43 years later, the cast of ‘Oro, Plata, Mata’ reunites

The exhibition transformed memory into conversation, reminding us why "Oro, Plata, Mata" endures.

ARCHIVO 1984 opened its doors for “Merienda in Manapla,” an exhibition celebrating the enduring legacy of Peque Gallaga’s “Oro, Plata, Mata”—a landmark in Philippine cinema. The show gathered film memorabilia, movie stills, and original posters from the 1982 classic, offering audiences a nostalgic return to Gallaga’s world of wartime Negros—its opulence, decay, and humanity.

In attendance were some of the film’s most beloved figures: writer Joey Reyes; cast members Mitch Valdez, Liza Lorena, and Fides Cuyugan Asensio; and Wanggo Gallaga, son of the late director. The reunion bridged generations of artists and cinephiles who continue to be moved by the film’s artistry more than four decades later.

The exhibition included a screening of a short documentary featuring Boy Abunda in conversation with the late Peque Gallaga and actress Cherie Gil—both reflecting candidly on the making of the film and its cultural impact. The audience was also treated to video greetings from Joel Torre and Kuh Ledesma, who shared recollections of their experiences on set and their enduring affection for the film’s legacy.

A casual Q&A followed, where Fides Cuyugan Asensio recalled the “distinct honor” she felt when Gallaga invited her to join the film. She shared that she didn’t even ask for a script or how much she would get paid–”I just wanted to be in a movie,” she said. “And here is the great Peque Gallaga asking me.”

When asked what the hardest part of filming was, Mitch Valdez quickly answered, “Sleeping in nipa huts!” The cast, she said, had to stay in huts perched above a waterfall, where the water was “colder than ice.” How did they keep warm?  “Nagpapabili ako sa bayan…yung jeep pupunta sa bayan—any order?” Valdez shared. “Dalawang tequila gold!”

Liza Lorena shared a more sobering memory: that during filming, there were sightings of NPA members in the nearby hills. They would sometimes hide behind trees and watch the cast shoot scenes. Joey Reyes shared that Gallaga warned the cast to be aware of who they were talking to–they might turn out to be an NPA member. Valdez joked that they could have accidentally asked one of them to get them a coffee. 

After decades’ worth of catching up, some bites of empanadas, and a few friendly games of mahjong, everyone left with smiles, signed movie posters, and an even deeper sense of nostalgia and appreciation for the nearly 50-year-old film. The exhibition transformed memory into conversation, reminding us why “Oro, Plata, Mata” endures—not just on screen, but in the stories shared long after the cameras stopped rolling.

- Mica Magsanoc, Lifestyle INQ