Foreword

As part of the 275th Calabanga Town Fiesta, the Sining-Sine Festival was introduced to provide a platform for young filmmakers from Calabanga to showcase their short films. Due to popular demand, the festival eventually expanded to include budding filmmakers from neighboring towns.

The festival events consisted of training and workshop, August 17-18; online screening, August 28 and onwards; and awarding ceremony, September 1. Participating as speakers, facilitators, and judges were: Hon. Eugene Norman B. Severo, Mayor, and Miel Bongon, Tourism and Cultural Promotions Officer, representing the municipality of Calabanga; as well as Jerome Hipolito, Eilyn Nidea, Tito Valiente and Edwin Breva, respected writers, educators, and theater advocates. Completing the roster of panelists were: Romen Cano, Lance Fernandez, Marlon Pascua, Valine Mae Calmerin, James Earn Esperida, and Pearly Esperida, in various noted capacities as educators, film makers, and photographers from the community. The last two are also with iLab ARAL Inc.

In this article, Sining Sine Festival mentor judges Jerome Hipolito and Eilyn Nidea share their insights on the event. Hipolito discusses the significance of hosting the short film festival and reflects on his interviews with the winners. Nidea expresses how Calabanga has captured her heart as a town that celebrates her creativity, reminding her of her beloved Ragay, Camarines Sur.

(Acknowledgement: The header art is a creation of visual artist and educator, Oriel Mostar, Jr. Titled “Subangan,” a 9″ x 12″ ink and watercolor painting on paper, it was commissioned and designed as cover for the book with the same title and the backdrop of the Sineng-Sine Festival of iLab ARAL Awarding Ceremony. Various photos courtesy of LGU Calabanga.)

Calabanga holds Inaugural Sining-Sine Short Film Festival | Jerome M. Hipolito

I received an invitation from Mr. James Earn Esperida, founder of iLab ARAL, to serve as a consultant for a short film competition in my hometown, which would later be named the Sining-Sine Short Film Festival, through a chat. Initially, I hesitated, knowing that I am more of a literary writer and visual artist than a filmmaker. Although I had dabbled in scriptwriting and even created a film for Pasale, the regional film festival, I didn’t consider myself the ideal person to organize such an event. However, after some thought, I accepted the offer, recalling the success of previous events organized by iLab ARAL where I gave talks on arts, culture, and literature. These events had been both successful and beneficial to young learners and teachers, a group I am deeply passionate about. Moreover, Sir James mentioned that Ms. Eilyn Nidea, a writer-teacher, actress, and cultural worker from Ragay, would assist in organizing the festival. The Local Government of Calabanga, through its cultural arm, the Calabanga Tourism Office, would also provide the necessary support.

When it came to selecting the members of the panel to serve as mentor-judges, I recommended Mr. Edwin Breva, Jr., a colleague from the College of Education at CBSUA-Calabanga who also writes poetry. I also suggested Mr. Tito Valiente, an anthropologist, film critic, film educator, author, and Vice-Chair for the National Executive Committee on Cinema of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). Beyond the involvement of these distinguished individuals and institutions, I agreed to participate because I believe my hometown has many stories to tell if only we give the locals a platform to share their agi-agi, lived experiences. Quipayo is one of the oldest parishes in Bikol, if not the entire archipelago. Calabanga is rich in beliefs, practices, rituals, values, and traditions. Its waters, lands, and mountains are sources of food and livelihood for the people, providing abundant inspiration for young filmmakers to translate these elements into short films.

Despite the inherent challenges of producing short films, I felt the weight of the filmmakers to blending poetry and film, which is why the festival was named Sining-Sine. I resonate with the observation made by film critic Tito Valiente that these films, though short, often feel like mere outlines of full-blown short films, and that poetry cannot substitute for a screenplay. However, what excites me is that these short films are deeply rooted in Calabanga, reflecting the spirit of the town, and that the young filmmakers involved are brimming with raw talent, energy, and determination to write more poetry and produce more films.

