IN a conservative country like the Philippines, sex and puberty remain a sensitive topic.

Some find it awkward to directly name human private parts, which is why they tend to use silly euphemisms, such as “bulaklak” or “pechay” for vagina and “hotdog” or “talong” for penis.

It is even harder for a young individual to talk about confusing changes they observe in their body, especially during the puberty stage. 

Questions like “Why am I having body odor?” “Why am I developing hair in my genital region?” or “Why are my private parts continuing to grow?” begin to pop into their heads. These questions are necessary but can be uncomfortable to ask and difficult to answer.

For Ronnie Ramos, a Gen Z queer filmmaker from Pangasinan, discussions about puberty should not be taboo, and they hope to highlight their importance and why they should be normalized in their forthcoming short film, “Blooming!”

A dream come true

“Blooming!” is one of the 10 finalists for the 2025 edition of the Sine Kabataan Short Film Lab and Festival, organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) annually.

The eighth edition of the film competition and festival welcomed story concepts from young filmmakers from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, showcasing the youth’s perspective on different societal issues concerning health, education, security and peace building, and family values.

Ramos said it is a dream come true that “Blooming!”—which reflects scarcity of proper education on puberty and sexuality, particularly in remote areas in the country—was chosen as a finalist among 20 shortlisted story concepts for Sine Kabataan. This was the first time for the 23-year-old filmmaker, who had been trying to submit story concepts since the second season of the competition.

“High school ako noon and for me, maging finalist sa Sine Kabataan, sobrang goal ko talaga siya, like dream ko siya,” Ramos said in an online interview with republicasia. 

“Submit ako nang submit every year, tapos finally [nung last year ko na sa college], natanggap na ako for the Story Lab. Parang seven years in the making din siya,” they added.

The fresh Film graduate from the University of the Philippines-Diliman also expressed how fulfilling and happy they were to be part of this year’s Sine Kabataan finalists, which they said will offer viewers “strong” and “diverse” stories.

A ‘high time’ for puberty discussions

“Blooming!” follows a young girl named Nena, who is working on a school assignment about the different parts of a flower. As she examines these parts, Nena also begins to notice fine hairs appearing on her body. 

The official synopsis read: 

While working on her school assignment to identify the different parts of a flower, Nena becomes fascinated by the delicate structures of petals, stamens, and pistils. But as she studies them closely, she notices something unexpected fine hairs beginning to grow on her own body. 

This small discovery sparks a wave of questions about the changes she is experiencing, questions that the adults around her struggle to answer. As curiosity meets confusion, Nena navigates the quiet, often unspoken transition between childhood and growing up, realizing that, like the flowers she studies, she too is beginning to bloom.

In conceptualizing “Blooming!” Ramos said they felt it was the right time to open discussions about puberty for the 2025 Sine Kabataan, especially since Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) became a hot-button issue anew earlier this year, amid the continuous increase in teenage pregnancy cases in the Philippines.

“Naisip namin na pwede nating pag-usapan ‘yung paggamit ng euphemism to explain sa bata ‘yung nangyayari sa kanyang katawan na hindi niya maintindihan kasi parang ang gulo-gulo nung way of explanation natin,” Ramos shared. 

The filmmaker questioned why some elders are “afraid” to discuss sex education with their children, particularly topics about reproduction and consent, when it would be more alarming if these kids grew up with little to no knowledge about their bodies.

“Na-feel ko lang din na high time na rin for Sine Kabataan to talk about this kind of topic kasi for the last six years, parang wala pa ako masyadong nakikitang conversation pagdating sa body, pagdating sa reproduction,” said Ramos.

Puberty through a girl’s POV

Ramos co-wrote “Blooming!” with one of their producers, Joyce Ramos, a queer-feminist writer and director whom they met at the 2024 edition of The Manila Film Festival (TMFF). They both participated in the film festival, with Ramos directing “Happy (M)others Day!” and Joyce helming “An Kuan.”

“Blooming!” is Ramos and Joyce’s first film collaboration as director and producer, respectively. 

Ramos said one of their concerns during the Story Lab was how they would tell Nena’s puberty story through a female perspective. This is where Joyce entered the picture.

