MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), through its Academic Film Society, joined forces with the Philippine Association of Communication Educators (PACE) and Mapúa University to host the FDCP x PACE: Training the Teachers program this July. The initiative, held at Mapúa University’s Makati campus, convened over 130 educators from across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, reinforcing a nationwide commitment to cinematic excellence in academia.
The program aimed to deepen the pedagogical knowledge of media and communication instructors, particularly in the context of an evolving media and technological landscape. The collaboration highlights the aligned vision of FDCP and PACE to bolster the teaching of film across educational institutions, empowering teachers to better engage students with contemporary and culturally relevant cinematic narratives.
Opening remarks were delivered by PACE President Mark Lester Del Mundo Chico, FDCP Technical Consultant for Academic Linkages Seymour Sanchez and Mapúa University Board of Trustees member Yvonne Yuchengco. Chico emphasized the symbolic importance of the partnership, coinciding with PACE’s 50th anniversary, as a catalyst for enriching the capabilities of educators through access to insights from leading figures in the film industry.
Opening remarks were delivered by PACE President Mark Lester Del Mundo Chico, FDCP Technical Consultant for Academic Linkages Seymour Sanchez, and Mapúa University Board of Trustees member Yvonne Yuchengco. Chico emphasized the symbolic importance of the partnership, coinciding with PACE’s 50th anniversary, as a catalyst for enriching the capabilities of educators through access to insights from leading figures in the film industry.
FDCP Chairperson and CEO Jose Javier Reyes inaugurated the learning sessions with a keynote on “The Film Teacher and the Study of National Culture and History,” stressing the educator’s role in cultivating an appreciation of Philippine cinema and cultural identity among students.
The program’s robust agenda included a commemorative screening of Lino Brocka’s seminal film “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag,” written by former PACE trustee Clodualdo “Doy” del Mundo Jr. In honor of the film’s 50th anniversary, an in-depth discussion followed, led by Dr. Roland Tolentino and Dr. Anne Frances Sangil of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP), and moderated by MPP Chairperson Dr. Shirley Lua.
Additional sessions featured prominent screenwriters Dustin Celestino and Giancarlo Abrahan of the Filipino Screenwriters Guild, who conducted a crash course on story development and scriptwriting. Producers Khaye Medinaand Mica Oliveros offered practical insights on production management and film producing.
Documentary filmmaking was explored through a forum with acclaimed filmmakers and educators Adjani Arumpac of the University of the Philippines Film Institute and Kristoffer Brugada of De La Salle University, moderated by She Andes, Digital Film Program Chair at Mapúa’s School of Media Studies.
Animation as a storytelling medium took center stage in a dynamic panel featuring Saving Sally director Avid Liongoren, Iti Mapukpukaw director Carl Joseph Papa, and animator Eru Petrasanta, moderated by Keith Sicat, President of the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc.
Expanding the conversation to global cinema, Dr. Patrick Campos (UP Film Institute) and Tito Valiente (MPP) led a critical discussion following the screening of Palme d’Or-winning “Anatomy of a Fall,” moderated by film critic Jason Tan Liwag.
The technical dimensions of filmmaking were not overlooked. Cinematographer Lee Briones-Meily, known for her work on American Adobo, Baler, and Crying Ladies, led a creative drawing activity to illustrate visual storytelling. Editor Ilsa Malsi, whose credits include Babae at Baril and Rookie, dissected key editing techniques using scenes from her films.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Mapúa School of Media Studies Dean David Corpuz, who expressed appreciation to FDCP and PACE for selecting the campus as host. The program’s formalization was marked by a memorandum of agreement signed by Chico, PACE Vice President for Luzon Reginald Gonzales, and FDCP Chair Reyes.
By equipping educators with enriched knowledge in film appreciation, pre-production, and post-production, the FDCP x PACE initiative stands as a strategic investment in the future of film literacy and education in the Philippines ensuring that cinematic storytelling continues to thrive in the country’s academic and cultural spaces.
