Peque Gallaga, multi-awarded Negrense filmmaker, passed away on May 7. The news was confirmed by his brother Dr. Ricky Gallaga and his manager June Rufino. He was 76.
Gallaga first earned recognition for his production design work in “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?” which won an award in the 1976 Gawad Urian Awards. He won the same award in 1981, for his production design work for Ishmael Bernal’s “Manila by Night.”
The director is best known for “Oro, Plata, Mata,” which he directed after winning a scriptwriting contest sponsored by the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines. The movie won best picture, direction, cinematography, production design, musical score and sound at the 1982 Gawad Urian awards.
He is also known for the fantasy-adventure film “Magic Temple,” which won all 14 nominations at the 1996 Metro Manila Film Festival. “Magic Temple” was also awarded the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award, which recognizes films that “best portrays Philippine culture and Filipino people to the world.”
Gallaga’s films are currently available for streaming on iWant.
Header photo by Bayani San Diego Jr. for Philippine Daily Inquirer
Get more stories like this by subscribing to our weekly newsletter here.