17 July 2025 — Seven students took center stage at the Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) Colloquium, presenting their research projects before faculty members and peers at the WC Multimedia Production Building, UP Open University, and online via Zoom. Organized by the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) through MMS 197 Faculty-in-Charge and BAMS Colloquium proponent, Dr. Emely Amoloza, the event provided a venue for students to share their final outputs, engage in academic and professional dialogue, and receive feedback from faculty advisers and peers.
The program opened with welcoming remarks from FICS Dean Roberto B. Figueroa, Jr., who expressed his excitement over the diverse topics of the presentations. “This is the kind of work that reminds us how powerful media can be when we bring in compassion, innovation, and social relevance,” Dean Figueroa said. Dr. Amoloza then provided context and background information about the colloquium. Ms. Jana Denise Tomacruz, Chairperson of the University Student Council, and Asst. Prof. Mary Kristene Clariño, a faculty member and adviser to one of the presenters, served as hosts for the event.
Each student showcased not only the breadth of their interests but also the depth of their engagement with contemporary issues. Their presentations covered VR exhibits and drag culture platforms, gender-inclusive mobile apps, cognitive infrastructures, AI-powered fitting rooms, and virtual tours.
The presenters were:
- John Victor Bacanes – Makulay: An Interactive Digital Platform for the Documentation and Exploration of Drag Culture and Artistry in the Philippines
- Lance Oliver Balila – Panatilihing MULAT: Transcending Conventional Paradigms in SOGIE Education through the Development of a Comprehensive Mobile Dictionary Prototype
- Laryze Lozano –On-The-Job Training Report: UI/UX Design Internship
- Robbie Gale Jacinto – MEDIDA: Optimizing AR Virtual Fitting Room Asset Production via Vision-Language and Generative AI Models
- Phoebe Apostol –Enhancing Philippine Virtual Tours in Teaching Filipino Language to Japanese Students
- Christian Paul Velo –A Home for My Psychotic Depression: Building a Personalized Cognitive Infrastructure in Obsidian
- Hanz Christian Natividad – KAIROS: Developing a VR Exhibit to Preserve and Present the Works of BAMS Students
Open forums followed each presentation, allowing the audience to ask questions, offer constructive feedback, and suggest directions for further development. Faculty members noted the clarity, relevance, and potential applications of the students’ work.
At the end of the event, students received certificates of appreciation in recognition of their efforts and contributions.
BAMS Program Chair Dr. Benigno Agapito, Jr. delivered the closing remarks, commending the presenters for their commitment and encouraging all students to continue producing work that responds to real-world concerns.
The BAMS Colloquium is part of the University’s ongoing support for student-led projects and its commitment to fostering creative, scholarly, and practice-based engagement in multimedia studies. It is specifically designed for MMS197 and MMS200 students to help them generate ideas for their multimedia research and capstone projects. It also serves as a platform for BAMS alumni and MMS200 completers to showcase their work and share practical tips, insights, and best practices developed during their Special Project journey.
Written by: Joy Abigail Rebulanan and Maria Andrea Bodaño | Edited by: Shari Eunice San Pablo and Emely Amoloza