We all have a story to tell, but we use different means to share it. For the six students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ (PUP’s) College of Communication and Open University System, filmmaking became the medium through which they chose to amplify their stories.
On October 4, Puregold named the finalists for the Student Shorts Category in the Puregold Cinepanalo Film Festival. The list consisted of 25 students from various universities nationwide, including students from PUP.
The student filmmakers’ stories might differ from one another, but they are indeed a gift that is panalo!
The Gift of Companionship
A journey to healing through solace and solidarity. Sometimes, friends become our rock when we face challenges. There are also times a trip gives us the tranquility we’re searching for. It is a universal experience that “Cancer Din Ang Zodiac Mo?” tries to convey.
For the broadcasting student and film director, Allan Balance Jr., the advocacy he wants to promote is “awareness and empathy toward cancer patients while celebrating the power of friendship and healing.” He also aims to spark conversations about illness, loss, strength in shared struggles, and the importance of the people around us.
More than a piece of art, it is also Allan’s love letter to his mother, a cancer patient herself. She, along with her friends, and everyone living with cancer were his inspiration in making the film come to life.
“This moment feels deeply personal and meaningful to me, knowing that their stories and resilience will reach a wider audience,” Balance Jr. shared with The Communicator.
The Gift of Rediscovery
To be loved is to be changed.
Love is a strong element to us humans. It can make, break, and rebuild ourselves.
We can learn significant life lessons by loving anything—family, friends, and even animals.
Mark Joseph Sanchez’s “Our One and Only Bab(o)y” from the Department of Journalism is a story of a man’s journey to rediscover himself and his lost sense of fatherhood through his pig-child, Baby. The film explores the themes of love, loss, and the journey to rediscover oneself.
“Ang vision ko for this film is to effectively convey ‘yung complexity ng human emotions. My advocacy naman is mag-come out siya bilang narrative na you can find the true essence of yourself through different relationships—may it be between you and other people, with nature, and with the life's mundanity,” Sanchez told The Communicator.
It is also love that pushed Mark Joseph to make “One and Only Bab(o)y” while juggling his thesis, internship, and producing their volume for the College of Communication’s official magazine, iCommunicate.
“Hindi ko naman siya nafifeel na trabaho at all dahil mas lumalamang ‘yung passion at hunger [ko] sa ginagawa at gagawin pa namin,” Sanchez added.
The Gift of Identity
Nadia may be a “malambot,” but her values are strong and tough.
“Si Nadia at ang kanyang mga Kuro-Kuro” follows Nadia, an editorial writer of The Malambots, the official publication of the Malambot National High School. Challenged to write an editorial article for their school newspaper, she finds herself at war with her strong values, emotions, thoughts, and the norms imposed upon her. As she navigates through her sexuality and identity, minor moments lead her to a drastic decision.
As per the film director and Advertising and Public Relations student, Aubrey Soriano, she wants to use the transformative power of media to redefine societal norms through Nadia’s story.
“As of now kay Nadia, I believe in the media's power to shape society and culture. Its ability to maintain the dominant ideologies or challenge those dominant ideologies,” Soriano told The Communicator.
Soriano also shared that she wanted to revolve her art highlighting themes of humanity, queer and social struggles, grief, love, hope, and militancy. More than an art that reflects those themes, she wants them to be an art that roars and amplifies a call to action.
For her current project, “Si Nadia at ang kanyang mga Kuro-Kuro,” Soriano is screaming for a single and firm message—“Ang sabi ni Nadia, ‘ipasa na ang SOGIE Bill!”
The Gift of Sisterhood
For Naiah Mendoza, a filmmaker from the Department of Broadcast Communication, her family became a pillar that guided her to overcome every challenge that life throws at her as she navigates her life to adulthood.
Family is at the heart of “Taympers,” Naiah Mendoza’s poignant film that delves into the lives of Yumi and Chloe, two sisters whose bond is tested by life's challenges. The story follows Yumi’s awakening to womanhood as she witnesses her older sister, Chloe, struggle with body pains—an experience that reshapes their relationship and highlights the deep connection that only family can provide.
A tale of growing up, womanhood, and sisterhood, the director hopes that the film will be able to connect with the story through their personal experiences.
“[My vision for the film is] to create a story that tells the collective experience of women and how they explore womanhood and growing up,” said Mendoza.
The Gift of Moving Forward
There’s no other way but forward.
Have you ever felt that a situation is insurmountable, only to realize that overcoming it means you should make a move and stop standing on the same ground?
Perhaps you can find solace in “Checkmate” by Alexie Nicole Pardo’s, a filmmaker and broadcasting student from the Open University System.
The story follows Uno, a young chess prodigy who quit the game to fund his dad’s illness. Uno’s move caused his relationship with his father to strain. A long-avoided dilemma will force them to face their issues from years ago.
Similar to chess, the director of “Checkmate” believes that each person is a significant piece of someone’s life and fight—and it strengthens us to keep going.
“I have written the story with the intention [of supporting] people who experience inescapable situations in their lives, thinking that there’s no more hope to move forward. Even when this world seems broken, there’s always someone who would remind you about who you are and the impact you have given to them,” Pardo shared.
For the director, she hopes more student filmmakers will create a film that aims to “free someone, change a situation, and speak life to our society.” She also encouraged them to inspire the next generation about the beauty of filmmaking, so it wouldn’t end with them.
The Gift of Healing
Life is no ballet. We all have different tempos as we move, and it is not graceful but harsh.
“Dan en Pointe,” a film by Adelbert Abrigonda from the Department of Broadcast Communication will dance us to Dan’s struggle for love, self-acceptance, and healing.
The story shows a young ballet dancer, Dan, as he tiptoes with his on-pointe shoes on through guilt and pressure to honor his mother’s legacy as a former ballerina.
On the film’s crowdfunding video on their Facebook page, Abrigonda shared his admiration for “how far people are willing to go, the sacrifices they made to protect and care for the ones they love.”
Likewise, it is admirable for student filmmakers like Balance, Sanchez, Soriano, Mendoza, Pardo, and Abrigonda to do things they love while pursuing education, despite the lack of support and resources they have. That is why recognition and grants from film festivals like Puregold Cinepanalo are important, as they serve as an avenue for filmmakers to craft their vision into a reality.
However, it must not end there. We, the public, must give our support so our artists keep on creating art. Things as simple as promoting their work or monetary support can go a long way for the filmmakers. In March 2025, let us help our Sintang Filmmakers’ gift to keep giving by patronizing their works at the much-awaited screening of the Puregold Cinepanalo 2025.
Article: Ysabella Franchesca Paches
Graphics: Cathlyn de Raya
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