The winners of Pilipinas Shell’s 51st National Student Art Competition showcased their vision of the future in oil and acrylic, watercolor, sculpture, and digital fine arts.
For more than half a century, the NSAC has produced a number of renowned artists including National Artists Jose Joya, Federico Alcuaz, Ang Kiukok, and Ben Cabrera.
Celebrating the last 50 years of this social investment project, the art competition for students continues to visualize a future filled with art and life as part of its thrust toward a bright future for energy, innovation, and artistic living.
“Shell is not only about road safety, efficient fuel sources, and environmental awareness. One of our long-standing goals is to continually foster Filipino art by discovering young artists,” said Shell Companies in the Philippines country chairman Cesar Romero. “NSAC has always been the venue for recognizing potential and giving these artists a chance to make their own mark in the industry.”
Close to 1,000 entries from all over the country were submitted to the recent competition. Of these, three winners were chosen for each of four categories.
The winning student-artists were named on Nov. 12 at the Ayala Museum.
In the oil and acrylic category, Almario Tangalin from Navotas Polytechnic College won first place for his work “Up Side Down.” Gyles Maverick Abac from University of the Philippines Diliman and John Michael Pujante from University of the Philippines Cebu bagged second and third, respectively.
Michael Jay Ramos from Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology was named first place in the watercolor category for his piece “Retrospective.” Joshua Villena from iACADEMY took home the second spot, while Bernice Michaella Cruz from University of Santo Tomas bagged the third spot.
Adventist University of the Philippines’ student Lorebert Comision was named champion in sculpture category for his work “LODI,” followed by Harlem Sunga of Tarlac State University and Joegan Espina of Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology in second and third, respectively.
Patricia Mangahas from Far Eastern University emerged victorious in digital fine arts category for her work “I.C.U.” Charles Bryan Alba from Technological University of the Philippines was named second and Azriel Domingo from University of Rizal System-Angono was awarded the third prize.
First place winners in four categories each received P60,000, P20,000 grant in support of faculty development, and a plaque of citation. Second place winners, on the other hand, each received P40,000, while third place winners took home P30,000 each.
Much like in previous years, Pilipinas Shell gathered the country’s top artists from different specializations to serve as judges for this season’s competition.
Painters and master artists Lito Carating and Raul Lebajo, art critic and scholar Cid Reyes, multimedia artist Jose Tence Ruiz, and former Dean of UP Fine Arts Nestor Olarte Vinluan handpicked the top three winners in the oil and acrylic category.
Master painters Antipas Delotavo, Pablo Baen Santos, and Edgar Doctor were in charge of the watercolor category. Master sculptors Michael Cacnio, Ral Arrogante, and Reggie Yuson served as the judges for the sculpture category.
Renowned visual artists Pablo Biglang-awa Jr., Ross Capili, Dopy Doplon, Lex Kabigting, and Norberto “Peewee” Roldan picked the winners in the digital fine arts category.
