Docu on Aeta teacher wins Knowledge Channel competition

A documentary about an Aeta teacher who treks to her class for four to five hours in Sitio Tarukan in Capas, Tarlac to teach Aeta children took top honors in the Knowledge Channel’s “3rd Class Project: Intercollegiate Mini-Documentary Competition.” It will soon be aired on Knowledge Channel and streamed on iWant.

Produced by students of the University of Makati, “Titser Gennie” follows the journey of Gennie as she pursues her dream of becoming a licensed teacher.

The documentary developed by Eudel Ayuban, Leda Razel Miranda, Yvonne Clarisse Dalusong and Jean Pearl Silvestre, beat 44 other entries nationwide in this year’s competition and will soon be aired on “Knowledge Channel Winner’s Festival” while its makers will receive a cash prize of P30,000.

Already on its third year, the mini-documentary competition aims to give students a chance to hone their professional filmmaking skills and showcase them to a wider audience.

The University of Makati had a winning streak as entries of its students also took the second and third places.

Placing second is “Kulitan,” which tackled the lost art of the Kapampangan writing system, was made by Rosendo Rone Jr., Ederwin Capungcol, Larrisa Joyce Adornado, Raymond Enriquez and Krisha Gordonas. The students will receive P20,000.

Completing the top three is “Mga Batang Anipa,” an entry about four children who persistently go to school every day wearing rubber slippers and using “salbabida” to cross the river. The entry was created by the team of Alundra Villanueva, Noel Carlo Francisco, Ederwin Capungcol, James Claude Fernandez and Eloisa Jane Palermo, who will receive a cash prize of P10,000.

The other finalists, who will receive consolation prizes, are Palawan State University’s “Binhi” ; Saint Louis University’s “City Painted in Red”; University of Makati’s “Ang Munting Karera ni Vash”; Palawan State University’s “Iskolar ng Merkado”; Lyceum of the Philippines’s “Hiling sa Dapithapon”; Urdaneta City University’s  Aruga”; and Cebu Normal University’s “Hachiko ng Lapu-Lapu."

The "Class Project: Intercollegiate Mini-Documentary Competition" is a project of ABS-CBN, Knowledge Channel, and the Philippine Association of Communication Educators (PACE) that aims to encourage students to submit relevant mini-documentaries on the lives of Filipinos, that communicate the values of social justice, passion to serve, commitment to holistic learning, integrity, and nationalism. It is designed to provide students with the equal opportunity to showcase their work and contribute to the Filipino youth's depiction of Filipino values.

The winners’ entries will air on the program, “Class Project Winners Festival” on Knowledge Channel and will be available on the top streaming app iWant.

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For the longest time, Marq Dollentes has lived just outside the spotlight. Although he’s well-known in showbiz circles as a Creative Associate for Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma, most people don’t know that Marq is also quite a talented performer. But that’s set to change with the release of his new solo single, the uplifting “Lipad.”

“I can’t remember when I started singing, because I’ve always loved to sing. When I was in college, my roommates — who I’m still great friends with, by the way — would get so annoyed with me because I’d sing so early in the morning. Not just in the shower, but everywhere,” laughs Marq.

Marq wrote “Lipad” with his friends Ajit Hardasani and Joseph Piamonte, the latter of whom plays keyboards for Marq’s band Celestial Hearts. He says he came up with the lyrics on his own and worked on the melody with Ajit and Joseph.

“This song describes where I am in my life right now. It took me a while to find my own voice as a solo artist and I wanted to let others in on my journey through a song. Although I’ve done so many songs before, this is the first one where I feel most authentic musically and vocally. When I worked on ‘Lipad,’ I didn’t feel like I was boxed in by a particular genre. I was really able to be who I am,” Marq says.

Marq loves Celestial Hearts and working with the Pop Diva, but spreading his wings as a solo artist is something he has always dreamed of doing.

“Honestly, I enjoy being onstage with my band Celestial Hearts because of the collective energy. I love the collaboration that happens when you perform with a band and you become one entity. But I also enjoy going at it alone because it’s a different kind of rush,” he explains.

He hopes that “Lipad” will inspire those who want to make music too.

“My desire is to share this song with a large audience in the hope that it can touch hearts and inspire people to go for their dreams, and to keep going no matter what. I’ve been writing and singing songs for a while, but it seems that ‘Lipad’ has its own energy and force. I’m just here to enjoy the ride without too many expectations. I’m just going to put it in God’s hands and allow Him to let it fly.”