Film on chemical bonds, young love wins 1st Indie-Siyensya

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Apparently, Chemistry can be well explained through ‘hugots’ or catchy-romance terms.

Combining simple terms and some romantic flavor, student-filmmakers from Mapua Institute of Technology succeeded in explaining the complex topic of chemical bonds in their film entitled ‘Bonding Tayo’ earning them the Best Film Award at the first ever Indie-Siyensya Competition.

In an awarding ceremony held at the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Taguig City, the team composed of Marvin Nofuente, Nikkei Bernal, and Charles Ongchangco beat out 15 other science film entries to claim the top award along with a P50,000 cash prize. Indie-Siyensya is a pioneering science filmmaking competition organized by DOST’s Science Education Institute (SEI).

‘Bonding Tayo’ is a film about two Chemistry students who were working on a research paper. The male character named Nito tries to explain chemical bonds to his partner, Elisa, through ‘hugot’ lines that also served as his way to express his feelings towards her.

The board of judges composed of scientists and filmmakers thought the movie chose an effective treatment in discussing a complex topic such as chemistry as it “meets the language of the Millennials.”

“[We] liked it because Chemistry is hard to explain and [the filmmakers] found such an effective way to make the subject appealing to the young audience especially in this era of AlDub, JaDine and the like,” said Pauline Mangilog–Saltarin, Creative Director of Jesuit Communications at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), who was one of the judges.

Other members of the board of judges were former DOST Undersecretary Prof. Fortunato T. dela Peña; University of the Philippines Assistant Professor Dr. Aletta Yñiguez, former Sineskwela Producer, Ms. Marcela Claudette Villanueva; Museo Pambata Executive Director, Ms. Maricel Montero, and ADMU’s Communication Department Chair, Dr. Severino Sarmenta.

Placing second were Jasmin Robert Bansil, Aira Jill Brosas, and Danielle Andrea Ferrer for their film entitled ‘Bathala,’ which was about how a student was able to develop a prototype of a technology that can produce energy and potable water for the Dumagats. The film netted them a P30,000 cash prize.

Lastly, the trio of Princess Bacani, Angelica Mateo and Cristina Tula won third place and P20,000 for ‘Pwede Bang Red Uli?’, a short film on scientific ingenuity in addressing color blindness and how a person’s concern for another can push one to look for solutions using science to help.

DOST-SEI Director, Dr. Josette Biyo, said she was impressed about the quality of entries describing them as “effective and entertaining means in communicating science” to the public. “We have proven that Filipino-made science films are indeed effective means of bringing science and technology (S&T) closer to the people,” said Biyo.

Lastly, dela Peña urged the filmmakers to keep making films and discovering science as the field offers unlimited topics that can be tackled thru artistic methods. “I hope that this activity marks the start of your own story whether in film or in science. We hope that you really use your gifts for the best cause, that is, to serve the nation,” he said.

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