STI Students' Creative Pieces Speak Volumes

By: Blessy Sibalon , December 9, 2025

Driven by STI College’s continuous push to celebrate students' exceptional talent and creativity, the Tagisan ng Sining (TNS) returned this School Year 2025-2026, giving aspiring artists the opportunity to showcase their skills and compete for the national title. 

The final screening and deliberation for both competitions were held on November 25 and 27, 2025. For the School Year 2025-2026, audiences were captivated by remarkable storytelling in Director’s Cut and striking visual compositions in Shutter’s Best. 

From heartwarming tales and celebrated culture to visually striking photographs that captured light and emotion, this year’s winners truly showcased the student's ability to create impactful pieces and conceptual vision. 

 

Memory as Resistance 

The national round for the short filmmaking competition Director's Cut featured 54 entries,each capturing memories that students felt were worth preserving. The films are expected to tackle family archives, indigenous identities, forgotten heroes, and voices lost in time, portraying characters who take steps to raise awareness and strengthen cultural pride. The participants freely explored various artistic forms to express ideas and shape narratives that encouraged viewers to reconnect with their roots. 

Entries from campuses nationwide were screened and carefully evaluated by an esteemed panel of field professionals. The judging panel included Madonna Tarrayo, producer of the acclaimed Netflix series Kontrabida Academy and CEO of Unitel Productions and Straight Shooters Media;  Joel Bohol Jr., Commercial Art Director and Visual Effects Director of the box-office hit Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles; and Seymour Sanchez, former CNN Philippines News Producer, Director-Writer of Pagbugtaw from the2007 ABC5 (now TV5) Guimaras: Short Films from the Oil Spill, and now serves as a Technical Consultant for the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). 

“When I heard the theme, I was excited to see how these student filmmakers, despite their limited experiences, could creatively explore it,” writer and film consultant Seymour Sanchez said, one of the competition’s judges. 

With the theme, “Memory as Resistance”, participants delivered powerful short films that reminded viewers of the importance of preserving memories, history, and personal narratives. 

Blending live action and animation, Tao by Girls Night Out Productions of STI Global City’s filmmakers Kym Kaisha Dechoson, Narciso Dugay III, and Daniela Lainez earned the National Championship title

 

A heartfelt recollection of a memory from 1978, Sa Duyan ng Gunita by PCL Pictures of STI College Cubao’s Natalie Shane Angulo, Angelica Blanche Salva, Mark Lawrence Telles, earned the 1^st Runner-Up award

 

A strong call to preserve culture, Kalinangan by Retake Films of STI College Angeles’ Sean Maverick James Inaldo, Angeline Arcilla, and Loyd Denver Palisoc, earned the 2^nd Runner-Up award

 

Exploring the courage to choose oneself, Between the Lines by NMD Productions of STI College Las Piñas’ Niko Liwag, Monica Lucia Aguilar, and Deida Miranda earned the 3^rd Runner-Up award

 

A touching story of remembrance, Dito at Doon by Zenith Productions of STI College Ortigas-Cainta's Yaz Rohann Barrameda, Sophia Andrelyn Napay, and Matthew Job Estacio earned this year’s 4^th Runner-Up award 

 

Student director behind the National Champion Tao, Kym Kaisha Dechoson shared how growing up around different art forms inspired her to explore a mix of mediums in their film. 

“Seeing the beauty of art inspired us to create our own using different mediums to bring stories to life on screen and share a message that matters to us and to fellow Filipinos,” said Tao Director Kym Kaisha Dechoson. 

The short film’s writer Narciso Dugay III reflected on how the experience helped them grow as student creatives and filmmakers, “This competition helped me to truly become more. I realized that art is never “just art” and it’s our responsibility to use it to deliver messages that inform, move, and make our community better,” Dugay shared. 

Many entries were commendable but did not make the top picks. Judge and Art Director Joel Bohol Jr. offered a valuable reminder for aspiring filmmakers. 

“If you did not win, it doesn’t mean your work was not good. It’s more about polishing your craft,” Bohol said. “Experience brings polishing. Make sure each sequence has a different feel, and every shot tells a compelling story,” he added. 

 

Borrowed Light 

This year’s Shutter’s Best showcased how STI student photographers transformed ordinary moments into powerful visual stories. 

Aligned with the theme “Borrowed Light”, participants used natural light and compositions to create standout images. From 56 entries, five standout works were selected by a panel of industry experts. 

The judging panel included Aron Garcia, Project Coordinator at Nikon Philippines and Imaging Consultant for Canon Marketing Philippines; Jay Jallorina, an Architectural Photographer and Fujifilm Philippines Brand Ambassador; and Jijo De Guzman, a multi-award-winning photographer and lead photography advisor for GMA News, ABS-CBN, and TESDA. 

 

 

 

 

 

Cyken Besana Caro, a 1^st year BS Business Administration student and this year’s Shutter’s Best National Champion, shared how unexpected yet meaningful the win was for him. Entering a creative competition as a business student, he admitted he did not expect to take home the top award. 

“I knew my opponents were very talented, but I believed in my entry because it was natural and aligned with the theme,” Caro shared. 

He also talked about how the competition strengthened his passion for visual storytelling, saying, “This experience gave me the courage to continue my hobby and motivates me to teach beginners how to capture good photos.” 

STI’s Tagisan ng Sining continues to create a space where student artists can refine their craft, discover new perspectives, and tell meaningful stories through film and photography. 

Checkout the full list of STI Tagisan ng Sining 2025-2026 winners below. 

 

Director’s Cut 

Champion	“Tao” by Girls Night Out Productions   Kym Kaisha Dechoson  Narciso Dugay III  Daniela Lainez	STI College Global City
1st Runner-Up	“Sa Duyan ng Gunita” by PCL Pictures  Natalie Shane Angulo  Angelica Blanche Salva  Mark Lawrence Telles	STI College Cubao
2nd Runner-Up	“Kalinangan” by Retake Films  Sean Maverick James Inaldo  Angeline Arcilla  Loyd Denver Palisoc	STI College Angeles
3rd Runner-Up	“Between the Lines” by NMD Productions  Niko Liwag  Monica Lucia Aguilar  Deida Miranda	STI College Las Piñas
4th Runner-Up	“Dito at Doon” by Zenith Productions  Yaz Rohann Barrameda  Sophia Andrelyn Napay  Matthew Job Estacio	STI College Ortigas-Cainta

 

Shutter’s Best 

Champion	Cyken Besana Caro	STI West Negros University
1st Runner-Up	Jiether Gonzales Rabor	STI College Tacurong
2nd Runner-Up	Nick James Bueno Ramos	STI College Sta. Mesa
3rd Runner-Up	Nash Hernandez Rebutiaco	STI College Santa Rosa
4th Runner-Up	Niño Anthony Noya Zamora	STI College Davao