"Even as a child, my dream was to become a filmmaker."

These words, spoken with a quiet intensity, echoed through the ballroom as Zig Dulay accepted his 2024 Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) award. His acceptance speech was a moving testament to the power of dreams, the importance of storytelling, and the responsibility of using art to serve others.

Dulay began by painting a vivid picture of his childhood in Barangay Rizal, Santiago, Isabela, in the 1990s. "Before the internet, there was a young boy who would peer through a neighbor's window, watching television from afternoon until night. That was me," he recounted, his voice filled with nostalgia. "I was captivated by the stories, the way they were made. And from that fascination, a dream was born."

However, the path to that dream was far from clear. "There was no film school then. I didn't know what course to take. I wasn't even sure my farmer parents could afford to send me to college. I didn't know how to get there." Yet, that young boy, watching stories unfold on a screen, could never have imagined the day when his passion would become his purpose.

"Being included in the TOYM is a great honor," Dulay continued. "It's not just an award for excellence, but for how that excellence serves others. It's not just about perfecting the films or series you make, but about how your art serves not only yourself but the wider community." He emphasized that "the value of excellence doubles or triples when the reason or source goes beyond oneself."

Dulay expressed his gratitude to the TOYM Foundation, JCI Manila, the jury members, and the screening committee. He also acknowledged the people who believed in him, even when he doubted himself. "When Ma'am Jessica Soho called about the TOYM nomination, I couldn't believe it. There are truly people who believe in your abilities more than you do yourself."

He then humbly stated that this award wasn't solely his. "I am a filmmaker, a storyteller, and everything I tell is owed to others." He proceeded to name his many projects, from Ekstra to Firefly and Green Bones, highlighting the real-life stories that inspired them: the lives of extras, the struggles of indigenous communities, the experiences of OFWs, and the journeys of those within the penal systems. He explained that those stories belonged to the people who lived them. "This award is for them, for every voice they want to be heard."

"They say the filmmaker doesn't choose the story; the story chooses the filmmaker," Dulay said. "When you're chosen, tell the lives of the voiceless with all your heart, create space for the marginalized." He described how film and television became his instruments to shed light on the lives of those on the fringes of society. "They say your filmography becomes your biography as a filmmaker. Creating meaningful films is shaping a meaningful life. The goal is not just to have meaning in our lives, but beyond that—what our lives mean to others, to our fellow human beings."

Dulay then shared his success with those who supported him: his production teams, the indigenous communities, the institutions that partnered with him, including Cinemalaya, CCP, NCCA, FDCP, GMA Network, and his alma maters, UP Baguio and UP Diliman. He also mentioned regional film advocates, and many more. He thanked his family in the province, especially his parents.

He paid tribute to his mentor, Armando "Bing" Lao, who taught him how to be human, both on and off production. "He taught me that the most important contribution of a filmmaker is to inspire others, to teach and encourage more storytellers, to amplify the voices of the marginalized." And that it is important to return to ones roots.

Dulay concluded his speech by addressing his younger self, the boy peering through the window. He assured him that his dream would come true and that his parents would be proud. He encouraged all those who dared to dream to keep flying, but to remain grounded. "Don't forget the people who made your storytelling possible."

"Use art to serve!" he urged. "The TOYM Award is waiting for you here—but even if you receive the trophy, don't stop making meaningful films. Use your heart to find the soul of every story. And always ask yourself, why are you telling this story—for what and for whom?"

His words, infused with passion and sincerity, resonated deeply, leaving a powerful message: that true success lies not just in achieving personal dreams, but in using those dreams to illuminate the lives of others.