Ochangco, Toledo of UST Arts and Letters bag National Art Competition Grand Prize

Winners Balaram Das D Ochangco and Effigenio Christopher D Toledo pose with their professors at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Arts and Letters: Prof Jose Arsenio J Salandanan (left) of Communication and Media Studies, and Prof. Jeremaiah M Opiniano, journalism coordinator. 

Pitik Mulat sa Maynila, Kahit Anong Delubyo May Pag-Asa, a short video by Balaram Das Ochangco and Efigenio Christopher Toledo IV, Communication Arts and Journalism students of the Faculty of Arts and Letters, respectively, bested 58 other entries and were unanimously declared Grand Prize winners for the Video-Making category in the recently concluded Vision, the National Student Art Competition sponsored by Petron held at the Old Senate Session Hall of the National Museum.

Living up to this year’s competition theme of  “Lakbay, A Journey of Triumphs and Milestones,” Ochangco and Toledo chronicled the journey of a photographer as he takes on the daily grind of capturing images of people with his camera as they face the everyday challenges in life.   

The victory of Messrs Ochangco and Toledo is special as Video-Making is not only the newest category in the art competition but was judged by an esteemed panel of judges chaired by multi-awarded cinematographer Romy Vitug.  Joining him in the roster are actress and director Laurice Guillen, multi-awarded film director Raymond Red, documentary filmmaker and Editor-in-Chief of GMA News Online Howie Severino and Ana Neri, Assistant Vice President for Marketing of Petron.