Istorya ng Pag-Asa Film Festival 2019 Gala Night and Awarding of Winners

From ninety-eight (98) participants that passed their entries,  only Ten (10) finalist has made to judges decision and tonight we witness the film they produce on the big screen here at Trinoma Cinema 6 on June 08, 2019 at Gala Night and Awarding Ceremony of Istorya ng Pag-Asa Film Festival 2019. Similar to last year, the top 3 films will be shown in all Ayala Cinemas nationwide beginning mid-June.

Ka Dodoy won the Best Film for this year INPFF 2019. In Addition to that Ka Dodoy acquire the Best Cinematography Award and Ayala Foundation Community Development Award.

Yapak won the People's Choice Award

All Ten (10) Finalist receives recognition providing trophies and a cash prize.

Meanwhile, MAGLABAY RA IN SAKIT by RKJun got the 1st Runner-Up and won also the Best Editing Award.

On the other hand, MODERN DAY HEROES received the Office of the Vice President Special Recognition Award.

LITRATISTA by Nany Fely won 2nd Runner-Up and Best Director Award.

Istorya ng Pag-asa (INP) started as a traveling photo gallery featuring different stories of hope by the Filipino people, Through words and portraits, the project aims to inspire, empower, and be a source of hope for all, Originally an offshoot of the annual Quezon City reading advocacy program, Araw ng Pagbasa, Araw ng Pag-asa, INP was officially adopted by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and launched on November 27, 2016 at the Ayala Museum. Since then, INP continues to grow with support of partners and stakeholders from all over the Philippines. Currently INP has launched and opened in key cities and provinces nationwide, featuring hundreds of homegrown stories. INP Partners include socio-civic groups and local government units from Baguio City, Quezon City, Cebu City, Bacolod City, Dumaguete City, and Cagayan de Oro City; and Cavite, Camarines Norte, Albay, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Palawan, Sorsogon, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Iloilo, Aklan, and Cebu Province. INP has also extended its reach to different schools and universities, such as Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, Silliman University, University of St. La Salle, College of St. Benilde, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and University of Santo Tomas. Filipino communities abroad have also partnered with us, bringing INP to cities like New York, Vancouver, Berlin, London, and Hong Kong.

In celebration of the first year of Istorya ng Pag-asa, the OVP, in partnership with Ayala Foundation, launched the Istorya ng Pag-asa Film Festival (INPFF) in November 2017. The nationwide all-digital film competition seeks to promote hope and inspiration on a wider scale, featuring positive narratives that showcase the triumph of ordinary Filipinos over life's adversities. There is a the conversation, and INPFF allows us to do so through film to change.

In 2018, INPFF received 73 entries from all over the Philippines and even abroad. This year, a total of 98 entries from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and even some from Australia and Macau, were submitted to INPFF. 

WHITE HELMET RESCUERS

White Helmet Rescuers is a film that champions the heroes of Marawi. Aside from our brave soldiers, there were many unsung courageous souls that helped the city defend itself against the terrorists.This is one of those stories.

ANA PUOD is a filmmaker and journalist with over 20 years of experience in TV, investigative reporting, digital content and video documentary. She is an educator-curator who advocates for digital innovations in the Philippines.

OBRA

Obra is a film about Alexander Quizon, an artist who was once consumed by drugs but eventually found his life's purpose: making art. His story is not just a story of hope but a real-life testimony of how God is working in each and every one of us. This film air to both inspire those who lost their way to never give up, and to encourage local artists to hone and showcase their craft.

GENEVA MALIT is a proud Bataeña and Letranite from Dinalupihan, Bataan. She is currently a Junior Art Director in an advertising agency. She and her friends love bringing passion projects to life, and Obra is one of it.

KA DODOY

Overfishing is a critical threat to Philippine seas, one of the most biodiverse waters in the world, Since the 1970's, this has led to the sharp and steady decline in fish stocks and the loss of many marine species, here and around the world. Roberto "Ka Dodoy" Ballon, Jr. is the beloved chairman of the Kapunungan sa  mga Gagmay'ng Mangingisda  Concepcion (KGMC)- a  fisherfolk organization in the municipality of Kabasalan, a Province of Zamboanga Sibugay. His leadership,compassion, and sense of duty were instrumental in saving his barangay's fish stock from collapsing, and in helping their community regain their fish by inspiring hand educating people on cooperation and conservation.

Ka Dodoy's story hopes to let more people know about this issue, and to understand that something has to be done to save our oceans before it's too late.

MEG SERRANILLA and MARK APOSAGA

both work in marine conservation and share a love for filmmaking. Through their videos, they hope to raise awareness and inspire people to protect and care for nature.

