CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--Focusing on the true-to-life stories of child laborers in the region, the Department of Labor and Employment Northern Mindanao (DOLE)-10 awarded three sets of winners for the DOLEkula Film Festival Season during the celebration of the World Day Against Child Labor (WDACL).

OIC-Regional Director Estrella Uy-Pahalla said the annual anti-child labor film festival aims to convey to communities its advocacy to stop child labor and help children who have lived through forced labor and other forms of exploitation to take positive steps toward their future.

Reflecting on the festival, film director, writer-artist, and one of DOLEkula’s board of judges, Raul Prima, said, "This edition's entries created an impact to call to action communities on their convergent involvement to eliminate child labor through short films. I commend DOLE-10 for artistically demonstrating these messages in an effective medium to address this social concern."

Highlighting this year's WDACL theme is "Buong bansa, lahat ng Bata, Sama-sama Para sa Batang Malaya," which simultaneously commemorates the 125th anniversary of Philippine Independence and Nationhood.

Moreover, Pahalla said the global estimates for CY 2021 showed an increase of 8.4 million children in child labor (CL) in the last four years. In the same year, the Philippines recorded a total of 935,000 child laborers, while NorthMin posted the highest number at 138,000, or 14.8% of the total figure.

"DOLE’s continuing efforts towards raising awareness and advocating with the government and other stakeholders created remarkable progress for children, contributing to the removal of 29,697 child laborers in the region out of the cumulative figure of 68,241 profiled from CYs 2018 to 2022," Pahalla said.

"Just like the freedom that we wanted over the years, we also dream to create a child labor-free Philippines in the coming days and see children growing freely, or mga batang Malaya," Pahalla also said.

Meanwhile, DOLE-Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC) Director Ahmma Charisma Satumba commended the seven film producers of the DOLEkula mga maikling kwento ng batang Malaya project for helping increase public awareness of its impact on children who are working.

"Paganda ng paganda, pagaling ng pagaling ang mga entries at pahirap ng pahirap ang pagpipili ng mananalo (The entries are getting better, and the selection of the winner is getting harder)," Satumba said during the announcement of the special BWSC jury prize award.

The seven one-minute films produced by the provincial field offices employees include Trauma (Bukidnon); Bulawan (Cagayan de Oro City); Timpla sa Kaugmaon (Camiguin); Sikad-Sikad (Lanao del Norte); Tagbo (Misamis Occidental); Ulingera (Misamis Occidental); and Guni-Guni (Regional Office).

Pahalla awarded first place to DOLE-10 Bukidnon PFO Chief Raul Valmores for "Trauma," produced by DOLE-10’s Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP) Community Facilitators Clebel Guinayon, Melanie Balacuit, and Mark Combong, about "Mel," who, aside from the physical toil, suffered from an enemy hiding in plain sight that dangerously affected her well-being as a child laborer.

Meanwhile, second-place winner DOLE-10 Misamis Oriental PFO Chief Jose Errol Natividad said "Ulingera" is the story of 15-year-old "Lala," who was forced to work making "uling," or charcoal.

She was later diagnosed with multiple lung problems. This film is an artistic dramatization of how many people in our society are well aware of the risks and dangers of children living or working in unsafe environments. The film is produced by Mary Dayne A. Tampus, Juniel B. Ravelo, Marciano T. Cardente Jr., and Akisa G. Boriongan.

Also, DOLE-10 Lanao del Norte PFO OIC-Chief Lawyer Safrali Cabili said their entry, which won the third spot, is a story of "Bentong," produced by Amima A. Cosain, Janeka G. Ojeda, and Abdul Hasheb B. Manan. The child, a sikad-sikad driver, transports passengers to help sustain his family's income, facing risks while traversing narrow streets and carrying heavy loads of strangers to sustain his school needs as his main source of income.

Minor awards were: Best Cinematography to Trauma; Best Director to Sikad-Sikad; Best One-Minute-Film (Trauma); Best Performer in a Lead Role (Timpla sa Kaugmaon); Best Musical Score (Tagbo); Best Production Design (Bulawan);

Best Story (Ulingera); Best Editing (Timpla sa Kaugmaon); Social Media Audience Choice Award (Ulingera); Special BWSC Jury Prize Award (Ulingera); and Special Participation Award (Guni-Guni);

Meanwhile, consolation prizes were awarded to Tagbo, Bulawan, and Timpla sa Kaugmaon.

This year’s jurors, who gained their respective accomplishments in the fields of arts, technical craft, and visionary storytelling, deliberated extensively before presenting the awards.

Sining Kambayoka stage actor-director and artistic director of Kagay-an Performing Arts, Raul Prima; Executive Producer, former news chief of ABS-CBN Davao, and media communications officer of Childfund BUILDCAAP, Michelle Khoe Robin-Bacsal; and 2017 USDOL IQBAL Masih awardee and Project Director of World Vision Project, ACE Daphne DG Culanag.

Pahalla also welcomed and honored the strengthened partnership with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines-10, Philippine Ports Authority-Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines Ports Authority-Camiguin, Rural Transit Mindanao Incorporated, Inc., and Gaisano City Mall for its contribution advocating the DOLEkula films in their respective offices, thereby motivating other organizations, social partners, and peoples toward achieving the elimination of child labor in pursuit of a child labor-free Philippines.

Also, the same award was given to Kaanib Foundation, Inc., Childfund Philippines, and World Vision Project Against Child Exploitation (ACE), Childfund Philippines, and Kaanib Foundation, Inc. for their excellent partnership advocating the Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program.

The films are uploaded at DOLE facebook.com/ dolexclpep. (DOLE-10/PIA-10)