Nueva Ecjia, Western Samar and Leyte Top Winners in Sinebata

Sinebeta: Pinoy Youth Media Festival concluded in Tacloban with awarding ceremonies that honored the best works in photography and video by youth who entered the national derby. This was announced by Boy Abunda, Plan's Ambassador for Education and Sinebata presentor who exhorted the youth to "strive for excellence and be courageous to tell their true stories."

Top winners in the short video genre are Buhay Lapida of Nueva Ecija and Idlip of Quezon City. The entry from Daram Island in Western Samar titled Pasok Na collected the lion's share of awards including Best Public Service Announcement, NCCT Bata Award, PIA Young Journalist's Award and DepEd Regional Director's Choice and DSWD's Child Welfare Award.

"Melissa", the entry fielded by Leyte Normal University students in the MTV category bagged the Best MTV award, Kids' Choice award and DSWD's Child Welfare Award while Pukot, an entry from Eastern Samar. was honored with the DepEd Regional Director's Choice award for best mini-documentary.

Also adjudged Kids' Choice winners were Tsinelas and Pinagkaitan, both from Masbate.

Northern Samar's Entoy na la Pirmi bagged the Best PSA award while Western Samar's Tayo Tayo won Best MTV .

The top photos which were honored were Catching Our Future from Ilocos Sur and Sisid Para sa Piso from Negros Occidental while three finalist photographs were honored with citations as Columbia's Pamilyang Pilipino award winners. They are Journey of Life from Sorsogon, Biyaya sa Tag-init from Laguna and Happiness is a Choice from Bulacan. The finalist entries were featured in a two day exhibit at Robinson's Mall which was jointly opened by Plan Country Director Carin van der Hor and actor, MTRCB board member Bobby Andrews.

PDEA gave out a special prize to Nueva Ecija's Huwag Magpadala sa Droga while PIA also honored the mini-documentary from Northern Samar, Kapirasong Papel, with its Batang Journalist Award.

Sinebata is an annual undertaking of Anak TV and Plan Philippines with presentors Boy Abunda, Cheryl Cosim and Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski. It aims to encourage Filipino youth to express themselves using technology and to maximize the use of media space available to them.

Reference: Anak TV , Manila : 3328718; anaktv_seal@yahoo.com