The Making of “Miguel Malvar and the Final Phase of the Philippine Revolution” (2026)

The completion of Miguel Malvar and the Final Phase of the Philippine Revolution marks the conclusion of the Institute of Arts and Design’s (IAD) two-part historical animation project. Although Early U.S. Operations in the Tagalog Region was produced first and released in 2025, the newly completed film tells the preceding chapter of the story, bringing the full narrative arc to completion. We take this opportunity to recognize the talented interns whose artistic vision and technical skill made the project possible.

Leading this creative charge was Lead Artist Luis Batac, who served as the lead animator for the 2025 project. Immediately after graduation, Luis returned to provide artistic vision and guidance, helping the 2026 cohort of interns navigate the complex production of this historical film.
Set in the final years of the Philippine Revolution against Spain, the 2026 project follows the struggle for Philippine independence in 1898, tracing the final campaigns of Filipino revolutionary forces before the outbreak of large-scale hostilities with American troops in the Philippine-American War of 1899–1902. Producing this 23-minute animation was a 6-month grind for a 10-member team.

Set in the final years of the Philippine Revolution against Spain, the 2026 project follows the struggle for Philippine independence in 1898, tracing the final campaigns of Filipino revolutionary forces before the outbreak of large-scale hostilities with American troops in the Philippine-American War of 1899–1902. Producing this 23-minute animation was a 6-month grind for a 10-member team

Laying the Historical Foundation

The journey began with an immersion. Interns Julia Rodriguez and Gillyn Clarisse Guevarra spent their first months reconstructing the visual world of late-nineteenth-century Philippines, conducting extensive visual research to ensure the authenticity of Spanish military regalia and colonial aesthetics. This commitment to accuracy was reflected in the works of Prince Ace Jovan Aguilar and Froyvyn Kennedie Calderon, who designed the project’s visual tone through foundational concept art, pushing their styles toward a gritty realism that honors the gravity of the revolution.

Character studies of Filipino revolutionary and Spanish soldier archetypes were developed to establish the animation’s visual style and support scenes across multiple environments. 

Architects of Environment and Cartography 

The protagonist, General Miguel Malvar, was one of the Philippines’ foremost revolutionary generals, renowned for his steadfast resistance to American forces after the capture of General Emilio Aguinaldo. To tell his story, the team had to recreate the world he fought for. Froyvyn spearheaded the cartographic efforts, rendering detailed layouts of Mt. Makiling and the Taal Lake region. Meanwhile, Jamie Siobhan Humirang dedicated hundreds of hours to rendering environmental assets for ancestral houses and detailed terrain. Lendy Dioneda contributed specialized layouts, creating reusable assets for numerous scenes and helping build the film’s narrative tension.

Precision and Pipeline 

The production required a balance of artistic flair and pipeline efficiency.  Behind the scenes, several interns played key roles in streamlining the production process. Julia focused on asset optimization by creating modular, reusable character assets that improved workflow efficiency and consistency throughout the animation process. Prince oversaw color management, developing comprehensive color guides that ensured visual coherence across the team’s creative output. Meanwhile, Kate Ashley Pagayon provided vital animation support by assisting her teammates with Clip Studio Paint (CSP) image sequence exports, helping facilitate the smooth integration of animated scenes into the production pipeline. 

Character Dynamics and Sequential Motion 

The soul of the film lives in its movement. Prince transitioned from character design into active animation production, focusing on the fluidity of character movement and keyframe articulation. Jan Croesus Bolivar handled high-action dynamic sequences, including a powerful scene of General Malvar in combat. Despite technical challenges and hardware limitations, Bolivar’s dedication ensured that the revolution’s intensity was captured in every storyboard frame and action sequence.  

From Coursework to Cultural Legacy

Behind this production lie thousands of hours of meticulous labor. Nine interns contributed at least 400 hours, and Luis’ work continued after the interns met their deadlines. All of them maintained a rigorous pace for six months. Even when faced with personal milestones, such as Kate Ashley and Froyvyn balancing their animation thesis projects, they returned immediately to the production grind, logging late-night rendering sessions and high-volume asset batches.

As the project finally wrapped up, the contributions of these young multimedia interns —Prince Ace Jovan Aguilar, Julia Rodriguez, Jamie Humirang, Froyvyn Calderon, Lendy Dioneda, Kate Ashley Pagayon, Gillyn Clarisse Guevarra, Jamie Siobhan Humirang, and Jan Bolivar—under the leadership of Luis Batac stand as a testament to the talent nurtured at the Institute of Arts and Design. Their collective effort has not only produced an animated film but also preserved a vital piece of Philippine heritage, ensuring that the story of Gen. Miguel Malvar and the Philippine resistance will resonate with younger generations.

This project was made possible through a partnership with The Extra Mile Productions under the guidance of Mr. Gabriel Malvar, the General’s grandson, who holds the primary sources used in this animation. The film had an advanced screening at the University of Makati Performing Arts Theater on April 27, 2026. The 2025 and 2026 animation projects will be part of the Malvar Museum’s collection.