Orestes Ojeda and Anna Marie Gutierrez in Peque Gallaga's "Scorpio Nights" (1985)
Orestes Ojeda, known for starring in various film classics, has passed away due to pancreatic cancer, his family confirmed.
The veteran actor’s family made the announcement of Ojeda’s death through reports yesterday, July 27 (2021).
Ojeda, born Luis Pagalilaluan, started his showbiz career at the age of 17. He acted in several TV shows and films over a span of decades, but he is well known for starring in the Peque Gallaga classic erotic drama “Scorpio Nights,” alongside actors Anna Marie Gutierrez and Daniel Fernando.
His daughter, Lois Nicole Pagalilaluan mourned the death of the late actor through a Facebook post today, July 28. She described Ojeda as a blessing to others and recalled the tender memories she had with her father. Pagalilaluan admitted she found it difficult to wake up knowing that the actor is gone, but said she was comforted by the fact that he is no longer in pain.
Meanwhile, Gutierrez paid tribute to Ojeda by showing her photos with the actor on her Facebook page yesterday. She described him as a “gentleman” and asked fans to pray for Ojeda.
“I’m very sad to know that my co-star in ‘Scorpio Nights’ and a good friend Orestes Ojeda passed away. He was a gentleman, polite and kind,” she said.
Musical director Susan Tagle, who worked with Ojeda in the protest play “Pagsambang Bayan,” meanwhile recalled that the actor “did not act like a star” when they worked together.
“He portrayed the role so well that we looked beyond the handsome face and the well-built physique, and instead hung on to his ‘sermon’ for the powerful message it held. He was also a quiet man, easygoing and always had a smile on his face,” Tagle said.
Aside from “Scorpio Nights,” Ojeda also starred in films helmed by several other esteemed Filipino directors, such as “Manila By Night” by Ishmael Bernal, and “Dekada ’70” by Chito Roño. He developed a passion for painting and set up the art galleries Art Verite and Art Cube.
Dana Cruz/JB
INQUIRER.net / 12:48 PM July 28, 202
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY:
"Bawal: Asawa Mo, Asawa Ko!" (1974)
Juan de la Cruz Productions
A Sine Pilipino Release
Release Date June 7, 1974
Cinematography Rudy Dino & Rey de Leon
Screenplay Douglas Quijano, Elwood Perez & Joey Gosiengfiao
Music Demet Velasquez
Producer Hernando Mendoza
Executive Producer Joey Gosiengfiao
Direction Elwood Perez
Cast Vic Vargas, Ricky Belmonte, Orestes Ojeda and Victor Laurel/ Celia Rodriguez, Boots Anson-Roa, Liza Lorena and Gina Pareno/ Also Starring Maricru del Gallego, Angie Ferro, Angelito, Martin Marfil, Ronaldo Ruiz and Greg Lozano
"Isang Gabi... Tatlong Babae!" (1974)
Juan de la Cruz Productions
Release Date December 1, 1974
Screenplay W. Nolledo, O. Nadres, J. Gosiengfiao
Cinematography R. Dinio, R. de Leon
Film Editor R. Salvador
Music Demet Velasquez
Produced by Hernando Mendoza, Elwood Perez, Joey Gosiengfiao
Direction Elwood Perez
Cast Amalia Fuentes, Boots Anson-Roa, Pilar Pilapil, Luis Gonzales, Ricky Belmonte, Ramil Rodriguez, Ray Marcos and Orestes Ojeda/ Special Appearances of Marissa Delgado, Bella Flores, Anita Linda Mona Lisa, Angelito/ Also STarring Angie ferro, Ellen Esguerra, Ernest Santiago, Sandy Garcia, Roy Vinzons, Fanny, Pando/ Featuring Gigi Bautista, Bernice Romualdez
