Celso Ad Castillo is a ranked along with directors Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal for bringing about the Phillipine cinema’s so-called Second Golden Age in the 70’s. Celso was only 21 when he did his first film “Dangerous Mission” (1965) Which signaled his his independent film making years. The movie gave Tito Galla, brother of Gloria Romero, his first starring role opposite Helen Gamboa. At 27, he directed Fernando Poe, Jr. in “Asedillo” (1971), a biography sketch of one of the more charismatic local dissident leader in Southern Tagalog, which gave the action star a FAMAS Best Actor Award. Celso went on to direct FPJ in other films: “The Legend” (1971), “Sto. Domingo” (1972) and “Esteban” (1973). Celso was also known as for such classics as “Nympha”, an erotic film ahead of his time; Celso Ad Castillo made his mark in local movies by creating a stir in the early 70’s wit his sex flicks which were once even condemned as “pornography.” His original “Nympha” was hailed as one of the best movies of the decade, along with his “Asedillo.” Nympha became the second Filipino movie that qualified for competition category in the 1971 Venice Film Festival, after Manuel Conde’s “Genghis Khan.” “Nympha” was shot in black and white and starred a relative newcomer whom Celso simply christened as Rizza (Estella Fabian in real life.) The film erned for Celso his first FAMAS nomination as Best Director, up against Gerry de Leon’s “Lilet”, which starred Celia Rodriguez.