Garcia directed "Abakada... Ina" in 2001 and won another Luna Award as Best Director. He was awarded the "Best Actor" for the movie "Mano Po" in 2002. He earned his first "Best Actor in a Drama Series" award at the 2002 Star Awards for portraying the role of Leandro Montemayor, the fictional Philippine President in the television drama series Kung Mawawala Ka from GMA 7. He earned the "Urian Award" for "Pangunahing Aktor" (Best Actor) for the movie "Death Row" in 2000. In 2005, he played the lead role (a senior citizen coming to terms with his mortality) in Rica Arevalo’s "ICU Bed #7"—an entry in the first Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival—for which he won best actor. The "Natatanging Gawad Urian" award was bestowed upon him in 2006.