Benildean Game Creators Shine at the 2024 Philippine Creative Awards
Benildean Game Creators Shine at the 2024 Philippine Creative Awards
16 December 2024
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde is rewriting the rules of game development education in the Philippines, and the 2024 Philippine Creative Awards for Animation and Games is proof of its impact. Held at The Red Carpet Cinema in Mandaluyong on November 30, the event brought together the country’s brightest talents in animation and gaming. Amid the celebrations, Benilde stood out, with its students sweeping major awards, including Game of the Year for the desktop game Taksil.
The College’s Game Design and Development (GDD) program, known for its cutting-edge approach and industry alignment, produced winners across multiple categories. Teams clinched awards for Best Game Design (Apocalypso), Innovation Award (Para Po!), and Best Desktop/Console Game (Taksil). These accolades are more than just trophies—they represent Benilde’s ability to nurture creativity and technical expertise in a field that is as challenging as it is rewarding.
The teams behind these exceptional projects include:
- Best Game Design: Apocalypso – Chrissaliz Batistil, Alexandra Bito, Joshua Daniel, Jerry Hong, Ma-I Entico, Gene Andrew Normandia, Renzo Oxales, Olivia Tiu, James Centeno, and Sam Baquir, mentored by Mr. Jebbrich Lim.
- Innovation Award: Para Po! – Iyanla Bagasan, Eriond De Jesus, Marcus Florentino, MJ Lenomta, and Charlotte Timbreza, mentored by Mr. Ian Christian Sevilla.
- Best Desktop/Console Game and Game of the Year: Taksil – Thea Alvarez, Kiel Federigan, AJ Galicia, Andy Legaspi, and Eirha Sacdalan, mentored by Ms. Jozette Anne Tuquib-Abayon.
- Nominated Entry: Wane – Samuel Baquir and Allen Geoffrey Rada, also mentored by Ms. Jozette Anne Tuquib-Abayon.
What makes Benilde exceptional is its long-standing relationship with the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP), an organization that has championed the country’s game development industry since 2007. This partnership is not new. Benilde and GDAP have been intertwined since the GDD program’s inception in 2009, with GDAP providing invaluable insights into crafting a curriculum that prepares students for real-world challenges.
In October 2024, this collaboration was further solidified with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The agreement opens doors for internships, microcredentialing, and collaborative projects that give Benilde students unparalleled access to industry leaders and opportunities. Through GDAP, students are exposed to internships with top studios and benefit from workshops, conferences, and research initiatives—all designed to ensure they graduate with more than just theoretical knowledge.
This alignment between education and industry is critical. Parents often worry about their children’s future in creative fields, but Benilde’s GDD program offers assurance. Its graduates are equipped not only with the technical skills to thrive in the competitive gaming industry but also with the creativity to innovate.
Winning at the Philippine Creative Awards isn’t just about recognition; it’s a signal to parents and students alike that Benilde is the place to be for anyone serious about a career in game development. The College’s focus on collaboration, mentorship, and hands-on learning ensures that its students are not just participants in the industry but pioneers.
Whether it’s the immersive world-building of Taksil, the innovative mechanics of Para Po!, or the artistic flair of Apocalypso, these projects embody the potential of Benilde’s GDD students. The awards are a reflection of their hard work, guided by a faculty that includes some of the country’s most respected game developers, such as Mr. Jebbrich Lim, Mr. Ian Christian Sevilla, and Ms. Jozette Anne Tuquib-Abayon.
We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Felix Palabrica, the Capstone Coordinator, for his unwavering support, and to the entire Game Design and Development (GDD) faculty, who have been instrumental in shaping the students’ journey—from their first days as FROSH to the completion of their Capstone projects.
For parents considering Benilde, the message is clear: this is more than an education; it’s a launchpad for creative, fulfilling careers in a booming industry. The 2024 Philippine Creative Awards reaffirm what the College has always known—that with the right guidance and opportunities, Benilde students can achieve anything.
For more information on Benilde’s GDD program and other undergraduate programs and Benildean student life, contact us at (63) 2 8230 5100 local 1801 or admissions@benilde.edu.ph. You may also visit our website at www.benilde.edu.ph.