BREAKING THROUGH THE DARKNESS

Anthony "Lamaroc" Lawang is an Australian-born, Filipino B-Boy who has competed and judged local and international hip-hop dance competitions.

He currently teaches breakdancing to children and youth in his community in Melbourne. This film shares the unique story of dealing with depression through breakdancing, and finding hope in the most unconventional ways.

RONALD JAMES BACULO is a filmmaker and comic book creator. He established Orange Marmalade Inc. to tell visual stories that aims to bring awareness on mental health issues, such as depression and suicide, among others.

LITRATISTA

When Nanay Fely's husband died, she was left alone to fend for their seven children. In the 60s, she became a sales agent for a studio, knocking on doors around Metro Manila and nearby provinces to offer her photography services. Eventually, Nanay Fely's curiosity led her to learning professional photography for special ocassions. This became her career, landing her a job as official photographer of public elementary schools in Manila. During her heyday, she handled 12 elementary schools documenting events, taking ID photos and class pictures.

Nanay Fely has been in the business for four decades and yet, even though she no longer has to provide for her family, she said she will never leave the profession that made many people smile through the years. 

Before co-founding his own production house in 2016, ALLAN LAZARO was a TV and digital video producer. His recent short documentary won the Best Social Initiative in the 2018 MegaCities-Shortdocs in Paris.

Maglabay Ra In Sakit tells the story of Khalid Hamid (RkJun), a 23-year-old Tausug rap artist who was born in Jolo, Sulu and raised in Zamboanga City. A dream that began when he was still young, he is determined to pursue a career in rap music even as he is beset by the challenges of poverty, loss and the effects of terrorism in Southern Mindanao.

MIJAN JUMALON comes from family of artists in Zamboanga City. As a visual artist, who has had numerous art exhibitions launched here and abroad, she hopes to encapsulate the life and struggles of other artists in Mindanao. Maglabay Ra ln Sakit is her first foray into creating a documentary.

Maestro ng Pagbasa tells the inspiring story of Ryan Habitan Homan, a public school teacher whose passion and drive for literacy changed the lives of children in his community. He launched the Balsa-Basa initiative in a remote village in Sorsogon, and the reading crusade that has now reached the whole town of Donsol. The film
shows one man's perseverance and willingness to go the distance to give children the education they deserve.

IMMACULATE ESTEPA is a senior Communication student in UST Angelicum College, Quezon City. At an early age, she discovered her passion for movie production, which honing her skills in directing, led her to photography and editing. Her short film Carta, earned her several awards in Cineveritas Film Festival 2018, including Best Film and Best Director. Her experience in film continues to
guide and inspire her to be a successful individual and artist in her own way.

HIJABS AND HOPES
IN QUIAPO

Amanah Busran Lao was born in Marawi City, but moved to Manila in 2008. She works for the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos and is a Sharia'h counselor-at-law. Aside from being advocate of human rights and passionately defending women's rights, Amanah is also involved in a cultural tour of the Muslim Town in Quiapo-which is her way of helping make the Muslim community less of a mystery to others. At its heart, Hijabs and Hope in Quiapo aims to show that despite cultural and religiouss differences, we are all still part of one nation.

DEMIE DANGLA is currently production associate for TBA Studios, independent film company. Her storytelling is inspired by the strength of women and the plight of those in the peripheries. Issue-based stories often irk Filipino audiences, but she is ready to take on the challenge of bringing this kind of stories to a larger audience.

Rodrigo and Robinson Rada are blind brothers from Maasim, Saragani who work in the field harvesting and dehusking coconuts, sunup to sundown. Separated from their parents, every day is a struggle to support themselves. Their disability, however, has not hindered them from making a living.

Born and raised in Leyte, ROMEL MONDRAGON LOZADA is a public school teacher at General Santos City National High School, where he has been handling the media arts subject for eight years. Romel learned to appreciate

the art of filmmaking when he taught the subject to his students. Since then, it has become his passion.

Modern Day Hero is about SPO4 Bill Felisan, who was a street child in the 1980s. At 13, he was apprehended for a petty crime, and was turned over to Cebu City's Community Scouts Youth Guidance Cente a facility where street children are given a fresh start. Now, Kuya Bill is a high-ranking policeman and is a story of hope for others like him who struggled to find their way. This film hopes to inspire people, and shed light on the cases of children in conflict with the law who deserve a second chance.

Directed by:

ROY ROBERT RUSIANA graduated with degree in Information Technology. He is a full-time graphic designer and amateur filmmaker from Cebu.