Benildeans rule IS Manila film tilt for 4th straight year

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Student filmmakers from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde led the winners of the Manila Student Film Festival for the fourth consecutive year after it has recently concluded its awarding ceremony at the International School Manila (ISM) Fine Arts Theater.

Ryan Miguel Capili’s “Damgo sa Kahitas-an” won Best Film in the 19-22 age group while fellow Benildean Vahn Pascual’s “Ang Mga Sisiw sa Kagubatan” brought home Best Animation from the ISM filmfest.

“Damgo sa Kahitas-an” tells the story of a high school student who aspires to study film in college, but everyone around him is against his plan. Capili shared that it “comes from a personal story of trying to pursue arts” instead of other courses.

Meanwhile, “Ang Mga Sisiw sa Kagubatan” features a chick living in the forest which strives to live peacefully together with its community amid the persistent presence of a hungry monster in town.

Pascual, whose other animation “Blue Is Not My Favorite Color” were also among the MSFF finalists, previously received the Best Film award last year for his film “Sina Alexa, Xander at Ang Universe.”

“But the award that I received this year is more meaningful to me because editing and animation are really not my cup of tea and I really have no knowledge on it when I did these projects. I made these films last 2020 and 2021 out of boredom during the surge of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown,” Pascual revealed.

Other Benilde student films, namely “Taya” by Maxine Muñoz, “Rat Race” by Kat Quinio, “Patay-Gutom” by James Bueno and Joshua Rayo, and “At the Hour of Our Death” by Avery Villa, Aza Gellera, Jericho Rimando, Gillian Navarro, Kylle Quiatchon, Ryan Paraboles, and Francesca Ventanilla also made the cut.

MSFF is open to students who are enrolled in grade school (8-11 age category), junior high school (12-14 age category), senior high school (15-18 age category) or college (19-22 age category) nationwide.

“Bob’s Chocolate Catastrophe” and “Food for Thought” from CJ Limjap, Emil Pyykko, Selma White-Pascual, and Lucas Arambulo-Clinton of IS Manila ruled the 8-11 and 15-18 age groups, respectively.

A special prize was awarded to “The Collector” of senior BS Entertainment and Multimedia Computing students from Jose Rizal University. Director Gerry Garcia, editor Elvin Matthew Nido, storyboard artist Creshane Zaslove Pausal, 3D character artist Jong Won Teves, and environment artist Austine Leigh Abedejos of The Cool2 Studios came up with the animated film about a lonely grim reaper who reevaluates his longing to be recognized by the living when he found out that a stray dog could see him.

Broadcast journalist, documentary filmmaker, impact producer, and cancer advocate Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala and screenwriter, director, producer, and editor Coreen “Monster” Jimenez served as jury.

Last year, DLS-CSB’s “Iridescent” by Chiara Parreñas bagged Best Animation and “Ang Awit na Lipos sa Pangungulila” by Dan Verzosa and “Sina Alexa, Xander at ang Universe” tied for Best Film (19-22 group).

“Gayuma” by Trixie Vertera took home the Audience Choice Award and “Sala, Salin Laway” by Verzosa for Haraya Films and Alak at Pelikula Productions led the same age category for Benilde films in 2021.

Aki Red’s “Lilipad Na Si Birdie” started DLS-CSB’s string of victories in the MSFF three years ago.

Angat Buhay’s Museo ng Pag-asa to Welcome Walk-Ins in March

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Starting March 1, 2023, Angat Buhay will be admitting walk-in visitors to the Museo ng Pag-asa, where the non-government organization (NGO) holds office and curates artifacts, memorabilia, and multimedia materials from the 2022 people’s campaign.

Part of the museum’s collections are handcrafted items that were personally given to Angat Buhay Board Chairperson Atty. Leni Robredo by individuals and organizations all over the country, many of which are now part of the Angat Bayanihan Volunteer Network that supports and implements programs, projects, and activities of the NGO.

“Everyone is invited to visit the museum, to revisit key moments of bayanihan in recent years, and to keep its spirit alive by supporting Angat Buhay’s mission to help more marginalized communities all over the country,” said Raffy Magno, Executive Director of Angat Buhay.

Visitors can secure a museum pass for P100, except for children, students, senior citizens, and PWDs can do so for only P50, when they go to the Museo ng Pag-asa located at 84 Cordillera St., Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City from Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00AM-4:00PM.

