |
| Ang Tanging Ina | Wenn V. Deramas | with Keiko Aquino also story | |
| Utang ng Ama | Tony Y. Reyes | ||
| My First Romance | Don Cuaresma | "Two Hearts" segment | |
| 2004 | Otso-Otso: Pamela-Mela Wan | Jerry Lopez Sineneng | |
| Masikip sa Dibdib: The Boobita Rose Story | Bb. Joyce Bernal | ||
| All My Life | Laurenti M. Dyogi | with Mia Concio | |
| Volta | Wenn V. Deramas | with Artemio Abad | |
| Bcuz of U | John D. Lazatin Mae Cruz Cathy Garcia-Molina |
||
| 2006 | Close to You | Cathy Garcia-Molina | with John Paul Abellera |
| Kapag Tumibok ang Puso: Not Once, But Twice | Wenn V. Deramas | with Arlene Tamayo also story | |
| 2007 | Agent X44 | Bb. Joyce Bernal | with Galo Ador Jr., Trina Marie T. Dusaban, Raz de la Torre |
| Ang Cute ng Ina Mo! | Wenn V. Deramas | with Wenn V. Deramas, Arlene Tamayo also story | |
| Paano Kita Iibigin | Bb. Joyce Bernal | with John Paul Abellera, Vanessa Valdez | |
| I've Fallen for You | Lino Cayetano | ||
| 2008 | Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat | Wenn V. Deramas | with Wenn V. Deramas, Kriz G. Gazmen also story |
| 2009 | BFF: Best Friends Forever | Wenn V. Deramas | |
| 2010 | Hating Kapatid | Wenn V. Deramas | |
| Petrang Kabayo | Wenn V. Deramas | with Wenn V. Deramas also story | |
| Ang Tanging Ina Mo: Last Na 'To! | Wenn V. Deramas | ||
| 2011 | Catch Me... I'm in Love | Mae Czarina Cruz | |
| My House Husband: Ikaw Na! | Jose Javier Reyes | with Jose Javier Reyes also story | |
| 2012 | Moron 5 and the Crying Lady | Wenn V. Deramas | with Wenn V. Deramas |
| Every Breath You Take | Mae Czarina Cruz | with Zig Marasigan, Anj Pessumal also story | |
| Of All the Things | Bb. Joyce Bernal | ||
| This Guy's in Love with U Mare! | Wenn V. Deramas | with Keiko Aquino, Wenn V. Deramas | |
| A Secret Affair | Nuel Crisostomo Naval | ||
| 2013 | Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy | Wenn V. Deramas | |
| 2014 | Diary ng Panget | Andoy L. Ranay | |
| Moron 5.2: The Transformation | Wenn V. Deramas | with Wenn V. Deramas | |
| Past Tense | Mae Czarina Cruz-Alviar | as story writer only with Artemio Abad | |
| 2015 | Para sa Hopeless Romantic | Andoy L. Ranay | with Mary Rose Colindres |
| Beauty and the Bestie | Wenn V. Deramas | ||
| 2016 | This Time | Nuel Crisostomo Naval | |
| 2019 | S.O.N.S: Sons of Nanay Sabel | Dado Lumibao | |
| Miracle in Cell No. 7 | Nuel Crisostomo Naval | ||
| 2021 | More Than Blue[8][9] | Nuel Crisostomo Naval | |
| 2022 | Always[10] | Dado Lumibao | |
| Family Matters | Nuel Crisostomo Naval | ||
| 2023 | Adik sa 'Yo[11] | Nuel Crisostomo Naval | |
| Family of Two (A Mother and Son Story) | Nuel Crisostomo Naval | ||
| 2024 | Sunny[12] | Jalz Zarate | |
| 2025 | The Last Beergin | Nuel C. Naval | |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992–2003 | Maalaala Mo Kaya | various | |
| 1999 | Mikee Forever | Ipe Pelino | |
| 2012 | Mundo Man Ay Magunaw | Jeffrey R. Jeturian Rechie A. del Carmen |
as creator and producer only |
| 2012–2014 | Be Careful with My Heart | Jeffrey R. Jeturian Mervyn B. Brondial Theodore Boborol |
as creator only |
| 2013 | Dugong Buhay | Toto Natividad | as producer only |
| 2014–2015 | Dream Dad | Jeffrey R. Jeturian Chris Alan Chanliongco |
as creator only |
| 2015 | Oh My G! | Veronica B. Velasco Paco Sta. Maria |
as creator only |
| Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita | Jeffrey R. Jeturian Mervyn B. Brondial Cathy O. Camarillo |
as creator only | |
| 2015–2016 | Ningning | Jeffrey R. Jeturian Paco Sta. Maria |
as creator only |
| 2016 | Be My Lady | Theodore Boborol Don Cuaresma Roderick Lindayag |
as creator only |
| We Will Survive | Jeffrey R. Jeturian Mervyn B. Brondial |
as creator and producer only | |
| 2016–2017 | Langit Lupa | Carlo Po Artillaga Myla Ajero-Gaite Ludwig Peralta |
as creator only |
| 2017 | The Better Half | Jeffrey R. Jeturian Topel Lee |
as creator only |
| 2018–2019 | Playhouse | Jeffrey R. Jeturian Paco Sta. Maria |
as creator only |
| 2019 | Nang Ngumiti ang Langit | FM Reyes Marinette Natividad-de Guzman |
as creator only |
| 2020–2021 | Bagong Umaga | Carlo Po Artillaga Paco A. Sta. Maria |
as creator only |
| 2022 | 2 Good 2 Be True | Mae Cruz-Alviar Paco Sta. Maria |
as producer only |