Filmmaker Gutierrez "Teng" Mangansakan II, a creative force to be reckoned with, was born in the city of Cotabato, a place rich in cultural heritage, and later raised in the province of Maguindanao, a region steeped in tradition and history. His family, with its deep roots in politics, played a significant role in shaping his life and worldview.
His grandfather, Datu Udtug Matalam, a renowned figure in his own right, was the founder of the Mindanao Independence Movement, a movement that was born out of the tragic events of the Jabidah massacre, which took place in 1968.
