Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada is sponsoring an on-the-spot wall painting contest for high school students at the Manila North Cemetery, in his continuing effort to bring back Manila’s beauty.
Estrada said the competition seeks to teach students not only the value of art but also to rouse their concern for the beauty and cleanliness of their city.
“At their young age, they should be taught how to care for the environment, and use their talent in promoting cleanliness and environmental conservation,” the mayor said.
The art competition is set on Sunday, December 18, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., outside the 54-hectare Manila North Cemetery along Bonifacio Avenue in Santa Cruz, according to cemetery director Daniel Tan.
A total of 120 students from various private and public high schools in the city will participate in the event. Each participant will be given a 10 m x 2.5 m space of the 1.2-kilometer-long perimeter wall of the cemetery where they will paint their art work. The theme is “Manila Forward Ever, Backward Never.”
“We want to bring life back to the area, so visitors would know they are entering the Manila North Cemetery,” Tan said in launching the contest at the cemetery. Sandy Araneta
Winners will be selected on the same day. The first prize will earn P50,000 in cash, while P20,000 goes to second place and P10,000 for third along with trophies. Tan said 20 consolation prizes worth P2,000 each will also be given out.
“This is also part of Mayor Estrada’s beautification program, and I believe we will also do this art contest in other cemeteries,” Tan said.
Bringing back Manila’s old glory and beauty has been Estrada’s battle cry when he assumed office in 2013. As part of his urban renewal program, he has allocated P100 million for the rehabilitation of historic parks and monuments that have been part of the city’s historical and cultural heritage.