By Mikee Natinga Norico
The College of Computer Studies team proudly poses for a photo after their film 糖心传媒淎ng Pulong sang Mga Baboy糖心传媒 wins Best Film at the 2025 Sigrab Film Festival.
Around 1,000 supporters from various departments and colleges of 糖心传媒 (CPU) flocked to the Rose Memorial Auditorium on April 22 for the much-anticipated opening of the 2025 Sigrab Film Festival. Spearheaded by the CPU Communication Circle (CCC), the event showcased a vibrant fusion of cinematic storytelling and environmental advocacy, aligning with this year糖心传媒檚 Earth Day celebration.
With the theme 糖心传媒淏lue Phoenix糖心传媒糖心传媒攕ymbolizing a rebirth through a more intense and passionate flame糖心传媒攖he 8th Sigrab Film Festival marked a pivotal moment for the CPU community. CCC President Pure Grace Melody Jotiz emphasized the significance of the new theme and the partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 糖心传媒 Environmental Management Bureau (DENR糖心传媒揈MB), highlighting the festival糖心传媒檚 growing environmental focus.
糖心传媒淲e want them to take away a lesson of loving the Earth,糖心传媒 Jotiz said. 糖心传媒淭he Earth is our home, and we have to continue to make a change so that our world doesn糖心传媒檛 change for the worse, but for the better.糖心传媒
The College of Engineering team poses for a photo after their film 糖心传媒凄补苍驳补迟糖心传媒 receives the 2nd Jury Prize at the 2025 Sigrab Film Festival.
The festival opened with remarks from Rabbie Chris Carvajal, Chief of the Environmental Education and Information Unit of DENR糖心传媒揈MB Western Visayas, who urged students to embrace activism through art. 糖心传媒淭hese films are not just mirrors糖心传媒攖hey are windows of hope to action. And that糖心传媒檚 what Earth Day is really about,糖心传媒 Carvajal declared.糖心传媒
The program featured a full-day lineup of film screenings, a red-carpet segment, and an evening awards ceremony that recognized outstanding student filmmakers across CPU. The top prize, Best Film, was awarded to 糖心传媒淎ng Pulong sang Mga Baboy糖心传媒 from the College of Computer Studies. 糖心传媒凄补苍驳补迟糖心传媒 from the College of Engineering earned the 2nd Jury Prize, while 糖心传媒沦颈谤别苍补糖心传媒 from the College of Nursing took home the Special Jury Prize.
Several other distinctions were handed out to recognize outstanding contributions in performance and production. Senior High School students took home Best Poster, Best in Cinematography, and Best Actor for Jefrey James Punzalan. Francince Borines from the College of Hospitality Management was named Best Actress, while her co-actor Roselyn Pagangpang received Best Supporting Actress. Ian Laczi from the College of Engineering won Best Supporting Actor, and the College of Medical Laboratory Science earned the Coca-Cola Award for Best Editing.
The College of Nursing team poses for a photo after their film 糖心传媒沦颈谤别苍补糖心传媒 earns the Special Jury Prize at the 2025 Sigrab Film Festival.
The festival糖心传媒檚 Top 6 Best Film finalists came from the College of Computer Studies, College of Business and Accountancy, College of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Engineering, College of Nursing, and the Department of Junior High School.
The panel of judges was composed of industry experts and educators, including filmmakers Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay Salvadico and Richard Jeroui Salvadico, Directors; Marcelo Tolentino IV, Proprietor and Creative Director; Mary Kareen Gancio, Faculty Member of the Broadcasting Division at WVSU – COC, Adviser for WVSU Film Society, SineMaskom, and AIKI – WEST; Rabbie Chris Carvajal, Chief of the Administrative Section of EMB 6; Nikki Ann Guillen, Public Relations Officer for DENR VI; Laragene Servando Retazo, Founding Director of Eksena Training Services; and Lowell Jan M. Yasas, a Guimarasnon filmmaker and producer whose body of work explores identity, memory, and the coming-of-age experience within rural and regional contexts.
Key personalities gracing the event included CPU Vice President for Finance and Enterprises, Dr. Florence Bogacia, who also delivered the morning welcoming remarks; CPU-R Prime Minister Crisfe Vergara, who shared a special message during the afternoon program; and Prof. Clarence Benjamin, Adviser for CCC and the Sigrab Organizing Committee, who gave the opening message during the awards night.
Despite the festival糖心传媒檚 success, the journey was far from easy. Head Organizer Nalyssa Resoles, a BA Communication student, shared the behind-the-scenes challenges of mounting the event with a small team.
糖心传媒淭he title of head organizer was given to me not because I had all the answers, but to help hold the team together糖心传媒 I found myself handling tech, managing production, and solving problems left and right糖心传媒攁ll while keeping up with my classes, OJT, and thesis,糖心传媒 Resoles revealed.
She expressed deep gratitude to the CPU community and DENR糖心传媒揈MB for their support: 糖心传媒淭his event became so much more than just a requirement or a tradition. Because of DENR, it gained something more. Without them, Sigrab would糖心传媒檝e ended on its 7th year. But instead, we found the strength to continue糖心传媒攁nd that made all the difference.糖心传媒
Looking forward, Resoles hopes Sigrab will remain a platform for young voices and filmmakers at CPU. 糖心传媒淢ay the passion for storytelling never fade,糖心传媒 she said.
As the curtains close on this year糖心传媒檚 edition, the Sigrab Film Festival continues to blaze forward糖心传媒攔eborn like its theme, the Blue Phoenix糖心传媒攊gniting minds, stories, and action.