Far Eastern University (FEU) Film Society (FilmSoc) launched the return of their face-to-face film viewing event titled ‘PIYU, I Love You (PILY)’ after two years of hiatus since the pandemic, February 14. 

PILY featured 10 FilmSoc’s student-made short films that tackle different takes on how love itself is more than what meets the eye during Valentine's Day.

Before the love begins

In an interview with FEU Advocate, PILY 2023 proponents Drink Rivera and Jazelle Cacatian shared what the film festival means for the organization.

“PIYU, I Love You kasi sine-celebrate namin 'yan tuwing Valentine’s Day and doon din nagkakaroon ng creation ang mga new generation members [FEU FilmSoc] para magbuild sila ng short film and bibigyan namin sila ng theme and related yon sa Valentine’s [day] (We celebrate PIYU, I Love You every Valentine’s Day and that’s when the new generation members of FEU FilmSoc have the opportunity to create short films based on our given theme related to Valentine’s Day),” Cacatian explained.

Continuing FilmSoc’s culture, PILY 2023’s theme “'Love is a Double Entendre” is aimed to challenge the minds of the organization's new members.

“Doon [PILY] kasi parang maa-assess yung kung gaano ka-Wazak [yung new members]. Yung tinatawag namin sa FilmSoc na Wazak yung mga utak … utak po ng mga members namin (Through PILY, we can assess how Wazak our new members are. In FilmSoc, Wazak refers to the minds of our members),” Rivera shared.

FilmSoc also experienced Wazak in the process of preparing for PILY as Rivera shared his struggles with the preparations and planning as a first-time project proponent.

“First time ko kasi maging proponent ng event lalo na ngayon face-to-face tapos medyo big event tong PILY for FEU FilmSoc. Medyo nahirapan kaming maka-get dun sa dapat gawin and intindihin. Since nag pandemic, puro kami online and ngayon lang kami nagka-face-to-face na event (It is my first time to be a project proponent on a face-to-face setup considering that PILY is a big event for FEU FilmSoc. We had difficulties in identifying the things to accomplish and understand. Since the pandemic, we only had online events (this is our first time to have a face-to-face event),” Rivera mentioned.

Difference in schedule also became a challenge in creating PILY 2023. Despite the conflicts, Filmsoc overcame the challenge with the help of its department representatives.

Amidst challenges and after weeks of hard work, FilmSoc successfully continued the PILY tradition back to its in-campus setup.

Valentine’s date: PILY 2023 film screenings

Valentine’s day came when FilmSoc featured PILY 2023 films in FEU Plaza showcasing their ka-Wazak’s talents toward the Tamaraws.

Cacatian described this year’s entries as films that tapped FEU FilmSoc members’ creativity in translating the theme into their own interpretations.

“Sa entries naman ng mga member, nakikita mo kung gaano sila naging creative lalo na nakikita mo na gustong-gusto nila yung ginagawa nila. And nakakatuwa na ngayong napanood na ng bawat isa yung gawa nila, makikita mo yung saya nila and yung winning sa mga mata nila (With the entries of our members, you can see how they became creative, especially seeing that they really want what they’re doing. And it is happy to see as they watch their creations, you can see their joy and the win within their eyes),” she said.

Acknowledging the creativity and excellence of PILY 2023 films, minor and major awards were given to different productions.

Best Film Award director, LA Oraza, stated how they interpreted the theme through the comparison between being in love with someone or being in love with the concept of love. 

“Gusto naming ipahiwatig na are we really in love with that person or we are just in love with our own concept or idea of love. Marami tayong pagkakataon na basta na-iin love lang tayo pero hindi natin alam kung ano ba talaga ang meaning ng love (We want to show if we are really in love with that person or we are just in love with our own concept or idea of love. We have plenty of instances in our lives where we just fall in love but we don’t know what the real meaning of love is),” Oraza expressed.

With Alice in My Wonderland focusing on delusional thoughts of love, Oraza was also successful in showing how love makes people act in such crazy ways.

“Naba-blind na tayo sa kung ano ang totoong meaning ng love and it's very timely na we are vulnerable at this age na parang we are willing to do anything for our loved ones. We have to draw a line between real and wonderland (We are being blinded from the true meaning of love and it’s very timely that we are vulnerable at this age and we are willing to do anything for our loved ones. We have to draw a line between real and wonderland),” Oraza shared.

Tamaraw’s PILY Kilig Experience

When asked about their opinion, Tamaraws who were present from the start until the end were more than thrilled to answer and articulate their thoughts regarding the experience.

“Seeing all the films and the production that the students have undergone through to make this event possible was, it was an amazing experience seeing all the creativity that the students have while experiencing the films as well,” first-year BA Communication student Jose Gabriel Unson said. 

FilmSoc seniors were also in attendance during PILY 2023. 

FEU FilmSoc’s Research and Documentation Josh Van Ulric Campo expressed his amusement towards the new members stepping up to the challenge.

“So it really feels awesome– to be honest, to be supportive of young generation of FilmSoc members,” Campo said. 

With the event’s conclusion, FilmSoc successfully shared different stories and meanings of love with the Tamaraws this Valentine’s Day. 

In this year’s edition of PILY, senior and new members of FilmSoc were satisfied with the results of their preparations and productions while the Tamaraws were left in awe of the masterpieces that they had witnessed.

Valentine’s is a day meant to be celebrated not only with our significant others but also with our family and friends. Through FEU FilmSoc’s PILY films, Tamaraws witnessed that love is a double entendre that can be shown in different ways, marking the event a success and ending this year’s Hearts day to close its chapter with a hapPILY ever after.

-Ralph Louise Esma & Nichola Gayle D. Manguerra