Sinebata youth media festival officially launched

By Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu

Monday 25th of June 2012

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 25 (PIA) -- Sinebata, a media festival for the Filipino youth, was officially launched on June 22 at the PIA Region 8 Office through the Harampang Ha PIA weekly media forum.

Anak TV’s Mag Hatol Cruz and Plan Philippines’ Rodel Bontuyan announced that the Sinebata will be held at the Robinsons Place Tacloban on July 25-26 and the receiving of entries starts on June 29.

Hatol started the launch by presenting short video presentations produced by young children.

What started last year as a regional media fest for the youth as “Kabataan sa Bisayas Media Festival” has evolved into a nationwide media fest for the youth called as “Sinebata,” Hatol said.

The Sinebata event encourages young people to express their views about issues that affect them, their families, and their communities using photography, music video, and filmmaking.

Sinebata is a video and photo competition about hopes and wishes for the future, family concerns, education, environment, substance abuse, teenage life and problems, career plans and ambitions, community issues, among others.

Sinebata is a joint undertaking of AnakTV and Plan International with partners including the National Council for Children’s Television, Department of Education, DSWD, Philippine Information Agency, PDEA, University of the Philippines, Baguio Museum, West Visayas State University, Aquinas University of Legazpi, Goethe Institut, Robinson’s Malls, Leyte Normal University, PNP, East Visayas State University, Kairosolutions, and Columbia’s.

The contest is open to all youth who are Filipino citizens living, studying, or working in any Philippine province, town, or city. They can use any camera, whether hand-held video, handycams, digital cameras, mobile phones with camera capabilities, and so on.

There are two categories — one for those aged nine to 17, and another, for aged 18 to 23. Students as well as out of school youth are invited to join the contest.

Entries must be e-mailed to anaktv_seal@yahoo.com. They can also be sent to any of the following reception centers: Sinebata, AnakTV, 8-A Matatag Street, Pinyahan, Quezon City; Sinebata, Plan International, 2/F Uytingkok Building, Veteranos Avenida, Tacloban City; Sinebata, Baguio Museum; Sinebata, Office of the VP for Research, West Visayas State University, Iloilo City; Sinebata, Office of External Affairs, Aquinas University, Legazpi City or to Sinebata, NCCT, 4/F, Bonifacio Building, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City.

There will be independent screenings and discussions to be held at select universities and colleges in Manila, Baguio, Legaspi, Iloilo, and Davao while the awarding and closing ceremonies will be held in Tacloban City. (PIA 8)