TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, Feb. 25 (PIA) – – – The Best Film of this year’s Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) Film Festival is assured to be screened internationally and compete with other films from other countries, an official said on February 21.

Leonard Cruz, officer-in-charge for CEZA Cagayan offices and who was also one of the members of the technical jury said, aside from the trophy and cash prize the Marahuyo film received, it will also conquer the international screen as the CEZA will make a way that it will be competed in other film festivals internationally.

Cruz added that just like last year’s winner ‘Lung-aw’, Marahuyo has the great chances to win in China Film Festival under the documentary film category where Lung-aw was one of the finalists.

“Itong film na ito ay pwede namin itong ipagmalaki at ito ay ipapalabas namin hindi lang dito sa Pilipinas but also abroad para sa aming investments sorties. So kami ay natutuwa at meron isang filmmaker ginawa itong film para sa CEZA,” Cruz added.

The film Marahuyo directed by a Tuguegaraoeño Janford Leguiab, also won the Best Musical Score award, Best Sound Design award and CEZA/Office of the Presidential Adviser for Northern Luzon (OPANL) Choice Award.

The films ‘Ang Himala sa Kamay ng Daang Tao’ by Layag Productions and ‘Ani’ by Proshot Films came in second and third, respectively for the Best Film award.

The Marahuyo revolved on how the lives of the members of the Palaui Environmental Protectors Associations (PEPA) have changed since the CEZA chose them as one of its assisted community-based sustainable tourism group located in Palaui Island, Sta. Ana, Cagayan, which is part of the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport (CSEZFP) jurisdiction. The group, which has been existent since 1993, was organized mainly as the guardians of the Island to help the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) II in its mandate.

“Andami naming pinagdaanan bago namin nabuo yung kuwento. Actually, nung nag-pitching kami dito sa CEZA office iba yung nasa utak namin pero pagdating namin sa Palaui Island nagbago lahat ng istorya namin at andami namin natutunan na babaunin namin forever,” Leguiab said.

“Ang sabi namin sa Bloggers of Tuguegarao yung paggawa namin ng Marahuyo story hindi lamang magtatapos dito sa CEZA Film Festival dahil dadalhin namin ang Marahuyo hindi lamang para sa amin kundi gusto namin maging awareness ito para sa lahat na hindi lang dapat ang PEPA ang magprotekta sa Palaui kundi tayo pong lahat,” Leguiab said in his acceptance speech.

Other members of the Marahuyo production team include Mark Anthony Gallibu as researcher and writer, Jet Nava as editor/cinematographer/colorist, Faye Yu as musical scorer and Francis Jove, John Vidal sinco and Aries Edgar Coloma as cameramen.

Other winners include: Best Actor award to Kyle Medina for the film ‘Best Day Ever’; Citation for a Female Performance award to Jamayca Orpilla for the ‘Tanaw’; Best Production Design award to Crizler Rivera for the film ‘Ani’; Best Editing award to Craig Jacob Garin for the film ‘Ang Himala sa Kamay ng Daang Tao’; Best Cinematography  award to Sean Salvador for the film ‘Ani’; Best Story award to Raquel Rivera for the film ‘Ang Himala sa Kamay ng Daang Tao’; Best Director awards to Jezreel Necesito for the film ‘Ang Himala sa Kamay ng Daang Tao’ and to Kenneth Pedronan for the film ‘Ugot; and Special Jury Prize was conferred to ‘Ang Himala sa Kamay ng Daang Tao’.

On the other hand, Sec. Raul L. Lambino, CEZA chief executive officer and the Presidential Adviser for Northern Luzon, said the CEZA and the OPANL will continue to give all our best efforts for our region.

“The stories of people and communities we served is the greatest achievement in our lives. To our story tellers, may you make stories from our region and take pride of telling them not only here in our region but the whole country or the whole world as well,” Lambino said in a statement.

The CEZA Film Festival showcases the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport achievements and development plans for the next 5 years. It encapsulates how far CEZA has gone as a catalyst for growth and development, its substantial contribution to the national and regional economy, its role to pull the economic growth in the regions – not only in the Cagayan Valley Region but across Northern Luzon and its impact in the lives of the community. (MDCT/PIA-2)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1035228