 He has received an award from the International Film Festival of Flanders-Ghent, Belgium in 1983; a Special Jury Award from the Manila International Film Festival; and the 2004 Gawad CCP Para sa Sining.Gallaga spent his elementary and high school years at De La Salle University in Manila, then finished his bachelor's in commerce and liberal arts at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod.He taught theater and film at the University of St. La Salle.