Pete Lacaba’s brilliance as a writer carried over to the big screen, with films like Sister Stella L., Jaguar, Rizal Sa Dapitan, and Segurista, now regarded as timeless classics in Philippine film history.
Journalist. Poet. Activist. Translator.
Jose Maria “Pete” Lacaba is all these to those familiar with his contributions to Philippine media and literature.
Another lesser-known facet of his brilliance is his work as a screenwriter for Philippine cinema.
Although his screenwriting portfolio may not be as extensive as some of his peers, Lacaba’s work includes critically acclaimed films that have, over time, earned admiration for their socio-political themes, which remain relevant today.
The recently concluded Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival reminded viewers of this fact with the screening of Jaguar, the 1979 classic crime-drama film directed by Lino Brocka and written by Lacaba with Ricky Lee.
Jaguar was showcased last year at the 16th Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, France, presented in its fully restored 4K version.
Viewers who missed the Sinag Maynila screening will have another opportunity today, Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Archivo 1984 Gallery in Karrivin Plaza, Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City.
The screening begins at 3:30 p.m. and will be accompanied by an exhibit featuring never-before-seen photos from the film, which will be unveiled to the public for the first time.
According to Lifestyle Asia, Jaguar lead stars Phillip Salvador and Amy Austria are also expected to attend the event.
The reemergence of Jaguar provides a good moment to revisit some of Lacaba’s most notable works on the big screen, many of which are now regarded as essential viewing — if and when they can be found — for both casual audiences and film enthusiasts.
Jaguar
Released in 1979, Jaguar was inspired by the 1960 Brown Derby shooting in Los Angeles, a case documented by writer-journalist Nick Joaquin in his piece “The Boy Who Wanted to Become Society.”
National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee, who co-wrote the script with Lacaba, recalled how they tirelessly reworked the narrative and dialogue, guided only by director Lino Brocka’s “minimal” comments.
The word “jaguar” is a slang term and a play on words for "guwardiya."
Jaguar earned the Philippines its first nomination for Palme d’Or –the highest prize awarded to the director of the Best Feature Film of the Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival– in 1980.
Locally, Jaguar clinched several awards, including Best Picture and Best Director from the FAMAS, and Best Direction and Best Picture from the Gawad Urian.
More importantly, the film has endured as a classic, with its themes of poverty, social inequality, and corruption remaining strikingly relevant today.