The College of Communication, Art, and Design (CCAD) proudly congratulates Asst. Prof. Januar Yap on being conferred the distinction of UP Artist II for Academic Year 2024–2026.
The UP Artist distinction is awarded to faculty members whose creative work demonstrates excellence, innovation, and significant contributions to their respective artistic fields. Through this recognition, the University of the Philippines honors artists whose practice advances artistic scholarship, enriches cultural discourse, and exemplifies the University’s commitment to public service through the arts.
About Januar Yap and his works
Asst. Prof. Januar Yap has established himself as one of Cebu’s respected creative practitioners whose work spans film, journalism, and literature. A faculty member of the Communication Program at the University of the Philippines Cebu, he is also a journalist, fiction writer, and filmmaker whose works have garnered recognition in national film and literary circles.
Among his most notable film works is “Sibuyas ni Perfecto”, a short film that won the Balanghai Award for Best Short Film at the 2023 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. The film explores themes of rural labor, social inequality, and human dignity through the story of an aging farmer navigating an unjust trading system. The work was praised for its quiet yet powerful storytelling and authentic portrayal of rural life.
Yap is also known for the documentary “Masterpiece” (2020), co-directed with Kristoffer Villarino. The film chronicles the “Dibuho Kisame” ceiling mural project at the Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church in Bantayan, Cebu, and examines the intersection of art, faith, and community. The documentary won multiple awards at the Sinulog Film Festival and later received recognition at the Cebu International Film Festival and national documentary showcases.
His contributions to Philippine cinema also include co-directing the omnibus feature film “Huwebes Huwebes,” which received a nomination for Best Picture at the 2020 Gawad Urian Awards, one of the country’s most prestigious film honors.
In addition to filmmaking, Yap is a distinguished Cebuano writer and four-time recipient of the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, recognized for his contributions to Cebuano fiction. His creative practice reflects a sustained commitment to telling stories rooted in local culture, language, and lived realities, bridging artistic excellence with community engagement.
The recognition as UP Artist II affirms Yap’s accomplishments as a practicing artist and educator, as well as his continuing impact on students, colleagues, and the cultural sector. His achievements embody the values of creativity, innovation, and service that guide the University’s artistic and academic endeavors.
The CCAD community celebrates this well-deserved honor and joins in recognizing Asst. Prof. Yap’s contributions to the arts and to the advancement of the University’s mission.
Congratulations, Asst. Prof. Januar Yap, on this remarkable achievement.