By Michael Visaya

Ilokano filmmaker Melver Ritz Gomez, an instructor at the Department of Languages and Literature of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), has been named one of the four recipients of the 2025 National Youth Achievement Award for Integrated Arts under the Literature and Cinema category held at the NCCA Auditorium, Intramuros, Manila, on August 30. 

This distinction was conferred on Gomez for combining literature and cinema in his films to showcase Ilocano customs and traditions, building on his achievements of his documentary “Iyallatiw,” which won Best Story and Best Director at the Manhattan International Film Festival and the Reels International Film Festival in India, along with multiple local recognitions. 

The award is conferred by the National Committee on Literary Arts (NCLA), under the Subcommission on the Arts (SCA), one of the 19 national committees of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA),  the government’s cultural arm. The NCLA comprises individual and institutional members from the literary arts, tasked with promoting the appreciation of Philippine literature and nurturing a sense of nationhood among Filipino writers.

Through his independent film production company, Pelikula Ilokana, he has established a platform to showcase Ilokano stories that capture fragments of real-life experiences through symbolic imagery and evocative expression. 

Gomez dedicated the honor to those who have collaborated with him throughout his journey. “Many of you are now pursuing your own fields, yet your support and dedication remain an integral part of this achievement. Without you, this would not have been possible,” he expressed. 

Looking ahead, he hopes the recognition will inspire the younger generation of Ilokano artists and writers to embrace their culture and identity through creative works in the Ilokano language. “May we continue to thrive, inspire, and keep our voices alive,” he said.

This recognition marks a milestone in the ongoing effort to preserve and elevate indigenous Filipino languages and arts through cinema, reaffirming the power of storytelling as a means of cultural preservation and expression.

Gomez’s other accolades include being a two-time Gawad Pasado awardee and a Gawad Urian nominee.