“Nag-decide ako na kunin kong producer si Jo, tapos eventually habang nagko-converse kami, sabi ko sa kanya, ‘What if i-co-write natin ‘to? Kasi kailangan ko rin ng perspective mo while writing the story.’ Si Jo naman, sobrang female-centered ‘yung stories niya,” they said.

“Doon na rin kami nag-decide na bumuo ng all-female crew, o kung hindi man, at least ‘yung mga head ng bawat department kailangan babae siya,” they added.

The crew behind “Blooming!” includes Martika Ramirez Escobar, known for her work in “Leonor Will Never Die,” as director of photography; Pia Velonza as assistant director, Rafaela Abucejo and Aubrey Soriano as associate producers, and Epicmedia’s Annecy “Achi” Cherie Bautista as co-producer.

The film stars child actress Annika Co, who further gained popularity in her performance in the critically acclaimed film “Sunshine,” one of the seven local titles being eyed to be the country’s official entry to the 98th Oscars.

Ramos shared they initially hesitated to reach out and cast Co for “Blooming!” due to a budget constraint, but they could not let her go as they saw the child actress as a “good fit” for Nena’s role.

“‘Yun din ‘yung time na ire-release na ‘yung ‘Sunshine,’ so sabi ko saktong-sakto talaga kasi even ‘Sunshine’ talks about female bodies. Sabi ko magandang fit talaga si Annika na gumanap para dito sa project na ‘to,” Ramos said. 

“Nag-come down kami sa idea na if maglalagay tayo ng mukha, as an ambassador, para sa mga ganitong conversation, magandang si Annika ‘yung ilagay natin kasi naiintindihan talaga niya,” they added. 

Ramos shared that even Co expressed her willingness to portray Nena, despite a scheduling conflict. At the time, the young actress was supposed to attend a theater rehearsal for a musical, but her parents made a way for her to film for “Blooming!”

“Biglang nag-message ‘yung nanay ni Annika sa’min na gusto pa rin nilang gawin ‘yung project kasi si Annika ay nasa ganon ding stage ng kanyang pagkabata, nagdadalaga na rin siya, kaya nag-resonate raw talaga sa kanila ‘yung story at gusto nilang gawin,” the filmmaker recalled.

With “Blooming!” Ramos said they hope to help the Filipino youth better understand the inevitable changes in their bodies as part of growing up and put an end to unnecessary shame or awkwardness around natural things like puberty.

“‘Yung hope ko talaga is mas maging bukas tayong lahat sa conversations pagdating sa reproductive health, sa consent, sa katawan. I think it’s high time na rin talaga for us to welcome this uncomfortable discussion sa ating mga tahanan kasi doon din naman talaga nagsisimula ‘yung pagkatuto ng mga bata,” Ramos stressed.

“I hope mapanood nila ‘yung ‘Blooming!’ along with the nine other entries kasi sobrang diverse talaga, ang gaganda ng topic na tinap ng mga kasama kong director,” they added.

Other Sine Kabataan finalists

The 10 finalists for the 8th Sine Kabataan Short Film Lab and Festival will premiere during the Philippine Film Industry Month (PFIM) in September.

Other finalists for the film festival are:

• “4 Better Or 4 Worse” directed by JC Fernandez
• “City’s Laundry & Taxes” directed by Diana Galang
• “Coding Si Papa (Atoda: B-2-599) directed by Michael Angelo Pogoy
• “Due Date Na Ni Judith” directed by Kieth Earl Rebaño
• “Elephant Paths” by Joshua de Vera
• “Sa Tumoy Sa Walay Kahumanan” directed by Von Jorge Actub
• “Signal Pending” directed by Lourchielle Hael
• “Sunog Sa Sugbo” directed by John Owen Lepiten
• “When It Rained Malunggay Leaves” directed by Cedrick James Valenzuela

This year’s PFIM has the theme “Pelikula at Pilipina,” honoring women who shaped, led, and transformed Philippine cinema. 

The month-long celebration will open with a free special screening of the Filipino classic “Ikaw ay Akin,” starring Christoper De Leon, Vilma Santos, and National Artist Nora Aunor, at Shangri-La Plaza.