Celebrated Filipino filmmaker Peque Gallaga died aged 76 on Thursday morning in Manila. The veteran director, who was best known for his award-winning 1982 film <em>Oro, Plata, Mata</em>, passed away from pneumonia in a hospital in the capital, according to various reports. Both his brother and manager confirmed the news. Before his death, fellow director Lore Reyes also posted a statement on behalf of Gallaga's family on Facebook confirming his hospitalisation was not related to the <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/coronavirus-live-indians-in-uae-prepare-for-repatriation-flights-from-dubai-and-abu-dhabi-airports-1.1014464">coronavirus</a>. “The family of Peque Gallaga would like to make this statement in regard to the news and [rumours] circulating about him," the statement reads. "[He] is in the hospital due to complications arising from past health conditions.” Born Maurice Ruiz de Luzuriaga Gallaga, the filmmaker became something of a legend in the Philippine cinema landscape. His career spanned almost 50 years and he directed more than 37 films, starting with the 1973 romance <em>Binhi</em>. His last project listed on IMDb is a short drama from 2016 called <em>Tabang</em>. Before that, he directed the feature-length horror movie <em>T'yanak </em>in 2014 with Reyes. Other works he's known for include the <em>Shake, Rattle & Roll </em>franchise, thriller <em>Scorpio Nights </em>and children's fantasy film <em>Magic Temple</em> – to name a few. He was also an actor, screenwriter and production designer. Gallaga is survived by his wife and five children. Following the news of his death, tributes poured in across social media from fellow celebrities and fans. Actress Anne Curtis-Smith posted a gallery of photos of her with the director to Instagram, writing: "I will forever be grateful to him and Direk Lore for choosing me to be their Princess Dahlia in <em>Magic Kingdom</em>. "It breaks my heart knowing that he won’t get to meet my own little Dahlia. Direk Peque, thank you for giving me a role that would change my life forever. I will miss you and will treasure the memories and lessons you taught me in the craft of acting. Rest in peace. I love you." Fans also took to Twitter. "We lost one of the greatest of all time," wrote one user. "No one influenced my love for local cinema more than Peque Gallaga. RIP, sir. Your legacy as an artist and as a person will live on." Author Richard Bolisay also paid tribute, citing <em>Scorpio Nights</em> as one of his favourites of Gallaga's films. "We are gradually losing some of our radical artists," he added. "What a terrible time."