Student nurse-filmmaker makes it three in a row at Sine Negrense

 

Wazzup Pilipinas?!

 

A senior Nursing student at the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod has competed at the Sine Negrense: The Negros Island Film Festival for three consecutive years.

Chelsea Tasic’s streak began in 2023 with “Dalit sa Sala,” a social commentary produced by Dulaab Productions. Despite the ambitious nature of the project – which involved a complex two-day shoot on a moving bus – the film resonated deeply with audiences.

The film earned eight nominations and secured the People’s Choice Award and a special citation for its compelling narrative at Sine Negrense that year.

In 2024, Tasic was selected as one of ten directors for the inaugural Bacolod Film Festival. Her entry, “A Flower A Day,” competed in the Sine Negrense Open Category.

Set in a rundown cafe, the story follows a young woman who routinely visits with a different flower, sparking the curiosity of a local barista.

The film received eight nominations at Sine Negrense and won Best Musical Score at BFF in 2024, further cementing Tasic’s reputation as a rising storyteller in the region.

Tasic returned to Sine Negrense in 2025 with her latest work, “Isa ka Higayon,” competing in the Intercollegiate Category. The film explores themes of closure and the afterlife through the lens of local Bacolod culture.

Lola Sonia, a seamstress in downtown Bacolod, prepares for her chance to make up for a late loved one. But as her journey progresses, thoughts about what her decision will bring begin to hold her back. When life presents you a chance to finally achieve the closure you've always wanted, would it truly set you free or bind you to a deeper longing?

“Isa ka Higayon” was recently screened at the Dinagyang edition of the CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival held at the FDCP Cinematheque Centre Iloilo.

For Tasic, filmmaking is more than a creative outlet – it is a vessel for raw, genuine human experiences.

Her journey as a filmmaker began in senior high school at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, where she directed the award-winning shorts “Piyesa” (2021) and “Litrato” (2022).

Today, she views her success as a reminder to revisit our roots and highlight the richness and realities of life in Negros.

Balancing her calling in both nursing and filmmaking, Tasic continues to create stories and visual projects that portray raw, genuine human experiences.

Sine Negrense, an annual celebration of local filmmaking that provides a platform to showcase the works of Negrense filmmakers, ran from December 3 to 6 at the FDCP Cinematheque Centre Negros. The awarding ceremony is tentatively scheduled to be held next month.

Practitioner-prof inspires UE Fine Arts seniors with production insights

 

Wazzup Pilipinas?!

 

Producer, production manager, film festival coordinator, and educator Kristin Bactad-Jor recently shared her industry experience with University of the East-Caloocan Visual Communication senior students during a talk at the Chua King Ha Gallery.

Drawing from nearly two decades of practice, Bactad-Jor shared her knowledge and tips on producing films, production management, and the complexities of film festival operations.

Since joining Red Room Media Productions in 2006, Bactad-Jor has established herself as an integral part of several film productions. Her career is defined by a commitment to advocacy-driven storytelling, spanning short films, documentaries, and high-impact video projects.

Bactad-Jor has worked on numerous projects, including collaborations with institutions such as the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, GMA News TV, Techtales Asia-Pacific, and the Bacolod City Government Center. She has served as line producer and production manager for award-winning films and documentaries produced under some of these partnerships.

Beyond management, she has also explored the creative helm. In 2018, she wrote and directed the short film “Playground,” which earned 1st Runner-Up and Best Actor honors at the 3rd Makati Film Festival for Anti-Drug Campaign.

Bactad-Jor’s influence extends into the organizational architecture of Philippine cinema. She served on the executive committee of the 3rd ToFarm Film Festival in 2018.

In 2024, she played a pivotal role as the film festival coordinator for the inaugural Bacolod Film Festival, where she guided 10 short film grantees through the entire filmmaking lifecycle, from preproduction to their premiere screenings.

Bactad-Jor, who currently teaches under the Digital Cinema track at the Far Eastern University Department of Communication, remains dedicated to lifelong learning. She has refined her craft under industry legends, completing workshops with Dr. Clodualdo “Doy” del Mundo, Jr. and award-winning filmmaker Raymond Red.

Her talk at the Chua King Ha Gallery served as a vital bridge for students, translating academic concepts into real-world professional practice. By sharing her journey, she offered UE Fine Arts students a roadmap for navigating the evolving media landscape.

Stronger school-community ties cut violence, improve student safety

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

 

MAKATI CITY, 17 January  2026 — At Ramon Torres Louisiana National High School in Barangay Ma-ao, Bago, Negros Occidental, student safety has become a shared responsibility, shaped less by slogans and more by steady cooperation among teachers, parents, barangay officials, and police. 

Before the end of 2025, the school held its annual Children’s Rights, Anti-Bullying, and Drug Abuse Prevention Program, drawing around parents alongside students, teachers, and community partners. The activity reflected a long-running effort by the school to address concerns over bullying, peer pressure, and exposure to illegal drugs through sustained dialogue and coordination beyond the campus.

School principal Helen Dela Cruz, together with the faculty and staff and the School Parent-Teacher Association led by President Roger Palma, worked with the Barangay Ma-ao Council and the Philippine National Police to deliver sessions focused on student rights, responsibilities, and the real-world consequences of violence and substance abuse. Resource speakers and VAWC Desk Officers reinforced messages on child protection and welfare.

The school’s faculty president Ronald Alegre shared the initiative grew out of practical concerns faced by the school community.

“These issues [bullying, peer pressure, and illegal drugs exposure] posed risks to students’ safety, behavior, and academic performance. Addressing them became necessary to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment,” Alegre said.

“The school, parents, and community worked together through awareness campaigns, seminars, and regular coordination with the Brgy. Ma-ao Council and the Philippine National Police. Parents actively supported the school by monitoring their children, while the PNP provided guidance on laws and the harmful effects of bullying and drug abuse,” he added, noting that the school observed a decrease in bullying cases.  

While the activity was organized independently by the school, its approach mirrors the direction being encouraged nationally by the Department of Education’s Kaagapay Program, which emphasizes the role of parents and communities as partners in learner protection and well-being.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara has said that stronger school–family–community ties are key to addressing violence and safety concerns in schools.

“Mahalaga ang ganitong mga hakbang ng paaralan—yung hindi naghihintay ng problema bago kumilos, kundi nakikipag-ugnayan agad sa magulang at komunidad. Doon talaga mas nagiging ligtas ang learners at mas nasusuportahan ang mga guro,” Angara said.  

This 2026, the department will conduct five batches of orientation on the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10627, or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, to equip regional and division focal persons and school heads with updated guidelines on handling bullying cases.

DepEd is also working with Stairway Foundation Inc. to develop anti-bullying classroom decks that will serve as the basis for session guides to help teachers facilitate age-appropriate discussions with learners, with rollout targeted for School Year 2026–2027.

For Ramon Torres Louisiana National High School, the impact is already visible in smaller, consistent steps. By keeping parents involved, maintaining open lines with local authorities, and repeating the conversation year after year, the school is building a safer environment one partnership at a time.

“When families, the community, and authorities work together, prevention efforts become more effective and sustainable. This collaboration helps create a safer school environment where learners feel protected and supported,” Teacher Alegre added.