Albert Josef Lirio

‘Blooming!’ wants to sprout destigmatized conversations on puberty

Annika Co stars as Nena in Sine Kabataan 8 short film 'Blooming!'

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ABS-CBN News

<p>An upcoming youth-made short film sets to explore the taboo on conversations about changes that the human body undergoes during puberty.</p><p>&quot;Blooming!&quot; by fresh Film graduate Ronnie Ramos from the University of the Philippines puts fifth grader Nena into a trail of curiosity as she notices subtle changes with her body while doing her homework about the different parts of a flower.</p><p>Ramos, who hails from the province of Batangas, dedicates the film to children who grew up in conservative areas like him where explicit discussions about sex and puberty are often frowned upon, if not non-existent.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1755156432956_DSF5741.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Director Ronnie Ramos on the set of &#x27;Blooming!&#x27;. <em>Handout photo </em></span></span></span></div><p>The film stars budding child actress Annika Co, who was first discovered as a contestant on the ‘Mini Miss U’ segment of Kapamilya noontime program &quot;It’s Showtime.&quot; She gained even more recognition as the imaginary child in the blockbuster hit &quot;Sunshine,&quot; starring alongside Maris Racal.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fprojectbulaklak%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02NAG4Zf9aedoZwBu792FMYyR3DQ44FG6rLBz24PesLAiheBLy4oFpMcfiPH5zCUBwl&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=500" width="500" height="498" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>Martika Ramirez Escobar, director and writer of the critically acclaimed film &quot;Leonor Will Never Die,&quot; is on board as the film’s director of photography. Puregold Cinepanalo finalists Rafaela Abucejo (‘Saan Ako Pinaglihi?’) and Aubrey Soriano (‘Si Nadia at ang kanyang mga Kuro-Kuro’) is also part of the film’s crew as associate producers.</p><p>&quot;Blooming!&quot; is one of the 10 finalists in the 8th Sine Kabataan Short Film Lab and Festival, an initiative by the Film Development Council of the Philippines for young Filipino filmmakers aged 18 to 23 years old.</p><p>It was selected from 20 story concepts, tackling the youth’s perception of issues on health, education, security and peace building, and family values. The final ten entries went through three film labs on story development, pitching, and editing before being given a P200,000 grant to produce a 7 to 20-minute short film.</p><p>All 10 finalists will premiere during the Philippine Film Industry Month in September.</p><p>Aside from &#x27;Blooming!&quot;, Ramos’ other films include &quot;Ang Alamat Kung Bakit Kalabaw Lang Ang Tumatanda&quot; (2024), also funded by the FDCP, and &quot;Happy (M)others Day!&quot;, which was a finalist at The Manila Film Festival in 2024.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related stories:</strong></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/19/comprehensive-sexuality-education-crucial-for-young-people-up-institute-1501">Comprehensive Sexuality Education &#x27;crucial&#x27; for young people: UP institute</a></div><div><strong></strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2025/8/8/73-of-filipinos-support-sex-education-in-schools-survey-1406">73% of Filipinos support sex education in schools: survey</a><strong></strong></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/27/lawmakers-grill-deped-over-comprehensive-sexuality-education-2038">Lawmakers grill DepEd over Comprehensive Sexuality Education</a></div>

<p>An upcoming youth-made short film will explore the taboo on conversations about changes that the human body undergoes during puberty.</p>

An upcoming youth-made short film will explore the taboo on conversations about changes that the human body undergoes during puberty.

Short film ‘Blooming!’ wants to sprout destigmatized conversations on puberty

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Short film ‘Blooming!’ wants to sprout destigmatized conversations on puberty

Albert Josef Lirio,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 14, 2025 01:34 PM PHT

|

Updated August 14, 2025 03:29 PM PHT

Read More:

Blooming

Sine Kabataan

Annika Co

Ronnie Ramos

Short Film

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