Two capstone film projects from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde were recently screened in Seattle, Washington as part of the Diwa at Pagdiriwang Festival.
Programmed under the festival’s “Sometimes You Just Gotta Laugh” block shown last June 7 at the Seattle Center Armory Loft 2, the short films offered a humorous yet poignant look at the chaotic, high-stakes world of teenage ambitions and student filmmaking.
The Benildean delegation brought two distinct flavors of academic comedy, namely high school politics and cinephile dreams.
Produced under HIVE Films and directed by Terrence Santiago, the 20-minute thesis short “Philip vs. The School” dives headfirst into the dramatic, pressure-cooker environment of high school student council elections.
The story follows Philip, an average student caught in a moral vice, either remain loyal to his best friend Lea, or expose a scandalous secret threatening his rival, Mark.
Meanwhile, “Guys! Action!” directed by Jem Catabijan and produced by Kuhang Kuting Productions, is a meta-comedy that hits incredibly close to home for any media student.
The short film centers on a desperate high school multimedia club racing against the clock to win Best Short Film at the Cinemalaya Film Festival. If they fail, the school administration will dissolve their beloved club for good.
The selection adds to the two films’ growing achievements, with “Philip vs. The School” being officially selected to the Kuala Lumpur International Film Academy Awards in 2025, and “Guys! Action!” making it to the San Diego Filipino Film Festival in 2024.
Behind every capstone project is a mentor pushing the boundaries of the students’ creative vision. For “Philip vs. The School,” Santiago honed his narrative under the supervision of Benilde Film faculty and industry veteran Wanggo Gallaga.
On the other hand, Catabijan’s frantic high-school comedy was developed under the guidance of Gallaga’s fellow film educator and advocacy filmmaker Seymour Sanchez.
In collaboration with the annual Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival, the Diwa Filipino Film Festival continues its mission to celebrate the “diwa” (spirit) of the Filipino people through the lens of independent cinema.
Supported by 4Culture and powered by Shunpike, the community-centered event showcased a diverse cinematic tapestry from the Philippine islands and the global diaspora.
The Benildean shorts were programmed with other compelling regional works, including Banjo Hinolan’s “Manokan Country” and Mark Giddel Liwanag’s “Ambag” (Impact).
Liwanag directed “Ambag” under the Alaminos City National High School Special Program in the Arts and eventually enrolled in college at the Benilde Film department. —Seymour Sanchez
