Mariano Marcos
State University

MMSU student filmmakers recognized in DAR-R1 PelikulAgraryo

By Myrrha Prima Rosa Muli

Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) student filmmakers were recognized in the PelikulAgraryo: Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Central and Regional Film Festival held on October 2, 2026, at Pangasinan State University - Santa Maria Campus.
 

Out of nine participating schools and 14 teams, Arapaap Creatives from the College of Business, Economics and Accountancy (CBEA) and Tignay Productions from the Department of Communication of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) bagged a total of 13 awards and gained 6 nominations with their short films “47 Hectares Away” in the Agrarian Reform Beneficiary (ARB) category and “Pasado” in the Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organization (ARBO) category.

“47 Hectares Away” by Arapaap Creatives, which was inspired by the story of Dumalneg, Ilocos Norte ARB Ruffino Bacong, won Best Film in the ARB category with five awards: Best Teaser, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Screenplay, and Best Director for Gniro Vinz Pablo.
 

The film also garnered three nominations, including Best Poster, Best Actor for Paul Joshua Taasan, and Best Actress for both Precious Elysha Tabangcura and Vie Santiago.

On the other hand, “Pasado” by Tignay Productions, based on the story of a member of ARBO Camguidan Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Batac, Ilocos Norte, also emerged as Best Film in the ARBO category. It won six awards: Best Teaser, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, Best Actor for Christian James Garcia, Best Actress for Andrea Lheiye Cabinan, and Best Director for Joseph Asino.
 

The film was also nominated for Best Poster, Best Editing, and Best Actress for Chloey Madarang.

Now in its second year, the regional festival’s theme “Ubra ken Obra: Aldaw ti Pammadayaw” celebrates the success stories of ARBs and ARBOs, youth engagement, and the power of creative expression. Both films, “47 Hectares Away”, which topped eight other ARB Category entries, and “Pasado”, which dominated four other ARBO Category entries, will represent DAR Region 1 in the national leg of PelikulAgraryo.