PALO, LEYTE — Student filmmakers from across Eastern Visayas gathered at the PelikulAgraryo 2026: Eastern Visayas Regional Short Film Festival Awards Night, hosted by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Region VIII in Palo, Leyte.
The festival highlighted the lives, triumphs, and resilience of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and ARB Organizations (ARBOs) through cinematic works created by collegiate production teams.
Visayas State University Claims Top ARB Category Honors
In the ARB Category, which focuses on true-to-life narratives of individual farmers and beneficiaries supported by DAR and the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project, Visayas State University (VSU) Baybay bagged the main prize:
Best Film: Sa Asa Dapit Nag-Ampo ang Hangin — VSU Baybay
2nd Best Film: Hi Tatay, Na’n Bahala — Samar Colleges, Inc.
3rd Best Film: Pagsirang — VSU Tolosa
VSU Baybay also took home several technical accolades, led by Jian Khristian Dakig for Best Director and Troy Bryan Fontanar for Best Editing and Best Sound. VSU Tolosa secured key acting honors, with Irish Martinez named Best Actress and Jeorge Dominic Lumpas awarded Best Actor.
Biliran Province State University Sweeps ARBO Category
In the ARBO Category, which spotlights the collective achievements of farmer cooperatives and agrarian organizations, Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) dominated the roster with its entry Asa ang Akong Balay:
Best Film: Asa ang Akong Balay — BiPSU
2nd Best Film: Butig — Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU)
BiPSU swept major craft awards in the ARBO division, including Best Director (Jake Ryan Mangubat and Alfred Acebedo), Best Actress (Ethiel Punay), Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Music, and Best Sound.
PelikulAgraryo 2026 Award Winners Summary
ARB Category
Best Film: Sa Asa Dapit Nag-Ampo ang Hangin (VSU Baybay)
2nd Best Film: Hi Tatay, Na’n Bahala (Samar Colleges, Inc.)
3rd Best Film: Pagsirang (VSU Tolosa)
Best Director: Jian Khristian Dakig (Sa Asa Dapit Nag-Ampo ang Hangin – VSU Baybay)
Best Actress: Irish Martinez (Pagsirang – VSU Tolosa)
Best Actor: Jeorge Dominic Lumpas (Pagsirang – VSU Tolosa)
Best Cinematography: Gypsy Jeaous Abenir (Pagsirang – VSU Tolosa)
Best Editing: Troy Bryan Fontanar (Sa Asa Dapit Nag-Ampo ang Hangin – VSU Baybay)
Best Production Design: Dayren Gloria (Sa Asa Dapit Nag-Ampo ang Hangin – VSU Baybay)
Best Music: Ely Jay Gofredo (Sa Asa Dapit Nag-Ampo ang Hangin – VSU Baybay)
Best Sound: Troy Bryan Fontanar (Sa Asa Dapit Nag-Ampo ang Hangin – VSU Baybay)
Best Teaser: Pagsirang (VSU Tolosa)
Best Poster: Hi Tatay, Na’n Bahala (Samar Colleges, Inc.)
ARBO Category
Best Film: Asa ang Akong Balay (BiPSU)
2nd Best Film: Butig (NwSSU)
Best Director: Jake Ryan Mangubat & Alfred Acebedo (Asa ang Akong Balay – BiPSU)
Best Actress: Ethiel Punay (Asa ang Akong Balay – BiPSU)
Best Cinematography: Jake Ryan Mangubat, Jake Carreon, Gem Charles Uriarte & Miguel Corpin (Asa ang Akong Balay – BiPSU)
Best Editing: Jake Ryan Mangubat & Jake Carreon (Asa ang Akong Balay – BiPSU)
Best Production Design: Asa ang Akong Balay (BiPSU)
Best Music: Asa ang Akong Balay (BiPSU)
Best Sound: Asa ang Akong Balay (BiPSU)
Best Teaser: Asa ang Akong Balay (BiPSU)
Best Poster: Asa ang Akong Balay (BiPSU)
The winning regional short films will advance to represent Eastern Visayas in the upcoming PelikulAgraryo National Film Festival competition.