"Huwag Kayong Maglaro ng Apoy!" (1974)
Juan de la Cruz Productions
Release Date 1973
Direction Joey Gosiengfiao and Elwood Perez
Cast Boots Anson-Roa, Pilar Pilapil, Alona Alegre, Orestes Ojeda, Celia Rodriguez, Luis Gonzales, Rosemarie Gil, Larry Walker, Vina Cansino
"May Isang Tsuper ng Taksi" (1975)
Juan de la Cruz Productions
Release Date August 15, 1975
Written by Orlando Nadres, Toto Belano, Elwood Perez, Joey Gosiengfiao
Direction Elwood Perez, Luciano B. Carlos, Joey Gosiengfiao
Cast Boots Anson- Roa, Pilar Pilapil, Alona ALegre, Celia Rodriguez, Luis Gonzales, Rosemarie Gil, Vina Cansino and Orestes Ojeda/ Special Participation of Ernie Garcia, Bella Flores, Alvaro Muhlach/ with Larry Walker, Karim Kiram, Sandy Garcia, Pio de Castro III, Melvi Pacubas, Cielo Condes, Marites de Villa, Raffy Favis and Angelito
"Lab Kita... Isadora" (1975)
AM Productions
Release Date October 10, 1975
Screenplay Toto Belano
Cinematography Hermo U. Santos
Direction Luciano B. Carlos
Cast Amalia Fuentes, Ricky Belmonte, Orestes Ojeda, Robert Jaworski and Victor Wood/ Featuring Nino Muhlach/ Also Starring Alvaro Muhlach, Bella Flores, Matimtiman Cruz, Nita Liciln, Tony Carrion, Albert Moran, Jimmy Esteban, Beya Fuentes, Lolita Lopez, Romy Guarin and Fanny
"Magsikap: Kayod sa Araw, Kayod sa Gabi" (1976)
Regal Films, Inc.
Release Date February 8, 1976
Story and Screenplay Nestor Arsenal
Cinematography Loreto Isleta
Music George Canseco
Associate Director Warlito Teodoro
Direction Luciano B. Carlos
Cast Gina Pareño, Elizabeth Oropesa, Orestes Ojeda and Ronaldo Valdez/ Also Starring Dely Atay-atayan, Roderick Paulate, Tita de Villa, Gene Barredo, Pons de Guzman, Jimmy Evangelista
"Piknik" (1976)
MVN Cinema
A Larry Jao Productions
Release Date March 5, 1976
Story Dodie Alvarez
Cinematography Johnny Araojo
Film Editing Rogelio Salvador
Executive Producer Larry R. Jao
Direction Joey Gosiengfiao
Cast Ricky Belmonte, Orestes Ojeda, Ernie Garcia and George Estregan, with Daria Ramirez and Carmen Ronda/ Also Starring Lucita Soriano, Bella Flores, Angge, Hector Gomez III/ Introducing Erick Chandler, Jay Pineda/ with the special participation of Marlon Ramirez
"Pang Umaga... Pang Tanghali... Pang Gabi..." (1977)
Regal Films, Inc.
Release Date February 25, 1977
Cinematography Felizardo Bailen
Music George Canseco
Story and Direction Luciano B. Carlos
Cast Gina Pareno, Elizabeth Oropesa, Orestes Ojeda, Eddie Garcia/ Introducing Sabrina/ Also Starring Ven Medina, Tita de Villa, Venchito Galvez, Rafael Lucas
"Basta Kabit May Sabit" (1978)
JPM Propductions, Inc.
Release Date March 3, 1978
Screenplay Toto Belano
Direction Luciano B. Carlos
Cast Trixia Gomez, Vivian Velez, Barbara Luna, Eddie Gutierrez, Orestes Ojeda, Roel Vergel de Dios, Raul Aragon and Celia Rodriguez
"Huwag Hamakin: Hostess" (1978)
JPM Productions
Release Date August 25, 1978
Story Lito Sanches
Screenplay Toto Belano
Cinematography R. de Leon
Editing Segundino Ramos
Direction Joey Gosiengfiao
Cast Nora Aunor, Alma Moreno, Orestes Ojeda
"Katawang Alabok" (1978)
Agrix Films Production, Inc.
