A short documentary by a young filmmaker and a 2018 Bachelor of Fine Arts major in Visual Communication graduate of the UE College of Fine Arts, Architecture and Design (CFAD) graduate, Elvin Jay E. Macanlalay, won the Best Documentary Film award at the 13th Kota Kinabalu Film Festival held in Malaysia last September 17-25!
His winning work, titled ‘’Di Niyo Ba Naririnig’ (‘Can’t You Hear?’), is a six-minute mobile-phone-shot film that tells of the sentiments of jeepney drivers of Sangandaan, Caloocan, on their situation as they were left begging for money in the streets in 2020 due to the government’s poor pandemic response at the time.
The film was shot in one day and is originally a product of ‘Kuwentong Quarantine’, a free online mobile documentary workshop by ABS-CBN’s #NoFilter program, where participants were mentored by award-winning filmmaker director Jet Leyco, and journalists Raphael Bosano and Chevening scholar Chiara Zambrano.
Mr. Macanlalay’s film shows the dire consequences of the country’s anti-poor quarantine measures in the early onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the prevalent public transport crisis that has always burdened drivers and commuters in the Philippines. The jeepney drivers featured openly air their frustrations as their families are left hungry and unable to pay rent. Director Elvin Jay said that his low-profile mobile filmmaking set-up helped to make the drivers comfortable in expressing their feelings and sharing their stories.
The same drivers of the jeepneys he used to ride as a student in his daily route from home to UE Caloocan and back somehow created a sort of observatory connection to him that needed pay-it-forward action, particularly in these trying times, the UE CFAD grad thinking that his documentary amplifying their voices and shedding light on their plight was the least he could do in return.
Thus, Mr. Macanlalay dedicates his win to the hardworking drivers as well as to cultural workers continuing the fight for a people-centered public transportation system anchored in the masses’ needs for a just livelihood and a life with dignity. He feels honored that his humble film has been recognized at an international film festival that promotes young emerging regional filmmakers like him. But more importantly, he is glad that foreign audiences get to hear the story of jeepney drivers experiencing issues of skyrocketing gas prices and record-high inflation. The winning of his humble film is also a strong manifestation of freedom of expression amidst the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Bill and the closure of ABS-CBN, with filmmakers like him serving as a voice for the voiceless. He hopes to make similarly relevant films in the future that delve into people’s socio-political reality.
Elvin Jay Macanlalay is a self-identified queer interdisciplinary visual artist based in Caloocan. He was recognized by the City of Caloocan as one of its outstanding citizens in 2019. He is currently working with non-government organizations, youth groups and artist collectives promoting art as an integral part of the advocacy for social change. In the last few years, he has been doing projects involving the indigenous weaving community, the urban poor community, and the LGBTQIA+ online wellness community.
‘Di Niyo Ba Naririnig’ (‘Can’t You Hear?’) was officially selected for screening in local and international film festivals, including the Knowmad Short Film Festival, the 5th Meihodo International Youth Visual Media Festival, the Cinema Rehiyon Film Festival and the 13th Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival, to name a few.
Mr. Macanlalay received relevant awards and recognitions as a filmmaker over the years. These include the Gawad Sining Biswal from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); the Knowmad Short Film Festival award for Best Animation film and the Heritage Film Award for ‘Maling Akala: Ang Misteryo ng Unamuno’; and Honorable Mentions from the Knowmad Short Film Festival Germany and the DreamManila International Film Festival for his earlier documentary, ‘How the Beasts Got Hyped’.
As a young visionary, he was also a curator for Yuwana Zine (Human Rights Month Issue) – an ASEAN Youth Forum project that aims to accommodate and provide Southeast Asian youth’s voices in doing activism and advocating their issues of concern through the zine-making process. Presented and released during International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2021, the participating youth came from eight countries: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
Congratulations and kudos, Warrior CFAD Grad and Filmmaker!
Info and image courtesy of UE CFAD Prof. Richard S. Legaspi
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