Mary Liza Diño Seguerra is a government official, former beauty pageant winner and actress in the Philippines.
Career
During her time as a student, she joined Mutya ng Pilipinas beauty pageant and won as Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism International. She then represented the Philippines in the Miss Tourism International pageant in 2001. She then joined GMA 7 artist center and appeared in a number of television shows and soap operas, where she had roles in shows including Kakaba-kaba adventures, Daddy Di Do Du, Pira-pirasong Pangarap and telenovelas including Habang Kapiling Ka, Te Amo, Atlantika and Bakekang. Her first theater role was at Dulaang University of the Philippines, where she appeared in stage plays such as Passion of the Christ under Tony Mabesa, Shakespeare's Winter's Tale, and Divinas Palabras, both by Jose Estrella. After graduating from the University of the Philippines with a BA in Speech and Communications, her first film role was in Two Timer under Regal Films where she acted opposite Ara Mina and Albert Martinez, followed by Xerex with Aubrey Miles and Jake Roxas under the direction of Mel Chionglo. Since then, she has appeared in a number of films including Pinay Pie and A Love Story with Aga Muhlach, Angelica Panganiban and Maricel Soriano. She played the lead in her first independent film Compound directed by Will Fredo, which was nominated for best picture in the Golden Screen Awards and was shown in various international film festivals. She subsequently appeared in the independent filmsBaliw by Redd Ochoa which competed in the Montreal Film Festival, Sinungaling na Buwan by Ed Lejano for Cinemalaya, Rome and Juliet under the direction of Connie Macatuno for Cinema One, and Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa by Will Fredo. Her latest film project, a Flamenco dance movie directed by Will Fredo entitled In Nomine Matris, was released in 2012. She played the lead in the film alongside Biboy Ramirez and opera singer Al Gatmaitan. The movie also stars flamenco artist Clara Ramona and actor Tami Monsod. In 2014, she played a cameo role in the television showThe Legal Wife as Nicole's mother in flashbacks, and later became part of the cast of Mirabella as Aster. Following a trip to Spain in 2005, she began to study flamenco dance. Under the tutelage of flamenco dancer Clara Ramona, Diño became a dancer of her company, performing with the group in Asia and the US. In 2008, Diño moved to the US to start a family and pursue a culinary career. She completed a certificate program in Culinary Arts at Le Cordon Bleu of Culinary Arts and is presently working as a chef at Spago in Beverly Hills, owned by chef Wolfgang Puck. She continued her acting and cooking careers, appearing in short films and commercials in the US. She starred as the delusional Imelda Marcos in the short filmImelda and Gunter'' directed by Ramon Sanchez, which also did some festival rounds in the US and has shot commercials for KCAL insurance and 24/7 debit card with Manny Pacquiao. She has also worked as a host in various Filipino-American social events. At present, she is the spokesperson and director of Public Relations for Miss Philippines USA beauty pageant. On August 12, 2016, Diño was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as Chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
