STIer Wins Bayan Mo, Ipatrol Mo's Digitales

October 30, 2019

Gerome Viñas, a 1^st year Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) student from STI College Pasay-EDSA along with his friend Jheryme Jhil Timbang emerged as the Grand Winners of  Bayan Mo, Ipatrol Mo (BMPM) Digitales: A Mobile Documentary Contest on October 25, 2019 at ABS-CBN Broadcast Center’s Dolphy Theater in Diliman, Quezon City.

Powered by ABS-CBN’s Integrated News and Current Affairs and in partnership with UNESCO and the Asian Institute of Journalism, Digitales is a mobile documentary contest that aims to combat disinformation online. 

With the theme "Gusto Ko Tama: Fighting Disinformation in Social Media," the competition was open to students from various colleges and universities nationwide where they can submit documentaries filmed and edited using their mobile phones. The short films would then be used as part of BMPM's campaign to spread news and media literacy in different areas. 

Gerome and Jheryme outshone other participating schools with their entry entitled "Or Soon, Else", a documentary on fake news that harks back to Orson Wells’ War of the Worlds 1938 radio drama.

 

 

With a budget of PhP 300 as well as a production period of two days, Gerome and his friend (who call themselves Kulto Productions) successfully produced the video that won the hearts of the judges and spectators.

The competition motivated me to continue pursuing my passion despite all the challenges that I might encounter. It encouraged me to take risks. After all, life is a gamble between the thought of winning the game or losing the opportunity. I want to inspire aspiring filmmakers to keep going. Keep in mind that a lack of purpose, support, and equipment should not hinder you from achieving your dreams.

Equipping great minds with knowledge about disinformation

With around 50 entries nationwide, students from STI Colleges Ortigas-Cainta, Novaliches, and Recto also made the entire STI community proud by being part of Digitales' top 20 finalists.

This mobile documentary contest is part of ABS-CBN’s effort to promote news literacy. It is Bayan Mo, Ipatrol Mo’s contribution to the war against disinformation. The truth is being attacked especially on social media that is why we must protect it.

Students from STI College Cubao also participated in the event to gain further knowledge about disinformation through the talk of ABS-CBN’s broadcast journalist Jeff Canoy and De La Salle University’s educator Dr. Cheryll Soriano.

With its strong commitment to nation-building, STI ensures to turn students into dynamic and responsible citizens through activities that will develop their character as well as skills.