The Momentum: Otherworld awarding ceremony marked the culmination of 193 graduating students from Benilde’s Multimedia Arts (MMA) program, highlighting their expertise in producing their own design portfolios and their mastery of multimedia arts. Taking place in the 5F Theater of the Benilde Design and Arts (D+A) Campus on March 14, the event honored outstanding works across different multimedia arts disciplines.
Ahead of the Momentum: Otherworld exhibit, its award ceremony gathered exhibitors, alumni and professors to give importance to the works of the graduating MMA students. The theater was filled with the anticipation and excitement of the exhibitors, as well as the sincere encouragement between artists and friends.
Into the unknown
Kicking off with opening remarks from Mr. Paul Samonte, a professor for the MMA program, he described this batch of students as a "sea of extraordinary talent." He added that the portfolios "do not define one's future success but are rather a stepping stone for even greater achievements."
Following the opening remarks, the winner of Best Portfolio for the Momentum: Rising Tides and ID121 MMA student, Ellice Hernandez, gave a short talk. While congratulating all 193 students on completing their work, she admitted that portfolios can seem like everything to the multimedia artist, that they "represent us when we're not in the room."
She advised "to know where you're going," because a portfolio shows where you are and where you're headed, "To go beyond the syllabus," and lastly, to know that "Your portfolio grows with you, [...] it's never really finished or perfected."
Shortly after, the panel of judges, composed of Benilde alumni, were introduced. The panel included Adriano Luceno, Gerald Feliciano, Jeffrey Anbio, Manjean Faldas, Ina Legaspi, Jellicoe Lim, and Krista Ortega. Each of them has thrived in various fields of multimedia arts, such as graphic design, art direction, and content creation.
The winners for Best in each multimedia category include:
Best in Graphic Design - Ashley Nicole Lee Sunga, ID120
Best in Illustration - Jessa Marisse Desoloc, ID122
Best in Photography - Brandon Lloyd Canoza, ID122
Best in Videography - Blase Cyril Dytioco, ID122
Best in 3D Modelling - Almira Faye Palma, ID122
Best in 3D Animation - Jessa Marisse Desoloc, ID122
Best in UI/UX - Blase Cyril Dytioco, ID122
Best in Motion Graphics - Christian Deniel Villacorza, ID122
During the awarding, the judges also left their own words of advice. Mr. Anbio encouraged the crowd to "keep exploring the creative world." Meanwhile, Mr. Faldas also mentioned the collaborative nature of this industry and how "art is an open process."
Next up was the recognition of the Top 15 best portfolios. Mr. Samonte emphasized the difficulty in choosing the Top 15 out of 193 portfolios and even the judges' difficulty in choosing among the Top 15. Ashley Nicole Lee Sunga bagged the Best Portfolio award, followed by Jessa Marrise Desoloc who received second place and Eljin Ray Wagan, a layout staffer of The Benildean, as third.
Crafting the portal
JC Bugarin, an ID121 student and the event’s project head, shared that the journey to the otherworld was mapped out to craft limitless possibilities. “Momentum: Otherworld is different because it has a narrative [...] It’s really based on this world that we created for ourselves wherein imagination and creativity thrive,” he said in an interview with The Benildean.
Meanwhile, Momentum’s creative director, ID122 MMA student Christian Deniel Villacorza expressed that “It’s not really a competition. It’s a celebration of your craft, na tayo’y may sari-sariling art na kailangan ipakita sa mundo.”
He emphasized the value of collaborative creativity over competition—a space where Benildeans can showcase unique expressions within a shared imaginative framework. “Just remember who you are and what you do as an artist.”
Villacorza also explained what makes Momentum so otherworldly. “Each student has their own story, their own unique style and naco-come together ang different generations, different styles of students.”
Additionally, the event is a springboard for MMA students to make a name for themselves. ”This is where our batch will be able to shine brightest and our best foot forward coming into the industry,”Rara Lubay, assistant creative head and an ID122 student, shared. Lubay also served as Layout Editor in the Benildean Press Corps in A.Y. 2023-2024.
Painting the way
After celebrating the creative prowess of all artists, the event opened the doors to another realm. Momentum: Otherworld invites everyone to an exhibition showcasing out-of-this-world creations by participants.
To be held in The Grey Space, San Juan City, this three-day exhibit from March 28 to 30 features immersive installations, interactive art, and multimedia displays inspired by themes of exploring what lies beyond.
Bugarin expressed that, “The whole idea kung bakit nilabas ‘yung MMA exhibit, [is] because before it used to be within Benilde lang, within 10th floor or within the hallways. Now, we wanted to show the world that we exist.”
Leaping across the boundaries of Benilde paints a mirage of possibilities for the graduating students. Mr. Samonte shared, “I think the best advice I could give upcoming multimedia arts graduates would be to continue honing their craft. Never stop learning because learning never stops in school and they should always keep themselves updated within whatever industry.”
With the event’s ethos, the students gain tools to carve their own paths after graduation. ”As they graduate, definitely explore since ayun nga.[...] We need to find our own personal way to create something unique, something that people will enjoy. So [the] [...] gist of the advice is explore,” Bugarin added.
The Momentum: Otherworld awarding ceremony was a celebration of the remarkable creativity and talent showcased by Benilde's graduating MMA students. With their portfolios evolving alongside their skills, they are poised to contribute fresh perspectives and innovative works that push the boundaries of multimedia arts.
