MANILA, Philippines (Jul 2026): Three young Pinoy filmmakers just proved that everyday local struggles make for award-winning stories after dominating a major national screenwriting competition.
Graduates from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Film program captured three of the top four spots in the Screenwriting (Short Film) Category at the Department of Trade and Industry’s Young Creatives Challenge Season 3 Grand Finale. The national competition, held at the SMX Convention Center Aura, honors standout talent across multiple creative fields, offering cash prizes and mentorship to emerging artists aged 18 to 35.
A brutal commute turned into a grand prize
Alumna Hazel Juniosa took home the grand prize for her script “Biyahe,” a social drama focusing on the daily grind of commuters in Metro Manila. Set against a chaotic Friday the 13th, the story follows Bea, an unemployed young woman trying to reach a job interview while relying on her partner to cover expenses. A string of transport mishaps tests her resolve until she meets Aling May, a commuter from Quezon Province whose folk wisdom offers an unlikely lifeline.
Juniosa, an editor and writer with credits on the award-winning short film “Beep Beep,” shared that the script reflects systemic neglect. She noted that the piece is a personal reflection of her own story and the stories of the people she encounters on buses and jeepneys.
“It is the story of every Filipino commuter who goes through hell just to get from Point A to Point B, battling through the Philippine commute: the heat, the crowds, the long wait for a bus or jeep, just to earn a living,” Juniosa said. She added that the script highlights how citizens are victimized by a lack of efficient utilities from a system that only favors a few.
Finding heart and humor in grief
Recent graduate Janno Pelias placed second with “I Wish We’d Stay a Little in Time’s Fleeting,” a narrative exploring memory and impermanence. The story follows Jimboy, 21, a graduating college student rushing to complete his thesis, and his widowed mother, Glenda, 53, who clings to the post-funeral cleanup of her husband to avoid facing life alone. An unexpected accident forces the characters to slow down, creating a tender moment between mother and son.
Pelias conceived the story from personal observations during his grandmothers’ deaths. He noticed how rigid societal systems, such as strict academic attendance and unyielding workplaces, penalize people for slowing down to mourn.
Unspoken queer youth stories
Alumna Iyan Valenzuela secured fourth place with her pitch for “Dalawang Dapithapon.” Set in Cavite, the story follows Juni, a closeted lesbian high school senior secretly in love with her best friend, Alicia. When a classmate exposes her sexuality, Juni struggles to hold onto her bond while facing the fear of rejection. Valenzuela aims to deliver a poignant exploration of the secret love stories and emotional vulnerabilities of closeted queer youth.
