A number of Bikolanos joined and were featured in the recently held Cultural Center of the Philippines Gawad Alternatibo and in the awards night of Cinemalaya 20. Both were held in Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
Multi-awarded singer-songwriter Karl Ramirez, together with his band Pordalab, performed the Gawad Alternatibo theme song, which he composed and produced. The Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video (Gawad Alternatibo) is the longest-running independent film competition of its kind in Asia. Since 1987, Gawad Alternatibo annually cites the best works of Pinoy filmmakers in the categories of animation, experimental, documentary, and short feature. Karl Ramirez is also the composer and performer of one of Naga City’s recently launched tourism song, Halina sa Naga.
In the Cinemalaya 20 awards night, the film Padamlagan (Nightlight) by Nagueña Filmmaker Jenn Romano together with Bikol writer Vic Nierva, was officially announced as one of the top 10 finalists of the coming Cinemalaya 2025. Jenn Romano is a filmmaker who has made a number of short features, all of which have been presented and recognized at various film festivals such as the Tropfest Southeast Asia, Gawad CCP, Sinag Maynila, QC International Pink Festival, Nabifilmex, Cinemarehiyon, among others. Vic Nierva, the writer of the film’s screenplay, is a notable cultural advocate also hailing from Naga City.
The three Bikolanos are also part of the Naga City Arts and Culture Coalition. Vic Nierva is its current president; Jenn Romano is the head of the film subsector; and Karl Ramirez is part of the music subsector with their networks Musika Publiko and Bicol Pop. The artist coalition is having this week the Rigmat Arts and Culture Fest, which is currently in its second year.
[Photos from Giya Studios, Vic Nierva, Jenn Romano and NCACC]