High school students from Alaminos, Pangasinan bagged the Best International Documentary Film award for their short film titled “Sa Layag ng Bangkang Paurong” during the recent Fresh International Film Festival in Limerick, Ireland.
The short film depicts the plight and demographic challenges confronting young students who work as boatmen in Hundred Islands, a popular tourist spot in the province. They work at a young age in order to support their education and family’s livelihood. “We are overwhelmed to witness these young students’ mindsets evolve: from simple perspectives, to gender and culturally sensitive, age-appropriate, and advocacy-worthy films by way of their exposure to POPCOM’s film festivals,” POPCOM-I Director Erma R. Yapit said.