Three students from the Tri-College PhD Philippine Studies Program of UP Diliman have recently received prestigious awards in recognition of their work in research, storytelling, and playwriting.
Formacion Wins 2nd for Playwriting in DTI’s Young Creatives Challenge Season 2
TriCollege student Ian Jay B. Formacion bagged the second place in the Playwriting Category of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry’s Young Creatives Challenge Season. The awarding ceremony was held at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on 6 May 2025. His piece, Memory Card, is an experimental play that uses satire and audience participation to highlight labor issues and inspire peaceful reform.
A teacher at the Valenzuela National High School, Formacion is currently completing his dissertation on playmaking and performance production with Tanghalang Banyuhay Incorporated.
The Young Creatives Challenge (YC2) is a program of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, through Senator Imee Marcos which aims to inspire, recognize, and showcase creative talents in the fields of Songwriting, Screenwriting, Playwriting, Graphic Novel, Animation, Game Development and Online Content Creation. Now on its second season, the competition continues its mission to ignite creativity and offer new horizons for artistic expressions among young Filipino creatives. This year, YC2 included Elementary and High School Editions, in partnership with the Department of Education.
Wright Receives UP International Publication Award
TriCollege Student Christopher Wright was granted the 2025 International Publication Award (IPA) by the University of the Philippines System for his journal article “Qualitative Case Study of a Virtual Education Program: Challenges and Future Directions” published in the European Journal of Educational Research in 2024. His study provides an in-depth analysis of online learning during the pandemic, emphasizing the struggles of teachers, the role of parental support, and the need for innovation in education.
The International Publication Award (IPA), given by the UP System, recognizes outstanding research published in international peer-reviewed journals listed in Thomson Reuters or Scopus. It aims to encourage high-quality academic output and promote global research visibility.
Wright is pursuing his PhD in Philippine Studies, majoring in Socio-Cultural Studies. He currently serves as National University’s Campus Research Coordinator.
PhD Student Legaspi to present at ACFEA 2025 in Vietnam
TriCollege Student Edgar “Ned” Legaspi received a travel grant from the UP Office of International Linkages to present his paper at the International Conference, Asian Consumer and Family Economics Association (ACFEA) 2025 in Hanoi, Vietnam, from 8 to 11 July 2025. His work, Culturally Intelligent Storytelling: A Southeast Asian Lens on Narrative, Identity, and Engagement, introduces the CIS Bamboo Framework, which guides Southeast Asian creators in producing culturally grounded stories for global audiences.
A former Head of Global Content and Creatives at ABS-CBN Global, Legaspi is now a consultant specializing in story, culture, and digital strategy. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Philippine Studies with a cognate in Anthropology and electives in Education.
The UP Office of International Linkages Travel Grant supports UP graduate and postgraduate students, faculty, and staff presenting research or creative work at international conferences. The program seeks to strengthen international academic partnerships and encourage scholarly exchange.
The recent achievements of these three scholars highlight the growing impact and excellence of UP’s Tri-College PhD students in the fields of research and the arts.
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