By Tyrone Jay V. Samson

Notwithstanding the fact that DMC College Foundation is already recognized as one of the leading Information Technology institutions in the whole Region IX, the DMC College of Computer Studies (CCS), in its quest for even more IT knowledge, recently participated in the 3^rd Pinoy Animation Festival dubbed as the “Animahenasyon 2009” at the Gateway Mall of Araneta Center in Manila.

The 3^rd Pinoy Animation Festival is a flagship project of the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI).

“Standing from left are PSITE IX President Talaroc; ACPI President Rowena Bagadion (also of Media Farm, Inc);DMC CCS dean, Dr. Concha; and Chief Executive Officer of the Cutting Edge Productions Erwin Escubio (also ACPI treasurer).”

The list of skills you can outsource now seem endless. Today, routine and ho-hum business processes are not the only things outsourced; you can now throw imagination and artistry in.   Here in the Philippines, animation is a bustling sub sector of outsourcing. It is one among the five sub sectors that is heavily promoted by the Philippine government, the others being call centers, software development, medical transcription and BPO,” DMC CCS dean, Dr. Gerald T. Concha said.

There to witness local and international IT experts showcase their world-class animations with Dr. Concha was Philippine Society of IT Educators (PSITE) Region 9 President Jovanie Talaroc.

“This year, ACPI invited international speakers who are experts in animation and game development. The speakers shared to us their techniques on how to intensify animation-making in our country. The animation festival also features the different original Filipino animated projects featuring contributions from members of ACPI. I just realized that our animation here in DMC is not far behind when it comes to technology and I am positive that as a new member of ACPI, we will showcase next year the talents of our own animators in the 4^th Pinoy Animation Festival,” PSITE President Talaroc said.

Among the highlights of the four-day gathering is the recognition and the giving of the Lifetime Achievement Award to the late great comics artist and cartoonist Jose Zabala Santos, who passed away on September 7,1985. Santos, popularly known as Mang Pepe, is the famous genius in humor and cartooning in the comics section of the Liwayway creating some of the most popular characters in the history of Philippine cartoons including Popoy and Lukas Malakas. Mang Pepe was also part of the creative team of the Halakhak Komiks. Moreover, he also created an animated cartoon about the folk-legend of Juan Tamad. These were the very first animated cartoons created by a Filipino artist.

During the recent Animahenasyon Festival, Mang Pepe’s works were exhibited for this generation’s artists and animation experts to appreciate and learn from. Also, the event included an animation master class and workshop.

This year’s event featured a global animation forum where delegates from the continents of North America, Latin America, Canada, Australia and the Asia-Pacific showcased the latest trends and best practices from their respective countries in the field of animation, game development and the digital creative industry in general.

ACPI is a non-stock and non-profit organization whose member companies are into 2D, Flash or 3D animation.

“Philippine animation studios have been subcontracted in many lucrative animation projects in the past for the likes of Hanna-Barbera, Marvel, Warner Brothers, Cartoon Network, DreamWorks and even Walt Disney.   It is also a given fact that Filipino animators had a hand in many animation hit such as Hoodwinked, Finding Nemo, Adams Family, Buzz Lightyear, Timon and Pumbaa, Johnny Bravo, X-Men and so much more.   Through the help of our network in the Academe and Industry, we hope to produce great Filipino animators and digital artists in this side of the country. This summer selected faculty members will be sent to De La Salle University-Colege of Saint Benilde’s School of Design and Arts and Ateneo de Naga University for trainings in animation and digital arts,” Dr. Concha said.