The City Government of Cagayan de Oro in cooperation with the Cagayan de Oro ICT Business Council, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), held the city's first Oro DigiArts Fest and Creative Digital Output Challenge on 24-25 November 2018.

Seeking to jumpstart the local digital creative industry, the partners linked up with local creatives, such as, the OBRA CDO Creative Community, and big names in the Cebu Animators and Illustrators Guilds.

The event brought out a wealth of local talent from established professionals to up and coming young illustrators and animators.

The Cagayan de Oro ICT Business Council had drummed up interest months prior with a series of 2D and 3D animation workshops leading up to a culminating session on industry standard VFX.

“This is just the beginning,” declared Eileen San Juan, Local Economic and Investment Promotions Officer (LEIPO), as the city government and its partners are gearing up for a yearlong leadup to next year's bigger and better Oro DigiArts Fest.

CDO ICT Business Council Executive Director Bong Adolfo thanked the city government for its support and partnership, saying that attention on the digital creative industry is timely given that it is expected to boom in the next three (3) years.

The DTI recently shone a light on the creative industry in general, naming it the current sunrise industry and launching CREATE Philippines in 2017, to champion its development.

Digital challenge brings out best and brightest

The Creative Digital Output Challenge, which highlighted the first Oro DigiArts Fest in Cagayan de Oro, tested participants skills in Storyboard Pitching, 2D and 3D Character Modelling, and 10-second video with VFX.

The challenge culminated a series of workshops initiated by Cagayan de Oro's pioneering homegrown IT solutions provider Syntactics, Inc.

According to Syntactics‘ Business Development Officer and Cagayan de Oro ICT Business Council Executive Director Jonathan Arvin “Bong” Adolfo, the company sought to jumpstart the  local digital creative industry to
stimulate a thriving ecosystem complementing established hubs in Cebu and Davao.

For the first three (3) categories, participants had to prepare their entries onsite at the Cagayan de Oro Skills and Training Center of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) from November 24-25.

Submissions for the last category, however, were prepared offsite and accepted until 12:00 nn on November 25.

The star-studded panel of judges was headlined by Cebu Illustrators and Animators Guilds' Emot Amodia of Emottoons Studio, Miko Punsalan, Character Concept Artist of Sophie's World Productions, and VFX Artist
Elohim Tampus whose filmography includes movie blockbusters like the Avengers franchise, Justice League, and Black Panther.

Local success stories Dave Gadrinab of XYGEN CG Works, JP dela Rama of Scribbles Studio, and Nico Alumbro of Voxel Works Digital rounded out the panel with LEIPO Eileen San Juan as impact judge.

The Winners Circle

Winners of the 1st Creative Digital Output Challenge went home with cash prizes from the City Government of Cagayan de Oro, graphic tablets from industry leaders Huion and Wacom, and acrylic plaques made by
Candia Sign Ads.

Category A: Storyboard Pitching

1st Place: Alyssah Busara
2nd Place: Mar John Sayson

Category B: 2D Character Modelling

1st Place: Giovannie Ocier
2nd Place: Lance Christopher Amil

Category C: 3D Character  Modelling

1st Place: Jesse Gayanilo
2nd Place: Raul Cembrano

Category D: 10-second Video with VFX

Winner: Ryan Lao and Team

Cebu Concept Artist gives free workshop

Cebu-based Sophie's World Productions Character Concept Artist Michael John “Miko” Punsalan took time out of his full schedule to give a free digital illustration workshop at the Centrio Mall Activity Center in Cagayan de Oro last November 25.

During the workshop, participants were encouraged to design their own characters.

Miko also showed off his portfolio and demonstrated the skills that have made him one of the most sought-after artists for international comics.