Puregold CinePanalo grants P100,000 each to 25 student filmmakers

Holiday joy arrived on cue for twenty-five talented student filmmakers as they were announced as the first-ever recipients of Puregold CinePanalo grants, each valued at P100,000. Hailing from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, these select filmmakers showcased the most promising short film projects among the 245 entries submitted to Puregold’s inaugural CinePanalo Film Festival.

Expressing enthusiasm, Vincent Co, President of Puregold Price Club Inc., stated, ‘The film grants will significantly aid in covering the production costs of their ventures as they pursue their passion for filmmaking. We hope they are as thrilled as we are by this good news.’

The short film category’s selection committee, comprised of award-winning director Lemuel Lorca, film critic Tito Valiente, Puregold Senior Marketing Manager Ivy Piedad, and Puregold CinePanalo festival director Chris Cahilig, carefully evaluated the submissions.

Designed to inspire and propel young creatives across the nation, the P100,000 grant is expected to be a substantial support for their filmmaking endeavors. In a historic first for Puregold’s CinePanalo festival, the chosen grant recipients will showcase their shorts at Gateway Cinema in March 2024, with additional visibility on Puregold’s official social media channels, including YouTube and TikTok.

Ivy Piedad, Senior Marketing Manager at Puregold, shared, ‘Puregold CinePanalo is a celebration of hope and inspiration within Filipino culture. We take pride in uplifting the work of these new, bright voices in Philippine cinema. By investing in the Filipino youth, we’re fostering their development as the soon-to-be defining artists of our time.

The accomplished student directors and their films include:

1. Jenievive B. Adame: “Smokey Journey” (STI College Cubao)
2. Ma. Rafaela Mae Abucejo: “Saan Ako Pinaglihi?” (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) 
3. Alexa Moneii Agaloos: “Ka Benjie” (Polytechnic University of the Philippines)
4. Kent Michael Cadungog: “Text FIND DAD and Send to 2366” (University of the Philippines) 
5. John Pistol L. Carmen: “Repeater si Peter” (Bicol University)
6. Chrisha Eseo Cataag: “Hallway Scholar” (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo)
7. Patricia W. Dalluay: “Lola, Lola, Paano ba ‘Yan?” (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) 
8. Joanah Pearl Demonteverde: “Kang Pagpuli Ko” (University of the Philippines – Visayas) 
9. Joshua Andrey A. Doce: “I Am Mutya And I Thank You!” (Bicol State College of Applied Science and Technology) 
10. Neil M. Espino: “Sa Hindi Paghahangad” (De La Salle Lipa) 
11. Terrence Gale Fernandez: “Kaibigan ko si Batman” (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) 
12. Daniel Gil: “Distansya” (Ateneo de Davao University) 
13. Alexandra Lapid: “Queng Apag” (Mapúa University) 
14. Reutsche Colle Rigurosa Lima: “Tiil ni Lola” (University of San Carlos) 
15. Dizelle C. Masilungan: “Kung Nag-aatubili” (University of Santo Tomas) 
16. Jose Mikyl Medina: “Lutong Bahay” (De La Salle University) 
17. Ronjay-C Mendiola: “Last Shift” (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) 
18. Mark Terence Molave: “Paano po gumawa ng collage college?” (Polytechnic University of the Philippines)
19. Jhunel Ruth A. Monterde: “Si Mary May Crush Kay Tess” (De La Salle College of Saint Benilde) 
20. Doxford D. Perlas: “Naduea Eoman Si Brownie (Brownie’s Lost Again!)” (University of the Philippines – Visayas) 
21. Andrea S. Ponce: “Layag sa Pangarap” (Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Sta. Mesa) 
22. Edz Haniel Teñido Purificacion: “Dzai Dzai Dzai Delilah” (Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna) 
23. John Wilbert Llever Sucaldito: “Sabaw nga Tambal” (Far Eastern University) 
24. Tyrone Lean J. Taotao: “Abandoned Lullabies” (Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Sta. Mesa) 
25. Marian Jayce R. Tiongzon: “May Kulay Rosas Ba Sa Bahaghari?” (University of the Philippines – Visayas)

The selected winners can now move forward to the production phase, bringing their creative visions to life. Audiences can anticipate witnessing these shorts alongside selected feature film projects at the groundbreaking Puregold CinePanalo, a historic event shaping the present and future of the local film industry.