Aireen Marzo

STA. MESA, Manila—MULAT Documentary Guild, the official documentary organization of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines recently held its inaugural and first-ever MULAT Documentary Festival 2024, celebrating Philippine pop culture through the lens of student documentary filmmakers. 

Photo Courtesy of Windelyn Noval.

The festival, themed "What's Poppin'?: Mga Kwentong Pop Culture," concluded its first edition last June 8, at the Cinematheque Centre Manila, which aimed to showcase arts and narratives that shape the nation's identity. 

Five student production houses from the MULAT Documentary Guild participated, each offering a unique perspective on Philippine pop culture, including Matamasa Productions, Tambuli Productions, H2X4 Productions, Alapaap Productions, and Salinlahi Productions 

The awarding ceremony recognized outstanding achievements, with "Sa Muling Pagsulsi" by Salinlahi Productions taking home Best Documentary. "Himig ang Paningin" by Matamasa Productions claimed the Second Best Documentary, while "Untucked" by Alapaap Productions secured the Third Best Documentary. The organization also recognized outstanding achievements in various categories.

Here is the full list of winners:
  • BEST DOCUMENTARY TITLE: Himig ang Paningin by Matamasa Productions
  • BEST TRAILER: Biyahe ng Sining by Tambuli Productions
  • BEST POSTER: Komic Empress by H2X4 Productions
  • BEST RESEARCH: Untucked by Alapaap Productions, Himig ang Paningin by Matamasa Productions, Sa Muling Pagsulsi by Salinlahi Productions
  • BEST SOUND: Sa Muling Pagsulsi by Salinlahi Productions
  • BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Biyahe ng Sining by Tambuli Productions
  • BEST EDITING: Sa Muling Pagsulsi by Salinlahi Productions
  • BEST DIRECTOR: Kyle Ampuan of Sa Muling Pagsulsi by Salinlahi Productions
  • BEST CONCEPT: Himig ang Paningin by Matamasa Productions
  • BEST STORY: Untucked by Alapaap Productions, Himig ang Paningin by Matamasa Productions, Biyahe ng Sining by Tambuli Productions
  • 3RD BEST DOCUMENTARY: Untucked by Alapaap Productions
  • 2ND BEST DOCUMENTARY: Himig ang Paningin by Matamasa Productions
  • BEST DOCUMENTARY: Sa Muling Pagsulsi by Salinlahi Productions
Photo Courtesy of Windelyn Noval

Moreover, the festival's Board of Judges consisted of Mr. Joseph Conrad Rubio, Program Manager of I-Witness, Ms. Adjani Arumpac, a Documentary Filmmaker, Mr. Prestoline Suyat, the MULAT Documentary Guild Adviser, and Mr. Harold Nowell Perez, Program Researcher at GMA Public Affairs.

“I’m still in awe. I still can’t believe that I won ‘Best Director’ because it was my first time being a director. I am happy that I was able to make a documentary that will inspire and teach many people a valuable lesson,” said Kyle Ampuan, Director of Salinlahi Productions.

Project Head Mary Joy Jalandoni shared the struggles during the event preparation, stating, “Since most of the heads are busy with acads, mahirap, and usually gabi ang mga meetings.” However, she expressed gratitude for the efforts of her team, stating, "I am most thankful for the effort of my co-project head because she pushed and made this event happen, giving me the strength to continue and a positive mindset." 

Further, Co-Project Head Julia Fye Manzano shared that, “Pinaka-ipinagpapasalamat ko sa event na ito ay ang pagbibigay ng platform para ipakita ng mga miyembro ang kanilang natatanging galing. At the same time, masaya akong hindi lamang sila nakabuo ng dokumentaryo kundi pati na rin ng koneksyon sa kanilang mga kapwa miyembro.”

Looking ahead, Jalandoni and Manzano hope "to let the next DocuFest be more powerful, and let other Isko and Iska know that there is an event like this, that the youth themselves are creating narratives that can make them more aware."

MULAT DocuFest 2024 is presented by the Film Development Council of the Philippines and Cinematheque Centre Manila, partnered with Rappler, Philippines Communications Society, Now You Know, Explained PH, UMak Student Multimedia Organization, and Quadro Photography Club, and sponsored by Pastil sa Teresa.