How Did UM Students Turn Filipino Innovation into an Award-Winning Story?

Davao City, Philippines — Students from University of Mindanaoe arned national recognition as Team Creative Blocks, composed of Bachelor of Multimedia Arts students, emerged as Grand Winner of Gawad Alunig 2025 during the Gawad Alunig x Dalumat (GAxD) Awards, held at The Manila Hotel in celebration of DOST-TAPI’s 39th Anniversary last January 30, 2026

Their winning audio-visual entry, “Taghoy,” was a storytelling-driven creative advertisement that highlighted the often-overlooked struggles of local innovators. The film featured LUMAD 6.0, an innovation from the UM Mechanical Engineering Program, which uses aerodynamics as a metaphor for resilience, illustrating how Filipino inventors continue to move forward despite limited resources and systemic challenges.

The project was led by Natalie Pimentel (Director and Writer), with George Sumanday (Creative Director and Editor) and John Carlou Romanos (Cinematographer and Editor), under the mentorship of Coach John Marco Capantoc. Through “Taghoy,” the team showcased how creative advertising and meaningful storytelling can elevate homegrown technologies and inspire a culture of Filipino ingenuity.

This achievement underscores the creativity, discipline, and national impact of UM students, affirming the University of Mindanao’s strong presence on the national creative and innovation arena.