NEWS FEATURE

Echoes of young voices: COCians cultivate awareness-raising in DokyuBata 2023

BY PATRICIA LANZAGARITA | NOVEMBER 22, 2023

Posters that were used by the three local production teams from the PUP - College of Communication. | via Patricia Lanzagarita

Future media practitioners, who consist of student journalists, broadcasters, and filmmakers, among others, are trained in the academe to use their platforms to amplify the voices of the people who are constantly being muted and unheard.

Surpassing their capabilities and being the avenue of childhood stories, student filmmakers from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines - College of Communication (PUP-COC) won several awards and raised awareness in their documentaries during DokyuBata 2023 on November 10 at GSIS Theater, Pasay City.

The documentary tilt was organized by the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT), which intends to produce child-friendly contents proving that the rich culture and tradition of the country shaped the everyday lives and identities of the Filipino youth.

Culture and tradition in gaming

Out of 10 shortlisted documentaries for the Young Adult Division, 'Building Blox’ of Tasá Productions was hailed as the ‘Most Child-Friendly Documentary.’ It tells the story of how technology shapes our customary culture and tradition, featuring the story of the Roblox Traslacion made by the Roblox Filipino Catholics.

Roblox Filipino Catholics is the first-ever group that offers virtual religious events inside the online role-playing game Roblox. One of their goals is to preserve the religious culture of the Filipino community during the feast of the Black Nazarene called ‘Traslacion,’ which was first suspended in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting (BABR) 3-2D student and Tasá Productions producer Carey Erwin Bayno said that they want to make a child-friendly documentary that will not limit the children but instead encourage them to continue being imaginative, playful, and curious. With this, their team sees gaming not just as entertainment but also as an avenue for cultivating our culture and tradition.

“Tingnan [natin] na ang paglalaro ay hindi lamang isang panganib o paglilibang, bagkus ito ay isang medium para matuto ang isang tao at kung paano sumasalamin ang pagkatuto sa kinahaharap ng lipunan,” said Bayno.

The producer reiterated that parents and children must learn the fundamentals of digital and game literacy, as dangers are continuously lurking on the internet and gaming platforms. Just like in physical games, guidance is vital in gaming.

Regional voices of local workers

Ligaya Productions clinched the ‘Best Poster Award’ in the Young Adult Division with their documentary titled ‘Hangga’t May Tubig.'

The documentary tells the story of mag-aasin workers in one of the municipalities of the salt capital of the Philippines, Dasol, in Pangasinan. It tackles the resistance of mag-aasin workers against salt importation and reclamation plans or projects of the government on their salt farms.

BABR alumnus and Ligaya Productions director Tristan Solinap told Twinkle that they wanted to highlight the mission of the competition in amplifying the regional voices of every community in the country using their local products, of which Pangasinan is included.

Solinap pointed out that their documentary intends to raise awareness about several issues concerning the mag-aasin and their calls.

“Gusto talaga nating magkaroon ng pagpapahalaga ang kabataan ngayon sa mga resources natin tulad ng asin kasi kagaya ng pagsasaka at pangingisda, may mga mag-aasin ding araw-araw kumakayod para sa mga Pilipinong nangangailangan ng asin,” added the director.

Resisting climate change

As a finalist, K1N5E Productions presented their documentary titled ‘Baka Bukas Bakas na si Banaue’, which tackles the deterioration of the Banaue Rice Terraces due to climate change and the migration of young farmers to places that offer many opportunities.

BABR 3-2D student and the producer of the production, Argie Cabanlig, stated that they wanted to tell the genuine story of the place that is included in the 8 Wonders of the Philippines. They wanted to instill awareness in children about climate change and its long-term effects on our cultural heritage and environment.

“‘Yung kahalagahan nito at hindi lang sa mga mamamayan kundi pati na rin sa pamahalaan na maglaan sila ng kaukulang pondo at siguro oras para malaman nila yung kalagayan ng Rice Terraces na kung hindi matutugunan yung mga kinakaharap nitong issue ay balang araw magiging bakas nalang si Banaue,” said Cabanlig.

The producer also stressed that the young generation needs to learn how to preserve our environment, starting with little steps such as disposing of our garbage properly.

To be the voices of the unheard is their main mission, and in exchange for their desire to be of service to the youth, they are calling for adequate support for their production in terms of equipment and budget.

“Kung tutuusin, lahat ng student-filmmakers ay kinahaharap ito. Budget at suporta ang pinakamalaking problema ng aming produksyon,” said Bayno.

Despite challenges, these future media practitioners stay true to their pursuit to be the storyteller and light of the people who are being left behind in the dark. Regardless of different themes and topics, these production teams have one calling: to continue producing 'socially relevant' and community-centered documentaries.