Young Filipino artists will have a breakthrough opportunity to flaunt their talents and masterpieces as well as the chance to win P1 million with the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) nationwide creative competition launched over the weekend.
In his speech during the launch of the Young Creatives Challenge (YC2) on Sept. 24 at Matrix Creation Events Venue, DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual highlighted the brighter opportunities awaiting the talented Filipino artists in this generation and beyond through this initiative.
“The Young Creatives Challenge transcends a mere contest or program. It is an ore to human creativity. It is a salute to the boundless imagination and an affirmation of the infinite horizons awaiting our young Filipinos’ vibrant minds,” he said.
The YC2 categories include songwriting, screenwriting, playwriting, graphic novel, animation, game development, and online content creation via the TikTok app.
Entries may be submitted online through YC2’s official website at www.youngcreativeschallenge.com until Sept. 30 only.
To be eligible for YC2, DTI Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba said the participants must be 18-35 years old, and natural-born Filipino citizens. They can be an amateur or a professional, joining as an individual or group.
For the content of the entry, it should be an original work that is unpublished or unproduced. It must also be written in but not limited to English or Filipino. In case any native language is used in the piece, participants must submit a document of its English translation.
The theme is an open and free subject, allowing the artists to choose any topic where they can uniquely shine.
To ensure fair and equal opportunities for all, any individual or group participant must join one category and submit one entry only.
The top 30 semi-finalists, to be announced in October, will receive P30,000 per category.
The culmination and awarding ceremony will be held in November where the grand winner of each category will receive P1 million cash prize.
Pascual emphasized that the DTI’s dedication is “unwavering” in joining the youth to reach their utmost potential, contributing to the development and growth of the creative industries in the country.
He further stressed that launching this challenge will inspire future generations as participants exhibit their unique and authentic masterpieces, providing them a “springboard” to explore infinite opportunities in the creative world.
Pascual said the competition is for songwriters, screenwriters, playwrights, graphic novel artists, animators, and game developers. "This is your moment. I invite you to seize the moment. Let your creativity shine through. Trust in the might of your ideas. Your journey starts here, and the world eagerly awaits the talents that you will unfold,” he said.
During the launch, Aldaba discussed the general and specific mechanics of each category.
“We encourage each participant to embrace their distinctive voices and talents and to present their genuine expressions using the YC2 platform,” Aldaba said.
This initiative exists with the support of Senator Imee Marcos and is backed by the Philippine Creative Industry Development Act (PCIDA) which provides guidelines and government support for creatives, paving the way for a golden age of creativity in the Philippines. (Ma. Joselie C. Garcia)