GIBU Executive Producer Carlos Hilaga Leads Mataya-taya to Finalist Spot at Dokyu Bata National Finals

Tsinelas Films’ documentary on the decline of public play spaces selected among 30 nationwide entries.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — October 17, 2026 — Mataya-taya, a documentary produced by Tsinelas Films in collaboration with GIBU Agency, has been selected as one of ten national finalists in the Adult Division of DOKYUBATA 2026: DEKADA – Kwento ng Kabataan, Bayan, at ng Pagbabago.

The film was selected from 101 submissions nationwide across three competition divisions, marking a significant milestone for the creative and production team behind the project.

Organized by the National Council for Children's Television (NCCT), DokyuBata 2026 celebrates the 10th anniversary of the nationwide documentary competition. The milestone edition is supported by key industry and cultural institutions, including GMA Public Affairs, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the City Government of Quezon City, The Metropolitan Theater, and the Feminist Media Lab.

Directed and produced through the collaboration of GIBU Agency and Tsinelas Films, Mataya-taya brings together a multidisciplinary team whose work spans executive production, writing, editing, production management, and creative direction. The project is led by GIBU Executive Producer Carlos Hilaga, with Dan Benignos serving as Head Writer and Master Editor, Cian Ellen Camposano as Production Manager, Crizel Barrameda as Jr. Producer, and Frankie Badango as Jr. Creative Director. The production team at Tsinelas Films also contributed to bringing the documentary to life.

Taking its title from the traditional Filipino game of tag, Mataya-taya examines a pressing issue in modern Philippine urban development: the steady decline of safe, accessible public spaces where children can play, interact, and grow.

The documentary explores how street play once served as a foundation for social connection, independence, and emotional resilience. Against the backdrop of rapid urban expansion, it asks what is lost when community grounds and open spaces give way to commercial and built infrastructure, and what this means for the next generation.

"The spaces we safeguard for our youth today mirror the future we are willing to build for them," said Carlos Hilaga, Executive Producer at GIBU Creatives.

"Through Mataya-taya, our objective is to elevate public open space from a secondary urban amenity to an essential child development and community infrastructure imperative." - Hilaga adds.

The film's central question extends beyond the disappearance of playgrounds. It challenges communities, urban planners, and local governments to reconsider public space as an essential part of childhood development and community life.

For the team behind Mataya-taya, the national finalist recognition provides an opportunity to bring greater attention to the relationship between the built environment, children's well-being, and the communities they inhabit.

The team hopes the film will contribute to broader conversations among urban planners, local officials, and policy leaders about integrating safe, child-friendly public spaces into municipal development plans.

As Mataya-taya advances to the DokyuBata 2026 National Finals, the recognition underscores the value of collaborative filmmaking in bringing overlooked social issues into public discourse.

About GIBU Agency

GIBU Agency is a Full-Stack Performance Creative Agency specializing in strategic communication, brand development, and purpose-driven film production.

About Tsinelas Films

Tsinelas Films is an independent production studio focused on producing narrative and documentary content centered on Philippine social issues and cultural identity.

Media Inquiries

For media inquiries, interview requests, or screening details, please contact the GIBU Agency Communications Team.