UE CFAD alumnus-filmmaker pays it forward through cinematic advocacy

 

Wazzup Pilipinas?!

 

An award-winning filmmaker and 2018 Visual Communication graduate of the University of the East–College of Fine Arts, Architecture, and Design continues to prove that cinema is not just a medium for entertainment, but also a vital tool for social change.

Recognized as an outstanding citizen of Caloocan in 2019, Elvin Jay E. Macanlalay has built a career defined by advocacy-driven storytelling, bridging the gap between personal experience and broader social contexts. He collaborates with NGOs and youth groups to promote art as a driver for change.

Macanlalay recently shared his expertise in production design at the Chua King Ha Small Gallery to mentor the next generation of UE VisCom majors. He urged students to view design not just as a technical requirement, but as a storytelling tool capable of conveying powerful, lasting messages.

An interdisciplinary artist, Macanlalay made history when his short documentary, “Between the Lines,” was screened at the 2024 Festival de Cannes during the 9th Semaine du Cinéma Positif Week. This marked the first time a UE CFAD alumnus-filmmaker’s work was featured in the festival.

The film, which also won Best Documentary at the 10th MegaCity-ShortDocs Awards in Paris, explores the transformative power of a community library in Bagong Silang, Calocan, highlighting how stories can empower children to engage with societal issues.

This success follows the international journey of his 2022 documentary, “Di Niyo Ba Naririnig” (Can’t You Hear?), which was shot entirely on a mobile phone during a workshop mentored by director Jet Leyco and journalists Raphael Bosano and Chiara Zambrano. The film bagged Best Documentary at the 13th Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival.

The raw, six-minute piece captures the desperation of jeepney drivers in 2020 who were forced to beg for food due to pandemic-related lockdowns and a lack of government support.

For Macanlalay, the inspiration for his work hits close to home. The drivers featured in “Di Niyo Ba Naririnig” were the same ones who transported him to UE Caloocan during his time as a student.

Guided by the “Pay-it-Forward” philosophy, he views his filmmaking as a necessary action to repay the community which supported his growth and amplify the voices of the marginalized.

Using a low-profile mobile setup allowed his subjects to feel comfortable, resulting in an intimate portrayal of their frustrations regarding inflation and rising fuel prices.

Macanlalay’s filmography consists of a diverse range of recognized works, including “Maling Akala: Ang Misteryo ng Unamuno,” which received the Heritage Film Award and Best Animation at the Knowmad Short Film Festival, and “How the Beasts Got Hyped,” which was awarded Honorable Mention at the DreamManila International Film Festival and Knowmad Short Film Festival Germany.

He also served as the curator for the Human Rights Month issue of Yuwana Zine, an ASEAN Youth Forum initiative that amplified the voices of youth activists from eight Southeast Asian countries.

As Macanlalay continues to explore themes of social engagement and community empowerment, he remains dedicated to creating films that delve deep into the socio-political realities of Filipinos.

How to prepare fast, nutritious, delicious breakfast

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Know what meal of the day is the hardest to prepare?

Many Moms and homemakers say breakfast. The food preparation itself is quite simple since most breakfast fare needs only to be fried or heated up. But planning breakfast menus and serving up something new, delicious and nutritious everyday is the big challenge.

Feeling sleepy coupled with the pressure of meeting morning schedules can be overwhelming. Planning wholesome breakfast menus, doing the actual cooking and cleaning up afterwards can be such a hassle that some are pushed to go for junk food or skip breakfast all together.

That’s a big no-no, of course, because breakfast is the key to getting better physical and cognitive performance daily. A 2019 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology also showed that skipping breakfast is associated with an 87% risk of cardiovascular death. Eaters of high-quality, nutritious breakfasts meanwhile get long-term heart health and stave off obesity and diabetes.

What will make breakfast preparation easy? Having on hand a variety of easy to cook, protein-rich, delicious breakfast food is key. One of the challenges of preparing breakfast is serving up non-monotonous food for different days of the week. When there are different choices to serve up each day, this most important meal of the day becomes a joy for those who eat it and those who make it.

Bounty Fresh, one of the leading providers of fresh and processed poultry and meat products in the country, has launched a campaign that makes breakfast preparation fast, efficient and such a joy. A wide array of trusted Bounty Fresh food products that are tasty, nutritious and easy to prepare are now part of its “Basta Baon, Bounty Fresh” collection.

Two new products – Bounty Fresh Chicken Tocino and Bounty Fresh Chicken Tapa –are being launched with the campaign. Fresh pork tapa and tocino, breaded treats like torikatsu, chicken nuggets, chicken sticks and pre-marinated, easy-to-prepare chicken cut-ups that come in favorite chicken parts are part of the package.

