Two graduate students from the Master of Digital Media program of the School of New Media Arts (SNMA), De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde, were among the featured presenters at the 2nd SNMA Research Fest held on October 3, 2025 at the Digital Film Screening Room, Design + Arts Campus.
The event, titled “Frames of Thought: Creative Arts Research in New Media,” celebrated faculty and student research in creative practice, technology, and pedagogy. It served as a platform for academic exchange, inviting distinguished guest panelists from other institutions to share insights and foster dialogue within the creative research community.
Dino Raphael Dizon presented his study titled “eye.niche: Image Recognition as a Tool for Community Art Engagement.” His research explores how computer vision technology can strengthen cultural and artistic connections among communities through interactive and participatory visual tools—bridging digital innovation and creative engagement.
Meanwhile, Terence Giourdan Gonzalvez showcased “Logcrux: A Linked-Data Media Software for Audio-Visual Analysis and Metadata Enrichment.” His project introduces a software system that applies emerging technologies in data linking to enhance the way multimedia creators organize, analyze, and interpret audio-visual materials.
Their participation underscores the School of New Media Arts’ commitment to advancing digital innovation and promoting interdisciplinary approaches to art, culture, and technology. Both Dizon and Gonzalvez exemplify the critical, research-driven mindset nurtured within the Master of Digital Media program, contributing to the evolving landscape of creative media scholarship in the Philippines.
The SNMA Research Fest also featured presentations from SNMA faculty exploring diverse aspects of media practice, education, and cultural studies.
- Jan Yolec Homecillo opened the series with “The Congoers Culture: Art Conventions as a Subculture,” a study of creative communities and their cultural significance.
- John Vanju Niel Alvaira discussed “Mapping the Philippine Multimedia Arts Sector in the Global Creative Industry,” providing insights into the positioning of Filipino creatives in international contexts.
- Rosalie Alejandro and Brian Bernard Bringas co-presented “Course-Level Post-Assessment Pedagogies in the Multimedia Arts Program,” which examined curriculum development in the outcomes-based education framework.
- Molly Velasco-Wansom presented “Precarity and the Persistence of Filipino Animators through Diskarte: The Case of Avid Liongoren and Rocketsheep Studios,” a reflection on creative resilience in the animation industry.
- Mischelle Felix closed the program with “Healing through Budol: Notchonnie at ang Cultural Coping ng mga Filipino Inner Child sa pamamagitan ng Nostalgic Consumption,” which explored the therapeutic potential of pop culture and nostalgia in Filipino consumer behavior.
The event featured a distinguished panel of reactors who provided critical feedback and academic dialogue:
- Dr. Cherish Aileen A. Brillon, Associate Professor from the UP Diliman College of Media and Communication;
- Dr. David Corpuz, Dean of the School of Multimedia and Digital Arts, Mapúa University; and
- Jaime Pacena II, multimedia artist, educator, curator, and filmmaker.
Together, the presenters and panelists embodied the SNMA’s goal of bridging creative practice and academic research, fostering an ecosystem where art, design, and technology converge in meaningful and socially relevant ways.
The 2nd SNMA Research Fest is part of the School of New Media Arts’ ongoing efforts to cultivate a strong research culture within Benilde—encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, creative scholarship, and critical inquiry that redefine the boundaries of new media in the Philippines and beyond.
