iACADEMY Cebu continues to showcase the creative potential of its students and faculty as “Pulis Dunggab,” directed by Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Arts and Design student Maxine dela Bajan and written by Multimedia Arts and Design faculty member Faith Aragon, received the Puregold Always Panalo Film citation in the Student Shorts category at the recently concluded PG CinePanalo Film Festival 2026.
Selected from hundreds of entries submitted nationwide, the film also received multiple nominations across key categories, including Pinakapanalong Maikling Pelikula, Panalong Director for dela Bajan, and Panalong Kwento for Aragon. The film was also nominated for Panalong Sound Design, Panalo sa Editing, and Panalo sa Cinematography.
“Pulis Dunggab” centers on Dongkoy, a nine-year-old boy whose innocent childhood game takes an unsettling turn when it collides with a terrifying real-world tragedy. Through a child’s perspective, the film explores the contrast between childhood innocence and the harsh realities that can surround it.
Aragon’s involvement as the film’s writer also demonstrates how faculty members create meaningful opportunities for collaboration and storytelling. The student-faculty production brings together academic learning and professional creative practice, giving young filmmakers a platform to develop stories that can engage wider audiences.
Through iACADEMY, it continues to provide students with opportunities to explore multimedia arts, develop their creative voices, and create work that reflects their perspectives and experiences.
With “Pulis Dunggab,” dela Bajan and Aragon demonstrate how collaboration between students and educators can bring original Filipino stories to the screen. Their achievement stands as another proud moment for iACADEMY Cebu and its Sugbuanon Game Changers, proving that creative work can go beyond better when passion, learning, and storytelling come together.
