Peque Gallaga
Maurice Ruiz de Luzuriaga Gallaga (August 25, 1943 – May 7, 2020), better known as Peque Gallaga, was a multi-awarded Filipino film-maker. His most significant achievement in film was "Oro, Plata, Mata", which he directed after winning a scriptwriting contest sponsored by the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines. He has received an award from the International Film Festival of Flanders-Ghent, Belgium in 1983; a Special Jury Award from the Manila International Film Festival; and the 2004 Gawad CCP Para sa Sining. Education. Gallaga spent his elementary and high school years at De La Salle University in  City of Manila, then finished his bachelor's in commerce and liberal arts at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental Province, Visayas. He taught theater and film at the University of St. La Salle. Career. Rise to prominence. Upon moving back to Manila, he got involved in television musicals and eventually co-directed the film "Binhi" with Butch Perez. He also directed the movies "Virgin Forest", "Scorpio Nights", "Unfaithful Wife", and the "Manananggal" episode of "Shake, Rattle and Roll I". In 1986 he started co-directing films with Lore Reyes, with whom he shared directing  credits for "Shake Rattle & Roll 2", "Shake Rattle & Roll 3", "Shake Rattle & Roll 4", "Baby Love", and more than twenty other films to date. In the animated movie "Dayo", Gallaga voiced the character of "Lolo Nano," the resident sage of Elementalia. Gallaga and Reyes won Best Director and Best Screenplay for "Magic Temple" in the 1996 Metro Manila Film Festival. Gallaga and Laida Lim-Pérez won Best Production Design for Eddie Romero’s "Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?" in the first 1976 of Gawad Urian awards. In 1980, he won the same award for Ishmael Bernal’s "City after  Dark". During the 1980s, Gallaga served as member of the Film Academy Classification Board (FACB). He also earned the title as "The Steven Spielberg of the Philippines". Later career. In 2009, "Agaton & Mindy," directed by Gallaga, started its theatrical run. In 2013, saw the release of several of Gallaga's directorial efforts. On his own these include the film "Sonata," and the documentary "Botong Francisco: A Nation Imagined." With Reyes they directed "Seduction." Also that year, Gallaga was interviewed in the documentary "The Search for Weng Weng." In 2014, Gallaga and Reyes collaborated on their final motion picture "T'yanak". Personal  life. Gallaga lived with his wife Madie in Bacolod. They were married for 52 years. They have five children: Gines, Michelle, Datu, Jubal and Wanggo. Death. Gallaga was hospitalized in Bacolod City on May 5, 2020, due to complications from his past health conditions. Two days later on May 7, Gallaga died in hospital from cardio-pulmonary arrest. He was cremated in accordance to him and his family's wishes.