Pikyaw

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Pikyaw is a 2014 Filipino animated adventure film produced by Multimedia Arts & Graphics Ensemble (MAGE), Inc. and created by Iloilo City artists. It is the first feature-length Ilonggo (Hiligaynon) animated movie, directed by Arnold Fuentes with a story by Arnold Fuentes and Mahnnie Tolentino. The film runs 60 minutes and features voices from local actors, including Jef Ephraim Calusay, Robeh Carl Huesca, Augustus Alolor, Marjorie Buton, Adrian Hernia, Mark Anthony Escobañez, and Marylour Avila. The animation style blends inspirations from Funny Komiks and Super Sentai, with backgrounds created from photos of Iloilo City.

The plot follows three Iloilo City kids—Abet, Tyrone, and Marco—who stumble into a parallel world called Calixto through a game of Pikyaw. In Calixto, they confront Albion, a powerful villain who seeks revenge with the help of dwarves and other folk creatures. Along the way they meet Saref, an enchanting half-creature, and Unico and Auros, two dwarves with shifting loyalties. As the siblings fight to save Rebecca, Tyrone’s househelp, they learn that Calixto’s happiness depends on the dwarves’ control, and that Abet might hold a key to stopping Albion.

In the climax, Abet hinges on a special weapon and becomes Lakan, a skilled arnis fighter, to battle the forces of Albion. Rebecca makes a profound sacrifice to help restore balance to Calixto. After the final confrontation, Albion’s grip on Calixto loosens and the kids return to Iloilo with new friends and a stronger bond. The film ends with the four children playing Pikyaw again, now wiser from their adventures.

Pikyaw was shot with minor financial constraints and co-produced with the University of Iloilo - PHINMA. It premiered on February 26, 2014, at SM City Iloilo and earned about PhP 100,000 in its first three days. Proceeds were directed to charity, including the Philippine National Red Cross and Yolanda relief efforts.