Oro, Plata, Mata

Oro, Plata, Mata
Original theatrical poster
Directed byPeque Gallaga
Screenplay byJosé Javier Reyes
Story by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRody Lacap
Edited byJesus Navarro
Music byJose Gentica V
Production
company
Distributed by
  • Experimental Cinema of the Philippines
  • Star Cinema[a] (restored version)
Release date
  • January 27, 1982 (1982-01-27)
Running time
194 minutes
CountryPhilippines
Languages
Budget₱2.5 million[1]

Oro, Plata, Mata (Spanish: Gold, Silver, Death) is a 1982 Philippine historical war drama film co-written and directed by Peque Gallaga. The screenplay written and adapted by José Javier Reyes was based on the story developed by Gallaga, along with Mario Taguiwalo and Conchita Castillo. The film is considered to be Gallaga's most significant contribution to the Philippine cinema. Set in the Philippine island of Negros during World War II, it tells the story of how two hacendero families cope with the changes brought about by the war.[2] In translation, the movie is also known either as "Gold, Silver, Bad Luck" or "Gold, Silver, Death."[3]

The title refers to the traditional Spanish Filipino architectural superstition saying that design elements in a house (particularly staircases) should not end in a multiple of three, in keeping with a pattern of oro (gold), plata (silver), and mata (bad luck). The film is structured in three parts that depict this pattern played out in the lives of the main characters, from a life of luxury and comfort in the city ("oro/gold"), to a still-luxurious time of refuge in a provincial hacienda ("plata/silver"), and finally to a retreat deeper into the mountains, where they are victimized by guerilla bandits ("mata/bad luck").[2]

Produced and released by Experimental Cinema of the Philippines, it was filmed on location in the whole province of Negros Occidental, primarily in Bacolod and the Mt. Kanlaon National Park.[4] The staff and crew received extensive assistance and support from the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Tourism, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The film's musical score was provided by Jose Gentica V; the film's photography was handled by Rody Lacap, and the editing was handled by Jesus Navarro. The film's development was financially supported and acknowledged by the Philippine National Bank.[4]

In 2013, ABS-CBN Film Archives in partnership with Central Digital Lab digitally restored and remastered the film and was subsequently released in select theaters for a limited period. The digitally restored version was also released on DVD and iTunes.[5]


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  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gallaga was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Oro, Plata, Mata (front cover). Peque Gallaga. Diliman, Quezon City: Star Recording/ABS CBN. 2008 [1982]. 17-75237-8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ "ORO, PLATA, MATA (1982)". Archived from the original on September 9, 2008. Retrieved May 11, 2008.
  4. ^ a b Sulat Jr, Bert B. (December 1, 2012). "Oro, Plata, Mata: Revisited, restored, riveting still". Rappler. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  5. ^ "Oro, Plata, Mata to be restored in HD". ABS-CBN News. October 21, 2012. Retrieved October 29, 2012.