By Jareason Fabre

Student filmmakers from MMSU won Best Documentary in the Young Adult Division at the 2024 DokyuBata Awards for their film Tawid. They also received awards for Best Story and Most Child-Friendly Documentary during the ceremony held on November 30 at The Heritage Hotel in Pasay City.

Tawid, which means "inheritance" in Ilokano, tells the heartwarming story of AC, an eight-year-old girl who discovers her cultural heritage through the traditional art of abel weaving, a type of Ilokano textile, taught by her grandmother. The film highlights the importance of preserving traditions and connecting generations, all through beautiful visuals and touching storytelling.

Produced by Arapaap Creatives from MMSU, Tawid was written and directed by Ryand Angelo Ugalde, a senior communication student. The team included Gniro Vinz Pablo, an economics student, as cinematographer; Carmela Ramiro, an information technology student, as animator; and John Bryan Dela Cruz and Jirah Dean Failano, both communication students, as editors. The script was written with the help of Zechri Jacob Alvarez, a communication student, as assistant director, and God-g’ven Acab, also a communication student, who handled transcription and subtitles. Dr. Alma Sierra provided language consultancy, while Prof. Bryan Realgo accompanied the team at the awards.

"Going into the competition, I was just hoping to be one of the finalists," Ugalde shared. "This would mean my work could be seen by some of the most renowned producers and documentarists in the country—a priceless opportunity I could only dream of. Winning three awards was a shock, especially since after watching all 10 films in our division, I thought placing third would be the best I could do."

"The journey wasn’t without its challenges," Ugalde explained. "Before the final judging, all teams received feedback for revisions. But by then, we had already used up the small funds we raised through donations and solicitations during pre-production and production. I couldn’t afford the transportation or food costs to reshoot the clips the judges suggested, so we had to stick with the draft we originally submitted. Financial struggles are common for independent filmmakers, and we just make do with what we have."

Ugalde expressed his gratitude to MMSU for its support for their team, thankful for the opportunity to bring their story to life and share it with a wider audience.

Tawid stood out among 37 entries, making it to the Top 10 finalists before clinching the top awards. It is now available for viewing on the official Facebook pages of the NCCT and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

The film will also be featured at the MMSU Film Festival during the university's 47th Foundation Anniversary in January next year, organized by the Office for Strategic Communication. MMSU is committed to supporting budding filmmakers, providing them with a platform to showcase their work and further nurture their potential.

The DokyuBata Awards, organized by the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) since 2017, empower young filmmakers to tackle issues such as cultural heritage, climate change, health, and community dynamics. This year’s theme, “Alab ng Dokyu: Mga Isyu sa Kalinangan, Klima, Kalusugan, at Komunidad,” encouraged students to create impactful documentaries despite limited resources, fostering creativity and advocacy.