The Bounty Fresh breakfast line also includes premium specialty eggs with specialized nutritional benefits. Eggs with organic Selenium (a powerful antioxidant that fights stress and defends the body from chronic conditions that can cause heart disease and cancer); Vitamin D (helps build bones, support immune health and keep muscles and brain cells working) and Omega 3 (essential fats that are good for the heart, brain, eyes and joints) together with Bounty Fresh Cage Free Specialty Eggs and Bounty Fresh Premium Eggs with fewer saturated fats and cholesterol -- emphasize the importance of making eggs the star of the breakfast table.

“These breakfast fare fuel the family for school, work, and daily activities, every day of the week,” says Stephanie Balois-Guerrero, Vice President – Head of Marketing of Bounty Plus Inc.

“It is the expression of Bounty Fresh’s desire to provide convenience for today’s busy households by giving homemakers a wide range of choices that are as easy to prepare as 1-2-3. From farm-fresh golden yolk eggs, chickens raised with no antibiotics ever; clean, fresh, tender meat products and breaded chicken favorites, these food choices make breakfast preparation simple without compromising taste or nutrition.”

“Whoever does the grocery shopping can just stack up on the breakfast treats, store them in the freezer, and pick out one breakfast surprise after another on different days of the week. Breakfast will never be boring, repetitive and hard to prepare ever again,” Balois-Guerrero added.

The Bounty Breakfast fare can be enjoyed at home or packed as baon for work, school or short trips too.

DepEd urges whole-of-government action as EDCOM2 report turned over to PBBM

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MANILA, 29 January 2026— The Department of Education (DepEd) called for a whole-of-government approach to address the country’s learning crisis, as it formally received the EDCOM 2 Final Report and turned over the National Education and Workforce Development Plan (NatPlan) to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in a ceremony at Malacañan Palace on Thursday.



“The report includes the NatPlan, which offers us a 10-year plan to address the learning crisis, that can be solved if we act in unity and with determination and consistency,” President Marcos said.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the recommendations of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) underscore that while DepEd has begun implementing major reforms, many of the most critical changes require coordinated action from other government agencies, Congress, local governments, and the private sector.

“The learning crisis is not a DepEd problem alone. The roadmap is clear, but delivery will depend on how well the entire government moves together,” Angara said. “We are ready to work closely with Congress and all our partners to ensure that these reforms are felt in our schools and by our teachers and learners.”


Early childhood, nutrition body coordination

DepEd said findings reinforce the urgency of strengthening early childhood care and development, particularly nutrition interventions for children aged 0 to 5, which it noted cannot be addressed by the education sector alone. The Department pointed to the need for stronger coordination and clearer accountability among agencies involved in early childhood nutrition and care, including the National Nutrition Council and the Departments of Health, Social Welfare and Development, and Interior and Local Government.



The agency also echoed the report’s emphasis on sustained national and local funding to support the conversion of daycare centers into child development centers, a function largely carried out by local government units with national government support.

Workforce plan alignment

Likewise, DepEd highlighted persistent gaps between education and employment outcomes, underscoring the need for closer alignment with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), particularly in Senior High School, technical-vocational pathways, and teacher education and licensure.



DepEd cited the report’s support for establishing a unified labor market information system involving the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and TESDA, as well as fully operationalizing enterprise-based training and industry-led upskilling programs.



Congress, DBM critical to financing and structural reforms

Angara said carrying out the reforms will also depend on Congress updating several key education laws, including rules on how local governments use education funds, expanding the Adopt-a-School program so more private groups can support learning programs, and modernizing teacher licensing to ensure quality training and hiring.



The Department also flagged the need to adjust laws governing school division management and teacher deployment, and to fully enforce existing measures that link education with jobs and skills training, so students move more smoothly from school to work.

The report likewise calls on Congress and the Department of Budget and Management to support staffing reforms across DepEd, CHED, and TESDA, noting that expanded mandates under K to 12, free higher education, and TVET reforms have outpaced existing human resource structures.


The Department also cited the report’s call to strengthen inter-agency coordination, including reinforcing the Education and Workforce Development Group as a platform for joint planning, aligned budgets, and shared accountability.


Angara said DepEd is ready to play its part but emphasized that sustained reform will require institutional discipline across government and across multiple administrations.


“We already see alignment under President Marcos’ leadership. The challenge now is execution — staying the course, aligning budgets and incentives, and holding ourselves jointly accountable for learning outcomes,” he said.