Bulakeño filmmaker makes it to Sanfo contest

MANILA, Philippines - Four short films produced and directed by a young Bulakeño filmmaker made it to the finals of the 2011 Possible Futures Film Contest based in San Francisco, California.

Running at an average time of five minutes, Herwin Cabasal’s four films titled Stewards, Tactics, Starfish and Pledge can now be viewed and voted on at http://possiblefuturesfilmcontest.org.

The other film that made it to the finals of the same contest was produced and directed by a certain  Ruel Lago.

In an interview, 24-year-old Cabasal said that all his film entries promote positive change in the world by envisioning the future.

He said that the contest is an ideal venue to share his vision for the future which he described as a “vision that I dream of and hope for.”

A Mass Communication graduate of the Centro Escolar University and currently working as a segment producer at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, Cabasal finds inspiration for his film in people who devote their time and talents for the benefits of others.

“Those passionate people teach me that one’s life must be a kind of service towards others,” he said.

A young optimist, Cabasal added, “as I make my films, I realize that everyone has the capacity to make a difference no matter who they are and no matter how little or big they can offer.”

He stressed, ”It is not about the quantity of what you can give but the sincerity of your passion to inspire others. In a world where all kinds of catastrophes happen including manmade, we cannot lose hope as long as we see and hear stories about men and women who become heroes by shaping a positive future.”

Cabasal also serves as one of the convenors of the Hagonoy Young Leaders Program (Hyleap), a non-profit organization that promotes servant leadership among Filipino youth.

He also doubles as head of Hyleap’s Mass Media Production Unit.