Filipino creativity took the global spotlight at the Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC) 2025 as Meryl Chan, a Filipino student-designer, emerged as a winner at the awards ceremony, recognized for the Environmental Sustainability Special Award (Digital Animation) for their work Dive & Trek.
Organized by the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families (TPCF) Foundation—a non-profit organization that provides livelihood support and child protection to children and families— the competition celebrated young and inspiring creatives whose works address environmental responsibility and inclusive design.
Chan’s animated entry, Dive & Trek, follows a poor fisherman named Alon who got arrested for participating in an illegal coral trade offered by tourists, leaving his daughter Pearl to tend to their family.
The animated film features music by Louie Ocampo and background paintings by Catherine Tsui, and was previously made as Chan’s thesis film for the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York, USA, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2D Animation. The project was also given an SVA’s Animation Thesis Grant in 2024 after being well-received at the My Hero International Film Festival and the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Educators Forum Student Animation Showcase.
Chan shared her gratitude for being flown out to accept the award in a post, saying: “This film was made to shed light on the dangers of coral harvesting and the systemic pressures faced by coastal communities, and I’m truly honored it was chosen from over 16,000 entries. It was such a meaningful experience to be among so many talented creatives, make new friends, and spend time in Taiwan.”
For the Filipino awardee, this recognition signals not only personal achievement but also a broader validation of Philippine design rooted in sustainability, innovation, and community impact.