Pasay City, Philippines—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) successfully concluded the Young Creatives Challenge (YC2) Season 2 with a grand finale event held at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on May 6. Spearheaded by the DTI Bureau of Competitive Development and the Creative Industries Development Office, the event served as a national platform to honor and showcase the exceptional talents of young Filipino creatives across various disciplines.
The grand finale celebrated the imagination, voice, and vision of the nation's most promising young talents through a program filled with recognition, performances, and celebration.
“Today marks not simply the culmination of a competition, but a celebration of the indefatigable Filipino creative spirit,” said DTI Competitiveness and Innovation Group Assistant Secretary Leonila T. Baluyut.
The YC2 Season 2 encompassed three distinct editions: Regular, High School, and Elementary. Across these editions, a total of eight creative categories were featured, including Animation, Game Development, Graphic Novel, Online Content Creation, Playwriting, Screenwriting (Short and Full-Length), Short Story Writing, and Songwriting.
Through a rigorous selection process participated in by hundreds of entries from across the Philippines, numerous contestants distinguished themselves. These individuals and groups were recognized as winners for their originality, compelling storytelling, and creative impact as promising young creatives.
Overall, 119 winners were honored at the event. The complete list can be accessed on the YC2 official Facebook page, @youngcreativeschallenge.
During the event, Asec. Baluyut expressed the Department’s commitment to nurturing the country’s creative talent. She noted that the growing contribution of the creative economy accounted for 8.7 percent of the country’s 2024 gross domestic product, which amounted to PHP 1.94 trillion.
The YC2 Season 2 awarding ceremony was joined by 400 individuals, including students, creative industry players, and supporters. The initiative stands as a proud testament to the immense potential, creativity, passion, and excellence of the Filipino youth.
The culminating event was made more meaningful with live performances from Original Pinoy Music artist Maki and pop-rock band The Juans, who closed the season with an engaging repertoire of OPM favorites.
The YC2 is a key component of the broader Malikhaing Pinoy Program, a flagship initiative by the Philippine government through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as the chair of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council. The program is aimed at advancing and fostering the nation's creative industries by spotlighting Filipino talent, cultural heritage, and ingenuity. PR