Fast-paced challenges and teams determined to outlast one another—this is the world of Matira Matibay, a reality game show created by third-year Communication Arts students of the University of Santo Tomas.
Set to air in March 2026, the student-produced program brings together four teams from different UST colleges to compete in a series of challenges, integrated with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The competition goes far beyond just physical tasks, pushing contestants to also think critically, work together, and adapt under pressure.
Behind the show is M&M Studios, a production house formed as part of the students’ TV Production (CA3288) course. The team is largely composed of irregular students—a mix that initially posed a challenge but eventually became the group’s creative advantage.
With different academic schedules, experiences, and perspectives, the members of M&M Studios learned to navigate the realities of collaboration. The group’s diversity shaped how ideas were developed, refined, and eventually brought to life on screen.
Guided by their production house’s tagline, “Creativity is better when mixed,” collaboration serves as the foundation of their work. Each member contributes a unique skill, whether in directing, writing, production design, or technical work, proving that strong ideas often come from shared effort.
Through Matira Matibay, the students aim to create a program that is both entertaining and meaningful. The show blends the excitement of competition with themes that raise awareness of real-world issues, showing how student media can inform while entertaining.
For the team behind M&M Studios, the project is more than a class requirement. It reflects the possibilities that emerge when students with different paths come together with a shared goal.
As Matira Matibay prepares for its March 2026 airing, it stands as a testament to what student creativity can accomplish when given the space—and the courage—to take the spotlight.