In an interview, Ms. Moissa Padin, the writer and filmmaker behind the festival’s Best Film Distinction Award for the film, “An Pagbisto sa Pagkawalat”, shared that her work was inspired by her internal conflict over whether to leave or stay in Calabanga. Through the process of making the film, she found an opportunity to deeply reconnect with her birthplace, gaining a greater understanding and ultimately realizing the value of loving where we are. She conveyed this story using a montage of everyday quiet moments and seemingly lifeless, mundane objects.

Ms. Mary Jane Arevalo, winner of the Best Film Merit Award for her Film, Hinghing, reflected on her experience, emphasizing the importance of crafting a compelling narrative while maximizing available resources. She mentioned that listening carefully during the workshop played a key role in revising her poetry. When it came to making the film, she balanced technical skill with an eye for aesthetics. She noted that her determination to complete the film, combined with perseverance, enabled her to navigate the challenges of producing a short film within a limited time frame.

Ms. Grace Lucila, winner of the Best Poem and Best Film Honorable Mention for her film, Plete Papuli, expressed that it’s time for the town to move beyond the usual ways of celebrating the fiesta by introducing new events, like this short film festival, which celebrates the history, culture, and literature of Calabanga. She also appreciated the workshop consultations and the publication of their works in a literary anthology, in addition to the short film.

Mr. Jan Christian Montañez collaborated with Ms. Arevalo on the film Hinghing and with Ms. Grace Lucila on Plete Papuli. As the editor of four films, Montañez noted that Hinghing and Plete Papuli stood out for their compelling stories, which reveal their beauty through careful attention to detail.

Sining-Sine Short Film Festival, a collaborative endeavor by iLab ARAL, Parasurat Bikolnon, LGU Calabanga, and Nesting Place, is among the events of the 275th Town Fiesta of the Municipality of Calabanga.

My Heart has a Home in Calabanga | Eilyn L. Nidea

As a consultant of/and for iLab ARAL, Inc. I’m on call 24/7. I do my best to respond whenever duty calls. I thank its COO and founder, James Earn Esperida for his trust in me, his patience, and appreciation, especially when the going gets rough, as it sometimes does for consistently busy people such as us.

The Calabanga Sining-Sine Festival is for me, one of the most special undertakings we did. It’s a collaboration with the LGU headed by Hon. Mayor Eugene Norman B. Severo, the Tourism Council, and the Parasurat Bikolnon, Inc. (of which I’m also a member). It’s a coming together of talented and versatile young writers and filmmakers (We harvested 11 short films based on poems!) to pay homage to the rich artistic and cultural heritage of the town. It is an avenue where I got to work with other esteemed resource speakers cum critics and judges: Co-PB Jerome M. Hipolito and Edwin Breva, Jr., Film Mentor and Critic Tito G. Valiente, Valine Mae Calmerin of the CCP, and NCCA-National Committee on Cultural education, and young film enthusiasts from Partido State University: Romen Cano, Lance Fernandez, and Marlon Pascua.

Undeniably, the poems and films produced in the Sining-Sine Festival in so short a time of one week are testimonies of the participants’ commitment to their crafts, and their respect to the host town’s rich and varied heritage. I experienced a kaleidoscope of emotions and thoughts while reading and viewing. I rejoiced in the triumphs of the best picks, and in the salute to those who didn’t make it to the final cut but nevertheless deserve recognition.

The awarding ceremonies on September 01, 2024, in the midst of the strong winds and rains of Tropical Depression Enteng at the beautiful Nesting Place Integrated Farm in Brgy. Bigaas, ably represented by its Operation Manager, Jhenalyn Sy, were made more meaningful because of the collective efforts invested by both the organizers, (special mention to Pearly A. Esperida) the volunteers: Benedick Agapan, Debbie Volante, Jeanine Bonecile, Mervin Aguilar, Nicole Brandes , Leah Mae Anier, and the rest of the team), and participants, as well as the venue’s staff to ensure the success of the undertaking.

“The show must go on,” and it did go on.

For Best Poem and Best Film, the winners took home a trophy, cash prize, and a copy of Dawani Magazine courtesy of Sumaro Bikolnon, Inc. Grace P. Lucila’s Plete Papuli is proclaimed as the Best Poem.