They can also find more information by clicking on the link below: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02BESo569Q938MFMWpageACSFGtXmsj91ircJAHXFGW25XgL22iVe7JiaFvVFsfxmDl&id=100083177868563&mibextid=qC1gEa

Short films on climate change featuring native trees, daily life top 6th Indie-Siyensya

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Moments filled with excitement and anticipation surrounded the halls of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) last February 25 as the 6th Indie-Siyensya Filmmaking Competition organized by the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute marked its first physical Awarding Ceremony after almost three years and two seasons of virtual runs.

"K5: Katutubong Kahoy Kontra Krisis sa Klima" directed by Celine Murillo bagged the best film award for the open category. The mini-documentary film discusses how planting native trees, while limited, is an important nature-based solution for mitigating the climate crisis.

Second best film for the open category was awarded to “Climacts” by DOST-SEI scholar and De La Salle University student Kyle Carlo Lasala. Climacts is a documentary film that highlights the root cause and drastic effects of climate change. It features the existing and developing actions with emphasis on systemic change.

Meanwhile, “Marka ng Pawikan,” a film directed by Humphrey Mark Gian Francesco Torcuator, a captivating film which shows how climate change directly affects pawikan’s brooding and survival, causing detrimental effects to their species, received the award for the third best film for the open category.

For the Youth category, “Tanaw Juan” directed by Yashmen A. Gerez of Quezon Science High School won the Best Film Award. The movie was praised for its powerful storytelling, compelling character, and its ability to raise awareness on the impacts of climate change in everyday life. It follows the story of Juan who goes through his normal daily routine and casually explains scientific concepts and phenomena surrounding climate change with various encounters throughout his errand journey.

The team’s concept of climate change expression and communication is delivered through an interactive, engaging, and fun way transitioning into a motivational mood for a call for action as the film’s ending statement.

The power duo of sisters Sophia and Felizia Shayn of De La Salle University and Marcelo H. del Pilar won the second-best film under the youth category for their entry “Marvels of Science: Climate Change.” Their explainer tackled climate change's impacts to life, environment and the entire world.

The film “Sirak” by Charles Joshua Uy of Philippine Science High School - Eastern Visayas Campus snatched the third-best film award for the youth category. “Sirak,” a Waray word which means sunny, is an explainer film which communicates climate change through the greatest common denominator, which is heat felt by humans.

Also bagging trophies and cash grants were crowd favorites "Climacts,” and “Tanaw Juan” for winning the Viewers’ Choice Award for the Open and Youth category. These films garnered the most number of votes gathered during the physical voting held at Cinematheque Centres last January 21-22 and online voting held last January 28 to February 6.

All top three films for each category received a clapperback-designed 3D trophy, a certificate, and a cash grant. The best films were given P100,000 while the second and third best films received P50,000 and P30,000, respectively. Other finalists also won consolation prizes of P5,000 each, while the Viewers’ Choice Awardees claimed a cash grant of P20,000, a certificate and a trophy.

The department’s leader, Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr., emphasized the importance of science communication in national development, anchored in research that is impactful, useful and relevant to society.

“Through the Indie-Siyensya Science Filmmaking Competition, we hope to highlight the important role of science for national development, encourage our students to pursue meaningful STEM careers, and contribute to forwarding important causes and moving people into positive action,” Sec. Solidum added.

DOST-SEI Director Josette T. Biyo also thanked all the filmmakers for making this year’s Indie-Siyensya run a special one as it gathered more than 200 film entries, a record high since the competition was launched. She also thanked DOST-SEI's partner, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), for being instrumental in popularizing the science films through film screenings in Cinematheque Centres and online viewing platform JuanFlix.

“We give thanks to our young Filipino filmmakers, who were brave enough to participate and take the challenge to be part of Indie-Siyensya's movement to use films to communicate science and forward social and scientific advocacy,” Dr. Biyo said.

Indie-Siyensya, which aims to promote science communication and provide a platform for young filmmakers to highlight their work, featured thought-provoking films that tackle encompassing topics on climate change - from its threatening impacts to helping mitigate its effects and offering solutions all related to the theme “Communicating Climate Change Action.” The top three best films from each category outshine 267 entries from across the Philippines.

The next season for the Indie-Siyensya Film Festival is expected to return in the second quarter of the year.