Release Date December 25, 1978
The 4th Metro Manila Film Festival Entry
Story Pablo S. Gomez, Mil Acabar
Screenplay Allan Jayme Rabaya
Choreography Nards Apuhin
Cinematography Totoy Jacinto
Art Direction/ Production Design Robert L. Lee, Peter Perlas
Music George Canseco
Direction Emmanuel H. Borlaza
Cast Robert Arevalo, Daisy Romualdez, Orested Ojeda, Janet Bordon, Vic Silayan and Lorna Tolentino/ Also Starring Manny Luna, Anita Linda, Lucita Soriano, Mervin Samson,Angie Ferro, Mia Montemayor/ Featuring Ramon Recto
"Bedspacers" (1979)
Regal Films, Inc.
Release Date November 30, 1979
Cinematography Ricardo Jacinto
Film Editing Rogelio Salvador
Music Jun Latonio
Direction Joey Gosiengfiao
Cast Alma Moreno, Rio Locsin, Amy Austria, Al Tantay, Mark Gil and Orestes Ojeda/ Introducing Deborah Sun
"Nympha" (1980)
Regal Films, Inc.
Release Date March 7, 1980
Direction Joey Gosiengfiao
Cast Alma Moreno (in the title role), Ricky Belmonte, Deborah Sun and Orestes Ojeda/ Introducing Alfie Anido
"Manila by Night (City After Dark)" (1980)
Regal Films
Release Date November 28, 1980
Story and Screenplay Ishmael Bernal
Film Editor Augusto Salvador
Director of Photography Sergio Lobo
Music Vanishing Tribe
Direction Ishmael Bernal
Cast Charito Solis, Alma Moreno, Lorna Tolentino, Rio Locsin, Cherie Gil, Gina Alajar, Orestes Ojeda, Bernardo Bernardo and William Martinez
Martial Law era poster of the original, uncensored version of the movie
(Synopsis) Bea (Rio Locsin) is a blind girl working as a masseuse in a massage parlor. Her closest friend is the lesbian Kano (Cherie Gil), who is both a drug pusher and addict. They are joined by Baby (Lorna Tolentino), a naïve probinsyana who was enticed to come to Manila by her boyfriend. Baby falls in love with Pebrero (Orestes Ojeda), a taxi driver and father of two children. He makes Baby pregnant and eventually becomes a single mother. Ade (Alma Moreno), Pebrero’s live-in partner, secretly works as a prostitute to support her good-for-nothing lover. She does not know that Pebrero is also the lover of Manay (Bernardo Bernardo), a gay couturier. But it is Alex (William Martinez), an adolescent drug addict/ night club singer, who is Manay’s true love.
Virgie (Charito Solis), Alex’s mother is so worried about her son that she searches for him in a gay bar. She comes across Manay, who knows of Virgie’s past as a prostitute. Because he really loves Alex, Manay returns Alex to his mother before the teenager becomes more involved in narcotics and homosexuality.
As Baby’s condition becomes more apparent, she quits her job as a waitress and becomes a whore. The police chase after Kano and she is eventually captured. Ade suffers a meaningless and bloody death as the New Year’s Eve revelry begins. In the end, it is only Bea who manages to find a way out of her mess.
(Source- Kasaysayan at Pelikula: 100 Years of Cinema in the Philippines / June 17- 23, 1998)
Manila by Night: A Queer Film Classic by Joel David
"Angkinin Mo Ako" (1983)
Lotus Films
Release Date May 19, 1983
Written and Directed by Mauro Gia Samonte
Cast Stella Strada, Celia Rodriguez, Ernie Garcia, Orestes Ojeda, Greggy Liwag and Edgar Mande/ Special Participation- Rowena Ruiz
"Scorpio Nights" (1985)
Regal Films
Release Date August 8, 1985
Story T.E. Pagaspas and Romel Bernardino
Screenplay Rosauro Q. de la Cruz
Cinematography Ely Cruz
Editor Jesus M. Navarro
Sound Effects Danny Sanchez
Sound Supervision Rudy Baldovino
Production Design Don Escudero
Project Coordinator Douglas C, Quiajano
Music Jaime Fabregas
Executive Producer Lily Yu Monteverde
Direction Peque Gallaga
Cast Orestes Ojeda, Daniel Fernando and Anna Marie Gutierrez, with Eugene Enriquez, Amanda Amores, Mike Austria
