Writer-director and multidisciplinary artist Norvin De Los Santos presents a moving story of family, resilience, and hope through Hoy, Hoy, Ingat!, one of the official finalists in the Short Film Category of Cinemalaya 2026.
Set in the realities of urban poverty, the short film follows siblings Baby and Bhing as they navigate grief, hardship, and their fight to reclaim a beloved family jeepney. Baby dreams of viral fame and transforming ordinary moments into something meaningful, while her brother Bhing, a beautiful yet terminally ill young man, works on the streets caring for the “obsolete mammoths” of the road to help them survive.
As threats of homelessness, hunger, and violence surround them, the siblings embark on a mission to retrieve their family vehicle from a guarded junkyard and complete a job for a film worker. Their journey becomes more than a struggle for survival, becoming a story of nostalgia, dreams, resistance, and the enduring bond between siblings.
Blending humor, music, and a fairytale-like perspective, Hoy, Hoy, Ingat! explores the realities of marginalized communities while highlighting the imagination and courage found amid difficult circumstances.
De Los Santos, a human rights activist from an informal community in Mandaluyong City, has built a body of work centered on social issues and Filipino experiences. After earning a degree in Business Administration from Jose Rizal University in 2013, they pursued filmmaking at the Asia Pacific Film Institute and currently work in the film industry as an assistant director and script continuity supervisor.
Their previous works have earned recognition in local and international film circles. Their first short film Papang (Father) won Best Film at the San Juan Film Camp and competed in the Cinema One Originals short film program. Their second short film Hele ng Maharlika (Lullaby of the Free) received a Special Mention for Subject Matter at Cinemalaya Film Festival and earned Best Director at .giff Festival of New Cinema.
Their film Isang Daa’t Isang Mariposa (101 Butterflies), developed through the Active Vista Film Lab, became an official selection at QCinema International Film Festival’s QCShorts section and was later nominated for Best Short Film at the Gawad Urian. It was also screened at international platforms and festivals, including Queer East Film Festival in London, OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival in North Carolina, Objectifs Film Library in Singapore, and NOWNESS ASIA.
Most recently, Hoy, Hoy, Ingat! won the Critiques’ Prize Award at QCinema International Film Festival and was named among Rolling Stone Philippines’ 20 Best Films of the Year. Beyond filmmaking, De Los Santos has also directed music videos for local artists including Clara Benin, Syd Hartha, Oh, Flamingo!, Rice Lucido, and Top Suzara. They became a fellow of the Salzburg Global Forum on Cultural Innovation in 2020 and joined Sikad, a cultural arts collective advocating for the rights of urban poor communities, in 2021.
Hoy, Hoy, Ingat! stars Alycia Avila and VR Relosa, with Norvin De Los Santos serving as director and screenplay writer.
The film is part of the Cinemalaya 2026 Short Film Category finalists, alongside Elenita Elena Elaine, Honey, My Love, So Sweet, kung paano kakalas., Para-Para-an, Runo!, Silkscreen, Sorbetes, The Keeper, and The River Flows in Different Places.
Meanwhile, the Full-Length Category finalists include A.ni.mál, 2 Valid IDs, Ganggang, Hand of God, Mag-iina, Kaka sa Yawan, Status: Rejected, Tayo Lang ang Nakakaalam, and Tirik.
The Cinemalaya 2026 films will be screened from August 6 to 18 at Red Carpet Cinemas at Shangri-La Plaza, selected Ayala Malls, and Gateway Cineplex.
With Hoy, Hoy, Ingat!, Norvin De Los Santos brings a powerful story of love, loss, and survival, reminding audiences that even in the most challenging realities, dreams and hope continue to move forward.
