Viscan film bags award in national contest

Silakbo–Baybay Film, an independent student-led film organization based at Visayas State University, continues to make waves in the national filmmaking arena after winning Most Child-Friendly Documentary (Young Adult Division) for its film Katutubong Pangarap at the DokyuBata 2025 National Awarding Ceremony held on November 28, 2025, at the Heritage Hotel, Manila.

DokyuBata is an annual competition that champions child-friendly and purposeful storytelling through documentaries created by filmmakers of all ages — with categories for children, young adults, and adults, organized annually by the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT).

For this year’s contest, the theme is “Kilometer 0: Mga Lokal na Kuwento para sa Pandaigdigang Adhikain at Pagbabago.” 

Uplifting indigenous voices

Directed by Chubi Soliva, Katutubong Pangarap follows the intertwined dreams of a young Mamanwa woman from Pinamudlan, San Francisco, Southern Leyte—who graduated from VSU—and a child from her community who envisions multiple futures for herself and her family.

The documentary was chosen as one of the Top 10 finalists in the Young Adult Division, highlighting compelling youth-created narratives that champion children’s rights and welfare.

Soliva disclosed that the award serves as a recognition of the collective effort poured into telling a story rooted in cultural resilience and generational hope. More than winning, he emphasized the opportunity to bring the lived realities of Mamanwa children to national screens, underscoring their aspirations for dignity, education, and a future shaped by their own agency.

He reflected that the team successfully delivered their central message: indigenous dreams are no different from anyone else’s—anchored in hope, strengthened by education, and motivated by the desire to uplift one’s community.

The documentary also tackles broader advocacy issues, particularly the ongoing fight for land rights legitimacy, while promoting education as a powerful tool for progress and cultural preservation.

A strong year for student films at VSU

SILAKBO’s latest win adds to a growing list of achievements by VSU student filmmakers in 2025. Earlier this year, two student-produced films dominated the PelikulAgraryo Eastern Visayas Regional Short Film Festival held on July 9 in Tacloban City.

“Bunot” produced by students under Silakbo–Baybay Film, emerged as Best Film in the Agrarian Reform Beneficiary category while “Nitubong Pangandoy sa Yuta”, produced by the Development Communicators Society (DeCSo) of the Department of Development Communication, garnered Second Place. 

Celebrating youth storytellers

With Katutubong Pangarap earning national recognition, SILAKBO celebrates not only a milestone for student filmmaking but also a triumph for the Mamanwa youth whose stories inspired the documentary. 

In an interview, Mr. Soliva said, “It opened new perspectives to us not just as documentarists, but also as storytellers who strive to amplify small voices that the world is yet to hear. We offer this win to the Mamanwa Community in Pinamudlan, Southern Leyte.”

The organization dedicates this victory to every indigenous child who dreams boldly, every voice fighting to be heard, and every narrative that deserves thoughtful and respectful telling.

This article is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities;  and; SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

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