Sparking audio visual creativity, Inventors’ Innovation for a Noble Vision of an Entrepreneurial Nation of Tomorrow (i-INVENT), a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) program, successfully conducted their pocket launch for the Gawad Alunig x Dalumat (GAxD) 2025 in Baguio City. Joined by Louisians from the Communication, Multi Media Arts, and Engineering programs, the pocket launch took place at the Gevers Hall on 17 November 2025.
Gawad Alunig x Dalumat 2025 is a creative marketing contest meant to promote and give the spotlight to local and national innovations. Calling for students to participate in the short form content contest, the campaign highlighted the significance of storytelling in advancing Filipino technological creations.
The program began with an overview of the campaign and what GAxD was all about. Over 150 participants gathered for the Baguio leg of the launch. Two short lectures were given as a crash course for participants on creative writing and visual production to enlighten audiences on both the technical and creative aspects of short-form content marketing. Storytelling was emphasized as the integral element that makes audiences resonate with produced content. Students were then asked to pitch a video concept for a keychain microscope, formally called the Makecroscope, invented by Jeremy De Leon, a beneficiary of DOST-TAPI.
DOST-TAPI Innovation, Marketing, Promotion, and Knowledge Transfer (IMPAKT) Unit Junior Program Manager, Jeremy Norine D. Unson expressed the need for promoting local inventions. “Nakita ko kasi na napakarami pang innovations na nakikita natin sa bawat community and hindi lahat ay nare-reach ng DOST. Kunwari dati, nagkakaroon…tumatawag kami sa mga communities, mga iba’t ibang regions. And then ini-introduce namin yong DOST-TAPI and its programs at di nila alam,” she said.
She also mentioned her concern for the lack of awareness on the assistance that DOST-TAPI provides for local inventors and innovators, thus stressing the purpose of GAxD 2025.
Jules Philip Tillay, the DOST-TAPI IMPAKT Unit Writer and former professor for SLU BA Communication explained the importance of storytelling through audio visual content and how it can spread awareness on Filipino innovations and technology. “Storytelling has been part of our culture as Filipinos. We tell stories and pass down stories. So this framework alone just shows us that we are storytellers. I think storytelling is important because it helps us highlight the innovations because ang daming inventions na need ng attention at assistance ng mga government agencies and other organizations.” he elaborated.
Gawad Alunig focuses on short-form video advertisement contest entries, whereas Gawad Dalumat focuses on photo essay submissions. Both aim to showcase inventions by Filipinos.
GAxD 2025 is open to all Filipino citizens aged 18 and above with meaningful narratives to share.
It is to be noted that the DOST-TAPI project is aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) 4 (Quality Education), 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and 17 (Partnership for the Goals). It also affirms the CICM Advocacy on Community Development and Education. (Article by Jasdine Marielle Que, Communication Society, Photos by Margareth Galuba & Samantha Borres Communication Society)
