Benilde Shorts Take the Spotlight in Seattle
Two capstone film projects from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde recently brought laughter, heart, and proudly Filipino storytelling to Seattle, Washington through the Diwa at Pagdiriwang Festival.
Screened last June 7 at the Seattle Center Armory Loft 2, the films were part of the festival’s “Sometimes You Just Gotta Laugh” block, a program that celebrated the lighter, messier, and more heartfelt side of independent cinema.
With teenage dreams on the line, both Benildean shorts offered a sharp and funny look at ambition, friendship, school pressure, and the wonderfully chaotic world of student filmmaking.
Student Elections Get Messy in “Philip vs. The School”
Produced under HIVE Films and directed by Terrence Santiago, the 20-minute thesis short “Philip vs. The School” turns the high-stakes drama of student council elections into a witty coming-of-age comedy.
The story follows Philip, an average student suddenly caught in a moral dilemma. Should he stay loyal to his best friend Lea, or reveal a scandalous secret that could ruin his rival Mark?
Funny, tense, and painfully familiar, the film captures how school politics can feel larger than life when friendships, reputations, and personal values collide.
Santiago developed the film under the supervision of Benilde Film faculty member and industry veteran Wanggo Gallaga, whose mentorship helped shape the short’s mix of humor, heart, and youthful urgency.
“Guys! Action!” Finds Comedy in Student Filmmaking
Meanwhile, “Guys! Action!” directed by Jem Catabijan and produced by Kuhang Kuting Productions, turns the camera toward the hilarious struggles of young filmmakers.
The meta-comedy follows a desperate high school multimedia club racing against time to win Best Short Film at the Cinemalaya Film Festival. The stakes are intense: if they fail, the school administration will dissolve their beloved club for good.
Packed with panic, passion, and the kind of creative chaos every media student knows too well, the short film delivers a playful yet sincere tribute to young artists determined to keep their dreams alive.
Catabijan created the film under the guidance of Benilde Film educator and advocacy filmmaker Seymour Sanchez, who helped develop the project’s energetic and student-centered vision.
Growing Recognition for Benildean Filmmakers
The Seattle screening adds to the growing recognition of both thesis films.
“Philip vs. The School” has been officially selected for the Kuala Lumpur International Film Academy Awards in 2025, while “Guys! Action!” was previously selected for the San Diego Filipino Film Festival in 2024.
Together, the two works show how Benildean filmmakers continue to bring fresh, funny, and thoughtful stories to audiences beyond the Philippines.
Celebrating the Filipino Spirit Through Cinema
Presented in collaboration with the annual Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival, the Diwa Filipino Film Festival continues its mission to celebrate the diwa, or spirit, of the Filipino people through independent cinema.
Supported by 4Culture and powered by Shunpike, the community-centered festival showcased stories from the Philippine islands and the global Filipino diaspora.
The Benildean shorts were programmed alongside other regional works, including Banjo Hinolan’s “Manokan Country”and Mark Giddel Liwanag’s “Ambag” or “Impact.”
Liwanag directed “Ambag” under the Alaminos City National High School Special Program in the Arts and later pursued college studies at the Benilde Film department, further strengthening the festival’s connection to emerging Filipino storytellers.
From high school elections to filmmaking dreams, Benilde’s thesis films proved that comedy can travel far, carrying with it a brilliant, joyful, and deeply human glimpse of Filipino youth culture.
