FDCP chair Jose Javier Reyes lauds young PH creatives at DTI-FDCP ceremonial signing

FDCP chair Jose Javier Reyes

The recent Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) ceremonial signing will provide production assistant to Short Film Awardees from the Screenwriting Category of the Young Creatives Challenge.

The awardees are John Peter Chua for "Fishing the Moon out of Water," Mark Terrence Molave for "Angela and the Dying Lola," and Eliana Manzano for "For Sale."

The grants also include mentorship from industry professionals, workshops, and networking opportunities, as well as support in developing a deeper understanding of the industry for the finalists.

 FDCP chairman Jose Javier Reyes expressed gladness seeing the grantees coming from different regions of the country.

"Isang napakalaking pagkakamali  na isipin na ang Pilipinas ay Maynila lamang," he said. "Ang Pilipinas ay bawat rehiyon ng ating bansa at nakasalalay ang responsibilidad ng bawat kinatawan na bigyan ng pagkakataon at ng oportunidad ang mga creatives nila."

Reyes noted it is "the first time" the government is recognizing the importance of creativity. He cited how South Korea has risen as a "soft economy through creativity" via the hallyu wave, considering that in the '80s, it only had one television channel.   

"Kaya din ba natin yan? Naman! Kaya ba tapatan? Kaya natin higitan---pero ang kailangan, ito ay simulan."

The FDCP chair believes creativity is "the soul of being Filipino," and when it comes to that, "the Filipino is one of the greatest in the world" if only it gets the support it needs.

"It is through creativity and these programs that we give opportunity for the next generation to be better than us," he said. "We need to foster the next generation of creatives to not only find their voice, but to build an economy sustained by creativity." 

Aside from Javier, the other "Creative Champions" are FDCP executive director Daniel David Morales, Hon. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel, Cong. Lani Mercado-Revilla, Cong. Stella Luz Quimbo, Cong. Francisco "Kiko" Benitez, and Cong. Christopher "Toff" de Venecia. 

The Young Creatives Challenge is a program of the DTI that promotes Creative Industries. It is a project supported by Senator Imee Marcos that aims to identify and promote young talents  from the creative fields of songwriting, screenwriting, playwriting, graphic novel, animation, game development and online content creation.