Benildean cinema takes the spotlight anew at Cinemalaya

Wazzup Pilipinas?!



The independent film scene is buzzing with energy, and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde is right at the center of the excitement. This year, Benilde has more reasons to celebrate as four more of its faculty members and alumni have been officially selected to compete in both the full-length and short film categories of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2026.

In the full-length category, Benilde Film educator Dustin Celestino unveils his tension-filled drama “A.ni.mál.” The plot kicks off when Lily, the daughter of a small-town mayor, returns home with a video that exposes a powerful governor abusing his dog. “A.ni.mál” stars Maxine Ignacio, Jojit Lorenzo, Reymund Domingo, Frances Makil-Ignacio, Bituin Escalante, and Anthony Falcon.

What sets “A.ni.mál” apart is that the entire film was shot using an iPhone 17 Pro Max. When financial constraints almost forced the team to back out, they decided to ditch traditional camera rentals. Instead, they redirected their budget to ensure the cast and crew were properly paid. Inspired by the raw, minimalist principles of Dogme 95, Celestino relied on natural light, sharp dialogue, and fly-on-the-wall framing to build an uncomfortable sense of reality.

Sharing the full-length spotlight is Benilde Film alumnus Vahn Leinard Pascual, who makes his feature directorial debut with the comedy-drama “Status: Rejected.” For Pascual, transitioning from an avid festival spectator looking up to industry icons to standing along with them as a peer marks a significant milestone in his artistic journey.

In the film, Virginia “Biring” Divinagracia (played by Ruby Ruiz), a 69-year-old widow, feels lonely at home and longs to move to America to reunite with her favorite son. After facing her fourth visa rejection from the embassy, her best friend convinces her to dive into the digital world to look for a foreign partner instead. Ruiz co-stars with Alessandra de Rossi, Beverly Salviejo, and Yani Villarosa.

Moving over to the short film category, Celestino’s fellow Benilde Film faculty member Lot-lot Hermosura presents a deeply moving piece entitled “The River Flows in Different Places.” The narrative traces the internal, emotional realities of two Filipino-Palestinian mothers forced to escape the conflict in Gaza. The documentary previously won the grand prize in the inaugural Films for Peace short film competition of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

Joining Hermosura is Benilde Multimedia Arts alumna Gabriela Serrano with her sci-fi drama “Elenita Elena Elaine.” Set during a single night in an alternate reality where humanity has entirely lost the ability to dream, the film weaves together the ordinary routines and internal worlds of three women: a pop idol bracing for her last televised performance, a fresh graduate packing up her childhood bedroom for a job overseas, and a call center agent watching her voice get swallowed by ambient noise.

Serrano directs, edits, and co-writes the screenplay with her sister Mariana. The short film features a stellar cast including Agot Isidro, Gabby Padilla, and Mariana Serrano.

Through raw storytelling, technical ingenuity, and deeply personal narratives, these Benildean filmmakers are showcasing the vibrant future of contemporary Philippine cinema. Catch their films from August 6 to 18 at Shangri-La Plaza Red Carpet Cinemas, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Ayala Malls Circuit, Glorietta, Market! Market!, TriNoma, and Gateway Cineplex 18.

The Sun’s Reckoning: Bangladesh’s Race to Defy a Volatile World

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

DHAKA — As the fires of geopolitical conflict rage in the Middle East, sending tremors through global petroleum markets, the world is finding itself held hostage by the precariousness of traditional energy supplies. For Bangladesh, this is no longer a distant crisis; it is a clarion call to secure its future. The nation is now pivotally turning toward a silent, inexhaustible ally: the sun.

In a bold shift, Bangladesh is aggressively pivoting from the vulnerabilities of imported fuel toward an ambitious, sun-drenched future. Experts now argue that green energy is no longer just an environmental goal—it is a strategic requirement for national survival.

The New Security Frontier

"Unexpected situations like this prove how much clean energy is crucial for ensuring energy security and economic resilience," explains Shafiqul Alam, Lead Energy Analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

The economic data supports this pivot. Nations that have already fortified their grids with substantial renewable investments—such as China, India, and Pakistan—have weathered the recent instability in Iran with far greater resilience. For Bangladesh, the math is becoming increasingly undeniable: the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for solar is already proving more competitive than gas and significantly cheaper than coal.

The Path to Power: From Policy to Panels

The government has responded with a dual-pronged strategy: aggressive legislative reform and large-scale infrastructure projects.

Zero-Tariff Vision: A landmark 10-year, zero-tariff facility on solar panel imports has been enacted to catalyze growth.

The 2030-2040 Horizon: Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood has set a target of meeting 20% of total demand from renewables by 2030, surging to 30% by 2040.

Revival and Reform: Under the current administration, six previously stalled solar projects have been brought back to life, with tariffs slashed by an average of 2.5 US cents per kilowatt-hour, proving that efficiency is as vital as volume.

Currently, the national grid draws 1807.75 MW from renewable sources, with solar leading the charge at over 83%. But the ambition is higher: the goal is to expand this stake to 10,000 MW.

Breaking Barriers: The Call for Grassroots Empowerment

While the institutional shift is well underway, experts like Professor Dr. Ijaz Hossain, former dean of BUET, believe the real revolution will happen in the hearts and homes of the people.

