Renowned physicist Albert Einstein said, “Creativity is contagious. Pass it on.” Sanny Villafranca, also known as AJRAVII, a film student at the Asia Pacific Film Institute, aims to do so through his graphic novel “The Girl and The Tamaraw.” 

“The indigenous peoples and the tamaraws inspire this project. As creatives, we tell stories to effect change or inspire it. I aim to raise awareness for protecting our endangered species and their natural habitat and to showcase how culturally rich our nation is," Sanny said.

Sanny’s graphic novel was the grand winner for the Graphic Novel Category of the Young Creatives Challenge (YC2), which held its grand finals and awarding ceremony at the BGC, Taguig City, Metro Manila last March 21, 2024.

Organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the support of Sen. Imee Marcos and the Philippine Creative Industry Development Act (PCIDA), YC2 is a competition that showcases the creativity of the Filipino youth. It was created to inspire, recognize, and showcase Filipino talents in the fields of songwriting, screenwriting, playwriting, graphic novels, animation, game development, and online content creation.

Asked about how his graphic novel “The Girl and The Tamaraw'' was conceptualized, Sanny stated, “In 2018, during a workshop led by Direk Surf Reyes, a Mowelfund founder, we were tasked with creating emotionally resonant stories that promote our culture. This narrative was born from that challenge and serves as a tribute to my mentor, who supported it while involved with the NCCA.”

Sharing a glimpse into his personal journey, Sanny, a resident of Quezon City, reminisced, "My creative journey began at a young age. I was six, living near the PNR train tracks. My grandmother had a collection of comics that she rented out to our neighbors. I devoured them all, sparking my love for storytelling and drawing. My grandmother, a guiding light, taught me how to draw. She nurtured my creative growth from a tender age.”

“In elementary school, I joined various organizations like the music, art, and journalism clubs. I became more involved in extracurricular activities and gained experience through inter-school events. My passion for the arts continued into high school,” Sanny added.

Currently, Sanny is working as an account director at an advertising agency, while also overseeing Sanny Istudyo Productions, which he established as a creative platform to pursue his passion for storytelling through various art forms such as music, film, and illustrations. “To refine my storytelling abilities, I am enrolled in a Film course at the Asia Pacific Film Institute. I am in the process of developing a screenplay for my finals. ‘The Girl and The Tamaraw’ is currently being prepared for publication, and we are also working on another story that promotes our culture,” he said.

Sanny’s win in the Young Creatives Challenge is even more inspiring because he is a PWD (person with disability). Though he has a hearing impairment, this has not deterred Sanny from pursuing his creative passion. He exclaimed With heartfelt gratitude, “I want to share this honor with my fellow creatives, especially those with disabilities or facing doubts while pursuing their passions despite challenges. I'm grateful to my late mentor, Surf Reyes, as well as my late mother, family, and friends. Thank you to DTI, YC2 judges, and Senator Imee for supporting programs that empower Filipino creatives. Thank you to the support of Hana Creative, Asia Pacific Film Institute, Meisner Studio Manila, and the Sanny Istudyo Team. We continue to dream of a nation that celebrates and highly values arts and culture. Mabuhay ang katutubong kultura at sining! Mabuhay ang malikhaing Pinoy! Maraming Salamat sa Diyos!”