Taympers and the Redefinition of Womanhood
The team behind Puregold CinePanalo 2025 is excited to reveal the Top 25 Student Directors selected for this year’s competition! This prestigious competition isn’t just about recognition—it’s a platform for them to champion their advocacy through film.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines leads the pack, with six films making it into the Top 25. But one title really stands out to me: Taympers. Why does this word spark something within us? It has a unique power to stir up nostalgic memories and remind us of the childlike wonder we often forget.
What is it about Taympers that feels like a journey back to simpler times?
What lies behind Taympers?
Taympers isn’t just a movie—it’s a powerful story that gives voice to women. It highlights the struggles, health challenges, and experiences women often face but that society frequently ignores or treats as taboo.
These experiences are universal to women; no one is exempt. Even Taympers director, Ms. Naiah Mendoza, has lived through this.
“We realized how women are not always given the same regard and respect in our field of work and are often seen as weak or not as skillful as the opposite sex. This inspired us to write something centered in the experiences of women. Eventually being another way to show everyone that these experiences aren’t humiliating and are only normal,” stated by Mendoza during our interview.
Film producer Carey Erwin Bayno, who has never experienced this pain firsthand, also shared his perspective on the film.
Bayno shared that learning about women’s issues helped him understand why many men struggle to empathize, often dismissing these challenges as “unworthy of discussion.”
The Team Behind Taympers
Taympers is produced by Tasá Productions, a student-run production house from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ College of Communication. This up-and-coming team is steadily making its mark in the film industry with previous projects that have generated buzz and earned recognition at festivals. Their notable works include Building Blox (2023), Brushed Identities (2024), Good Morning, Primrose, and Ang Alamat ng Fried Chicken (2024).
The production house has also expanded its talent pool, collaborating with other production teams to create masterpieces like Saan Ako Pinaglihi? (2024) and Punduhan (2024).
Taympers wouldn’t have achieved its success without the incredible talent, creativity, and passion poured into bringing the script to life. From the vision of director Naiah Mendoza, to the dedication of producers Carey Erwin Bayno and Rafaela Abucejo, and the powerful storytelling of writer Francesca Dela Cruz, each contributor played a crucial role in making this film unforgettable.
More than just work
They didn’t just work together—they treated each other like family, united by a shared vision.
This sense of family extended beyond the crew to the characters and their portrayals. Director Naiah Mendoza explains, “I inspired the way the characters in the film interact, care for, and gently guide each other, drawing from the connections I’ve experienced with different people in my life. That’s the feeling I want the audience to take away—one that transcends the screen.”
“One of the beauties of creating student films is the connection you build with your crewmates. We really want the message to become clear first with the people working behind the film before we proceed to our production proper. And through that, I think each person working on this will truly understand how to tell the story better,” said Abucejo during the interview.
Imagine doing what you love. Even after a long, exhausting day, you go home smiling, because work never feels like a chore.
Lights, Camera, Creation!: The Filmmaking Process
Bayno, who has no firsthand experience with the topic, shared his thoughts: “Malinaw sa akin na hindi lang ito basta ‘concept ng pelikula.’ It became about exploring cultural perceptions, shame, empowerment, and self-acceptance.”
On the other hand, Abucejo emphasized that this film is not just for entertainment. It also serves as a powerful tool to educate and raise awareness about women’s health.
“The art of film is one of the greatest avenues to open this necessary conversation. Through its realistic characters and timely themes, ‘Taympers’ has great potential to reach wide audiences and to broaden each person’s knowledge when it comes to women’s health,” said by Abucejo.
“It is high time we need to create more stories like this, especially because we treat art and media as a tool for social change and awareness.” she added.
The director plans to challenge society’s labels of “too feminine” or “girly,” showing that embracing femininity is not something to be ashamed of. They hope the film resonates with women, as it was created by women, for women.
However, as the production progressed, they realized that the film isn’t just for women—it’s for everyone, regardless of gender.
This is more than just a story
You might wonder about Taympers’ main topic, especially since the producers were initially shocked by the idea of tackling such a painful, often overlooked experience.
Womanhood is a long, challenging journey. Women navigate society’s expectations, with their struggles dismissed as “easy” or “insignificant,” while men are celebrated for heroic feats.