"The tax benefits are currently limited to large project developers," notes Dr. Hossain. "If the government simplifies access for independent buyers and general households, we could see an explosion of solar capacity similar to the rapid growth observed in Pakistan."

This sentiment is echoed by Hasan Mehedi of the Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), who argues that empowering citizens to install their own rooftop solar systems would alleviate the burden on state coffers entirely while accelerating progress toward the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG-7).

A Nation in Transition

The horizon is changing. From the 1.0 MW rooftop system at Sangsad Bhaban inaugurated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to the massive 100 MW solar park rising in Jamalpur’s Madarganj, the transformation is tangible. Even the landscape of waste is being repurposed, with ambitious waste-to-energy projects in Aminbazar and Matuail set to generate nearly 264 MW of power.

As the nation moves away from a 40% reliance on dwindling gas reserves, it is embracing a new, self-reliant identity. The message is clear: in an era of global uncertainty, Bangladesh is looking to the sky to ensure the lights stay on, the economy remains resilient, and the future remains bright.

What aspect of this energy transition—the large-scale infrastructure projects or the shift toward individual household solar adoption—do you believe will have the most significant impact on Bangladesh's long-term energy independence?

Versatile actor embracing growth beyond VMX

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

 

Actor Victor “VR” Relosa is redefining his career trajectory. Moving beyond his roots in VMX films, Relosa is earning a reputation as a dedicated artist committed to honing his craft through professional training, critical independent film roles, and experimental ventures into theater.

Relosa recently completed The Master Series: Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Acting Workshop for Filipino Talents 2026 as one of only 20 participants selected through a competitive audition process. The intensive 10-day program, which ran from July 7 to 16, offered exposure to three distinct industry methodologies from directors Laurice Guillen, Jose Javier “Direk Joey” Reyes, and Joel Lamangan.

Reflecting on the experience, Relosa expressed his gratitude to FDCP and its supportive staff, noting that the program offered deep insight into directors’ expectations behind the monitor. “I came in hoping to learn more about acting, but I left with so much more,” he revealed.

“To our mentors, thank you for sharing not just your knowledge, but also your hearts. Each of you has a unique way of seeing stories, characters, and people, and getting to experience that firsthand was truly a privilege. I’ll carry your lessons with me in every role I take on,” Relosa shared.

“I hope more actors get to experience workshops like this because they really help not just in acting, but also in understanding the industry better through the stories these three directors shared about their lives and their decades of experience as actors and directors,” he added.

Relosa’s recent screen credits showcase his artistic range through compelling performances in major local film festivals.

In “Hoy, Hoy, Ingat!” (one of the short film finalists in this year’s Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival), Relosa stars as Bhing, a hardworking older brother fighting to reclaim his family’s impounded jeepney. Alycia Avila co-stars as his sister Baby.

Directed by Norvin De Los Santos, the short film centers on urban poverty, systemic struggle, and the defense against jeepney phaseout. The film, which blends humor, music, and dreamlike storytelling, previously won the Critics Prize at the 2025 QCinema International Film Festival. It screens as part of the Cinemalaya program from August 6 to 18, at Shangri-La Plaza Red Carpet Cinemas, Gateway Cineplex 18, and select Ayala Mall cinemas.

Meanwhile, in the short film “Starfish” by John Clite Apolinar from Polytechnic University of the Philippines for Puregold’s CinePanalo Film Festival 2026, Relosa takes on the lead role of Boyet. The narrative follows a former Manila macho dancer who returns to his home province after losing his job, navigating family dynamics along with his sister Pia (Nour Hooshmand) and their traditional father Domeng (Floyd Tena).

Demonstrating a fearlessness toward new creative challenges, Relosa also made his musical theater debut last June 28, starring in “Sa Apolonio Samson, Si Apolonio Samson.” Produced by Dulaang Apolonio Samson and the Barangay Apolonio Samson Council in Quezon City, the historical, community-driven play featured a dual-timeline structure bridging the 1896 Philippine Revolution with modern-day struggles.

Despite the vocal challenge, Relosa committed to ten intensive weekend rehearsals to master eight songs (including three solos). Performing with local residents, students, and persons with disabilities, he delivered an emotionally raw performance shaped by real community histories, performing with actors portraying historical icons Andres Bonifacio and Gregoria de Jesus.

Relosa’s momentum shows no signs of slowing down as he continues to transition into complex mainstream and independent roles.

The actor enters the psychological horror genre in “Immaculada,” a co-production of CVP, Arrowhead Cinepoint Audio Visual Rental, and ATC Remote Studio. Supported by FDCP’s CreatePH Films funding program, the film features Relosa, co-starring with Elora Españo, Joel Saracho, and Carla Zarcal, in a dark monstrous role representing the hidden terrors of the story.

In addition, Relosa also joins an ensemble cast that includes Cedrick Juan, Jennica Garcia, Albie Casiño, and Paolo Gumabao in “Andoy,” solidifying his place in psychological thrillers.

Armed with the techniques gained from his recent training and a clear focus on artistic growth, Relosa continues to expand his capabilities, establishing himself as a versatile force in the changing landscape of Philippine cinema.