Films have been a massive part of modern Filipino culture with movies and TV shows standing at the forefront of Filipino entertainment along with the music industry. That said, a lot of Filipinos aspire to become filmmakers themselves. One of the best ways to achieve that is by participating in the Gawad Alternatibo film competition and being featured in the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. So it is such a huge honor to recognize the Bicolanos that joined and were featured in the recently held Cultural Center of the Philippines Gawad Alternatibo and in the awards night of Cinemalaya 20.
Multi-awarded singer-songwriter Karl Ramirez, together with his band Pordalab, performed the Gawad Alternatibo Theme Song, which he created. Karl Ramirez is also the composer and performer of one of Naga City’s recently launched tourism song, Halina sa Naga.
In the Cinemalaya 20 awards night, the film Padamlagan (Nightlight) by nagueña filmmaker Jenn Romano together with Bicol writer Vic Nierva, was officially announced as one of the top 10 finalists of the coming Cinemalaya 2025.
Jenn Romano is a filmmaker who made a number of short features, all of which have been presented and recognized at various film festivals such as the Tropfest Southeast Asia, Gawad CCP, Sinag Maynila, QC International Pink Festival, Nabifilmex, Cinemaharehiyon, among others.
Vic Nierva, the writer of the film’s screenplay, is a notable poet, teacher, journalist, theatre actor, translator, graphic and book designer, and a cultural advocate that also hails from Naga City.
All three bicolanos are also part of the Naga City Arts and Culture Coalition. Vic Nierva is its current president; Jenn Romano is the head of the film subsector; and Karl Ramirez is part of the music subsector with their networks Musika Publiko and Bicol Pop. The artist coalition is having this week and Rigmat Arts and Culture Fest, which is currently in its second year.
Gawad Alternatibo is the longest-running independent film competition of its kind in Asia. Since 1987, Gawad Alternatibo annually cites the best works of Pinoy filmmakers in the categories of animation, experimental, documentary, and short feature. Cinemalaya has been the leading platform for aspiring filmmakers to showcase their films since 2005.
