Benildean storytellers bag top honors at 3rd DTI Young Creatives Challenge

Graduates from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s film program proved their creative mettle at the recent Young Creatives Challenge (YC2) Season 3 Grand Finale held at the SMX Convention Center Aura, capturing three out of the top four awards in the Screenwriting (Short Film) category.

The national competition organized by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Malikhaing Pinoy initiative celebrates up-and-coming Filipino talent across various disciplines like screenwriting, animation, and game development, offering cash awards, mentorship, and avenues for production funding to artists aged 18 to 35.

Hazel Juniosa earned the grand prize with “Biyahe,” a narrative rooted in the harsh realities of commuting across Metro Manila. Set on a chaotic Friday the 13th, the drama focuses on Bea, an unemployed woman relying on her partner’s modest earnings while attempting to navigate a high-stakes job interview. Despite her skepticism toward bad luck and superstitions, Bea faces an unending stream of transit breakdowns and gridlock. Her ordeal takes a turn when she meets Aling May, a commuter from Quezon Province whose trust in folk wisdom and omens provides an unexpected source of support.

Juniosa, an editor and writer behind the award-winning short film “Beep Beep,” drew directly from her own lived experiences and those of fellow commuters. “Biyahe is one woman’s crucial pursuit for a job interview. It is my story; it’s the story ng mga taong nakalapit ko sa bus o jeep; it’s also your story, too,” Juniosa shared.

“It’s the story of every Filipino commuter who go through hell just to get from Point A to Point B, battling through the Philippine commute – yung init, yung siksikan, yung matagal na paghihintay ng bus o jeep, just to earn a living. Biyahe is about the Filipinos who are further victimized by the lack of basic and efficient utilities from a system that only favors a few,” she added.

Securing second place was recent graduate Janno Pelias with “I Wish We’d Stay a Little in Time’s Fleeting,” a moving exploration of memory, loss, and connection. The plot follows Jimboy, a 21-year-old graduating student rushing back to his thesis work following his father’s death, and his widowed mother, Glenda, who fixates on cleaning their home to delay facing her grief alone. When a minor accident delays Jimboy’s departure, the two share a rare moment of closeness in their cluttered home. Pelias drew inspiration from family bereavements, pointing out how institutional pressures, such as uncompromising academic deadlines and corporate rules, often prevent people from properly mourning.

In addition, alumna Iyan Valenzuela captured fourth place with “Dalawang Dapithapon,” a Cavite-set coming-of-age story. The script highlights Juni, a closeted high school senior quietly in love with her best friend, Alicia. When a classmate forcibly outs her, Juni must navigate her fear of rejection while trying to protect her bond with Alicia. Valenzuela’s work provides a sensitive look into the hidden emotional journeys and vulnerabilities of closeted youth.

These achievements highlight Benilde Film’s ongoing role in shaping storytellers who turn local realities and emotional depth into powerful screenplays.