Photo by FDCP

St. Dominic College of Asia is now part of the Academic Film Society (AFS) of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), which aims to gather various film schools in the Philippines to collaborate and “promote the incorporation of film in institutional academic activities as well as training for teachers on how to use film in the classroom and in 21 st -century learning”.

The AFS was formally launched last year with the students, but on April 5, 2024, the academics, teachers, and administrators of various film schools from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao gathered in UN Avenue, Manila, for the formal academic launch.

Dr. Richardson Mojica, BA Communication Program Chair, represented St. Dominic College of Asia to AFS. Prof. Tim Rone Villanueva, BA Communication Faculty Member, was also present during the event and recognized for his participation in other AFS activities.

During the launch, Prof. Seymour Sanchez, a former BA Communication Faculty Member, and current FDCP Education Consultant, discussed the various ways in which FDCP, through AFS, can help film schools through funding, technical support, and other means, as well as the current trends pertaining to film education in the Philippines.

Director Jose Javier Reyes, FDCP Technical Consultant, mentioned that the AFS wants to emphasize and differentiate the roles of two equally important divisions in film education: those teaching films academically (film studies) and those teaching the technical aspects (film techniques). Both should learn from one another. Furthermore, Reyes stressed that films should not be Manila-centric. He said, “Let us bring the films to the provinces. Encourage film machining among students in their languages and dialects.”

Dr. Mojica plans to partner with FDCP through AFS with various projects under the BA Communication Program and other programs with film components. “We welcome this opportunity here at SDCA as this gives more leverage for the students.” Dr. Mojica said. He added, “We hope that we can produce a film thesis between BA Communication and BMMA students in the next semesters with the help of FDCP.”