EXCLUSIVE: Robi Domingo Talks About Direk Lauren Dyogi As The Star Magic Head Celebrates His Birthday Today

In the entertainment industry, hearing the name Direk Lauren—or Laurenti M. Dyogi—has always guaranteed that talents, crew members, and stars bring their A-game to any project they’re working on.

The production manager and director has had a long, illustrious career in show business that continues to stay strong and exciting to this day. He graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines. And since joining ABS-CBN, he has produced and directed over 50 shows for the network, including some of its most iconic and most memorable titles: Pinoy Big Brother, Ang TV, Gimik, and Maalala Mo Kaya, among others. He was also at the helm of establishing the artist training camp Star Hunt Academy that has successfully produced budding groups BGYO and BINI.  

At the beginning of the year, he took over Star Magic and has since been discovering, developing, and managing talents, new and old. Direk Lauren is a beloved icon in an ever-growing, ever-changing industry, and he continues to mentor and touch the lives of those who get to work with him.

One of his most frequent collaborators has been Robi Domingo, who first entered Pinoy Big Brother as a housemate, and eventually became its host. 

“When you talk of Direk Lauren,” he tells Metro.Style, “you talk about perfection. He just wants the best for everyone. He expects you to come in the studio or to rehearsal as if it was your last show ever—as it should be.”

Among the things Robi has learned from the esteemed director is to never stop being hungry for your dreams, and, perhaps most important: To never let your hunger consume you. “But the best thing about Direk Lauren,” Robi adds, “is that he cares about everyone and he cares about the people who are in the industry, and the people who will benefit from it—most especially the Kapamilyas.”

Something special about Direk Lauren is that he makes you feel that the work you’re doing is important; that it’s a calling, a purpose. “And that purpose is to always be in the service of the Filipino worldwide,” Robi says. 

We all know that Direk Lauren isn’t Kuya from PBB—something he’s long revealed way back in 2011. But if there’s one thing people may not know about him, Robi smiles, is that he loves Mickey Mouse. And that adorable fact is just one of the reasons why many love Direk Lauren. 

Direk Lauren also dabbles in vlogging, and his YouTube channel now has close to 450,000 subscribers.

Happy birthday, Direk! 

Lead photo from @direklauren