The Energy Development Corporation (EDC)-Negros Island Geothermal Business Unit (NIGBU) is eyeing a repeat of its “Sa Geothermal May Forever” video contest to promote geothermal energy.
The video contest, held recently, engaged students from Negros Island to submit their entries that depict their understanding geothermal energy and how it helps to address climate change.
“This is EDC’s way of instilling pride for the abundances of this reliable geothermal energy among Negrenses, which is the explanation behind the contest title and behind the geo 24/7 campaign”, said Jay Joel Soriano, EDC-NIGBU head.
Asked whether the video contest will be held again next year or in the comings years, Soriano said he hopes that heads of other EDC business units will do the same.
“Continuing this definitely (in Negros)… I think it’s worthwhile considering for Dumaguete to do this again as we share our experience here and the success of the event”, Soriano said.
He agrees that this is one way of attracting millennials to promote renewable energy.
“I think there will be more participants next year but obviously we will have to think about how to advertise it a little bit more”, he added.
Nevertheless, Soriano expressed gratitude for the turnout of the people who came to the awards night last Oct 20, 2017 at the Luce Auditorium of Silliman University in Dumaguete City, despite the rain.
“It’s a show of support about trying to communicate what we are trying to. In spite of the rain a lot of people came and it’s a show of support about what we’re trying to communicate, what we’re trying to build from events like this”, according to Soriano.
The EDC had launched its first “Sa Geothermal May Forever” video contest in Negros Island with the hopes of engaging young people to help promote sustainable and renewable energy, especially geothermal energy which works 24/7.
At the same time, the contest allows students interested in film production to give their best shot, as the contestants were allowed the use of even a cellphone camera.
The five video finalists that each had their own interpretation of how geothermal energy provides clean, uninterrupted power 24 hours a day, rain or shine, all year round are vying for the categories of best picture, best screenplay, best actor, best actor, and people’s choice award.
Those that made it to the finals are: Geo TV (a documentary-type video on the benefits of geothermal energy); Pero Nag-effort (a geo engineering student rushed to her class only to find out that there wasn’t any because it was raining); Power (a girl finds love that is forever); Thesis Pa More (a college student who is working on her thesis breaks down after her boyfriend broke up with her); and Travel Goals (a guy who was heartbroken goes on a journey to find himself again and meets an adventurous girl who was on her journey to follow her dreams).
Travel Goals was awarded the Best Film, scoring 80.91 percent and receiving P20,000.00 cash as grand prize winner.
First runner-up was Power, who garnered 74.18 percent and received P10,000.00 in cash, followed by Thesis Pa More, 2nd runner up, with a 70.05 percent rating and who got P5,000.00 in cash.
Other awards include Best Screenplay: Power; Best Actor: Geo TV; Best Actress: Thesis Pa More; People’s Choice: Travel Goals (2,400 reactions of 59k views).
Fifty percent of the winners’ score came from the online voting that took place from October 9-19 through EDC’s advocacy page, Positive Energy Negros, on Facebook while 50 percent came from the judges’ scores. (Metro Post/with a report from Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)