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Acclaimed filmmaker Gil Portes, 71, passes away

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ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1453104" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p><strong>(UPDATED)</strong> Award-winning director Gil Portes was found dead on Wednesday. He was 71. </p><p>The news was confirmed by ABS-CBN News&#x27; Mario Dumaual, quoting Portes&#x27; niece, Ming Tiñana. </p><p>In a text message, Tiñana wrote: &quot;It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Direk Gil Merluza Portes.&quot;</p><p>&quot;As we thank your prayers and expression of sympathy, we also request for privacy for our family at our time of grief.&quot; </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Farewell Direk Gil Portes, 71, a great and passionate storyteller 1945-2017 <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews">@abscbnnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/xKdjDjqall">pic.twitter.com/xKdjDjqall</a></p>— Mario Dumaual (@mariovdumaual) <a href="https://twitter.com/mariovdumaual/status/867426959835267072">May 24, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><p>Portes leaves behind wife Telly and sons Carlo and Justin, who are currently based in the US. </p><p>According to Tiñana, Portes&#x27; family is set to arrive in Manila to oversee the funeral arrangements. They will be announcing them soon, she added. </p><p>Considered the country&#x27;s &quot;original indie director,&quot; Portes directed several award-winning films, such as &quot;Saranggola,&quot; &quot;Gatas sa Dibdib ng Kaaway,&quot; and &quot;Mga Munting Tinig,&quot; which were all submitted as official Philippine entries for best foreign language film in the US Academy Awards.</p><p>Portes also worked with some of the country&#x27;s biggest stars including Dolphy in &quot;Markova: Comfort Gay&quot; and veteran actress Nora Aunor in &quot;Merika.&quot; </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li>READ: <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/-depth/07/11/12/how-dolphys-comfort-gay-film-made-history-brussels">How Dolphy&#x27;s &#x27;Comfort Gay&#x27; film made history at Brussels</a></li></ul><p>Portes graduated with a Journalism degree at University of Santo Tomas but his first job was in advertising. At 23, he joined ABS-CBN as a production assistant. </p><p>He later on received a scholarship grant at the City University of New York, where he studied television and film production. </p><p>He made his directorial debut in 1976 with the film &quot;Tiket Mama! Tiket Ale! Sa Linggo ang Bola.&quot;</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://scontent.fmnl2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13882558_1036551433107247_6598170743881541564_n.jpg?oh=39ba22a75764b06ba19fb7996340a128&amp;oe=59BD1A57"/></figure></div><p>One of his last films was the historical drama &quot;Ang Hapis at Himagsik ni Hermano Puli,&quot; which was chosen as the closing film of last year&#x27;s Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. </p><p>Most recently, he directed &quot;Moonlight Over Baler.&quot;</p>

<p>Award-winning director Gil Portes was found dead on Wednesday. He was 71.</p>