Three De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Film alumni recently made a dominant showing in the Young Creatives Challenge Season 3 Grand Finale at the SMX Convention Center Aura.
The national competition, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry under the Malikhaing Pinoy program, honors standout Filipino talent in animation, game development, graphic novel, online content creation, playwriting, songwriting, short story writing, and screenwriting. YC2 provides cash prizes, mentorship opportunities, and pathways toward production grants and festival entries for emerging artists aged 18 to 35.
Benilde Film graduates outshone the competition in the Screenwriting (Short Film) Category after capturing three of the top four spots at the YC2 awarding ceremony last July 17.
Alumna Hazel Juniosa bagged the grand prize with “Biyahe,” a social drama that tackles the daily grind of commuters in Metro Manila. Set against a chaotic Friday the 13th, the story centers on Bea, an unemployed young woman trying to reach a job interview while relying on her struggling partner to cover their living expenses.
Though Bea scoffs at superstitions, she hits a string of mishaps, from gridlocked traffic to broken-down train systems, that test her resolve and jeopardize her future. Along the way, she crosses paths with Aling May, a commuter from Quezon Province whose firm belief in omens and folk wisdom offers Bea an unlikely lifeline through the madness.
For Juniosa, an editor and writer with credits on the Gawad Alternatibo-winning short film “Beep Beep,” the script is a personal reflection on systemic neglect. “Biyahe is one woman’s crucial pursuit for a job interview. It is my story; it’s the story ng mga taong nakalapit ko sa bus o jeep; it’s also your story, too,” the grand winner shared.
“It’s the story of every Filipino commuter who go through hell just to get from Point A to Point B, battling through the Philippine commute – yung init, yung siksikan, yung matagal na paghihintay ng bus o jeep, just to earn a living. Biyahe is about the Filipinos who are further victimized by the lack of basic and efficient utilities from a system that only favors a few,” she added.
Meanwhile, recent Benilde Film graduate Janno Pelias placed second and impressed judges with “I Wish We’d Stay a Little in Time’s Fleeting,” a narrative exploring memory, human connection, and impermanence. The story follows Jimboy, 21, a graduating college student who buries his grief under an urgent rush to complete his thesis, and his widowed mother, Glenda, 53, who clings to the post-funeral cleanup of her husband to hold on to the present and avoid facing life alone.
Set a day after the burial, Jimboy’s attempt to head back to the city is stalled when a freak accident forces him to slow down, leading to an unexpected tender moment between mother and son. Pelias balances heart and humor with a visual aesthetic that captures the lived-in, cluttered warmth of a typical Filipino home. He conceived the story from personal observations during his grandmothers’ deaths, noticing how rigid societal systems, such as strict academic attendance rules and unyielding workplaces, penalize people for slowing down to mourn.
In addition, Benilde Film alumna Iyan Valenzuela took home 4th Place with her pitch for “Dalawang Dapithapon.” Set against the backdrop of Cavite, the story follows Juni, a closeted lesbian high school senior who secretly falls in love with her best friend, Alicia.
As they navigate the transition into adulthood together, Juni hides her romantic feelings until a classmate unexpectedly exposes her sexuality. Driven by the fear of rejection from those closest to her, Juni desperately struggles to hold onto her bond with Alicia. Through her project, Valenzuela delivers a poignant exploration into the secret, often unspoken love stories and emotional vulnerabilities of closeted queer youth.
With these major victories, Benilde Film’s latest achievement continues to prove that raw local experiences make for compelling, award-winning stories. The wins solidify its reputation for producing storytellers who balance high emotional resonance with distinct visual style.
