 He has won several international awards such as the award for Best Picture at the Singapore International Film Festival, the Independent Film Festival of Brussels and Gawad Urian in 2002 and Netpac Jury Prize and Best Acting Ensemble (2001 Cinemanila International Film Festival) for his film "Batang West Side" (including Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Music, Best Sound at the Urian), in Gawad Urian in 2005 for the film "Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino" ("Evolution of a Filipino Family"), and Special Jury Prize at the Fribourg International Film Festival in 2006 for "Heremias, Book One".His films often tackle the issues regarding the current social and political state of the Philippines.His film "Kagadanan sa Banwaan ning mga Engkanto" ("Death in the Land of Encantos"), the Closing Film of the orizzonti section of the Venice Film Festival 2007, was awarded with a Golden Lion Special Mention.