10 May 2016, 1:30 pm – SHORT FILMS about nine Thomasians were shown
during the premiere night of “Sampung Sulyap 2016: Sampung Tomasino, Sampung
Natatanging Kwento ng Awit,” last May 7 at the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex
auditorium.
The annual festival project spearheaded by Becarios de
Santo Tomas, the organization of University scholars, features short films
produced by student organizations, based on the lives of Thomasians.
Marc Angelo Sanchez, Becarios de Santo Tomas vice president,
said the project’s objective was to motivate students. “The goal for every
year is to showcase the Thomasians’ different perspectives on life,” he said.
The story of Justin de Castro, also known as “The Boy Who Cried
Books,” is brought to life on screen through CASA Channel’s “Alpas.” De Castro’s
suicide attempts lead him to run away from home and sell used books on the
streets to pay for his education.
“Bughaw,” produced by Tomasinoweb, tells the story of student
Abby Mendoza’s inner struggle to overcome the trauma of sexual abuse and
harassment from her childhood.
Touchpoint’s “Work In Progress” features the student life of
College of Fine Arts and Design faculty member Victoria Veneracion-de Leon,
from her parents’ disapproval of her shift from the Faculty of Arts and Letters
to her self-reliance and eventual success.
Kenneth Ray Parsad, the seminarian who earned social media
attention during last year’s Papal Visit, is the focus of the film produced by
the Library and Information Science Students Association. “Harana” tells the
story of Parsad’s calling to serve the Church and his love for music.
Arkitrato delved on the theme of unrequited love with “Sila.”
In “Silakbo,” lead character Monica Co finds ways to survive
when her mother steps out of her life indefinitely.
Enlightenment after an incident of home invasion is the theme of
Archinet’s “Sinag: The Frans Sarmiento Story.” The female lead’s suicide
attempt is interrupted as she finds and catches a thief in her home. While
waiting for the police to arrive, Sarmiento and the thief share an insightful
conversation that changes her perspective on life.
The Central Commission on Elections produced a film about its
vice chairman, Raymond John Naguit. “Yugto” shows Naguit’s foray into student
politics and his involvement with the Aktiboto voter-education program.
The night’s final selection, the Association of Civil
Engineering Students’ “Malabo,” tackles the difficult balance of one’s personal
and academic life through the eyes of civil engineering student Xien Malinao.
“Kung kaya nila, kaya ko rin” is a frequent sentiment of Malinao as reaches for
his dreams.
The premiere was attended by student leaders, participating
production groups, and the project’s partner organizations including the
Varsitarian, the Student Organizations Coordinating Council, Central Student
Council, Thomasian Cable Television and Thomasian Film Society.
The screening will be from May 11 to 13 at the Thomas
Aquinas Research Complex Auditorium. Ethan James M. Siat
