If we look at how many entries across all categories were submitted to the 56th National Students Art Competition this year, we can surmise that the Philippines doesn’t lack any artistic talents. We just need opportunities and spaces to engage, showcase, and nurture these talents.
Organized by Shell Pilipinas Corporation, the art competition received a record number of more than 2,900 entries in Photography, Digital Fine Arts, Sculpture, Watercolor, and Oil/Acrylic categories, proof that arts are indeed very much alive in the country.
With the theme “Galíng Pinoy, Galing Pinoy,” this year’s competition spotlighted the youth’s artistic prowess and profound connection to the nation’s cultural heritage. Shell Pilipinas believes that the youth’s innovative creativity and their artwork as a powerful medium to capture the essence and vibrancy of Filipino heritage and culture.
“The ingenuity displayed by our participants, their choice of subjects, and the stories woven into their art pieces all resonate the profound truth, that the Philippines is a nation that is always moving forward through its creativity and vision. These young artists are shaping the narrative of progress, challenging the status quo, and challenging us to envision a more innovative future,” said Shell Pilipinas VP for Corporate Relations Serge Bernal.
During the awards ceremony recently at the Ayala Museum, 15 young artists gained recognition for their works.
John Patrick Gante of Bulacan State University (BSU) brought home the top prize for his sculpture Resilience Unearthed, a tribute to Filipino farmers. Ace Brian De Leon of Far Eastern University (FEU) – Institute of Technology won second place for Hiraya. Gerald Ed Chua of the University of the Philippines (UP) – Cebu ranked third for his work Kakanyahan ng Bayanihan, embodying what it means to be a Filipino and portraying the essence of Bayanihan.
In the Oil and Acrylic Category, winners were Judhea Java of UP Cebu, John Lester Garcia of Caraga State University, and Markus Gabrielle Gallegos of UP Diliman. The first place, Weaving the Narrative by Java, put the spotlight on women artisans. Prinsipyo by Garcia, the second-place winner, features a farmer who understands the importance of nurturing land. In his work Faceted Identities, the third-place winner, Gallegos showcases fishermen, weavers, and farmers.
Watercolor Category winners were Glenn Gonzales of UP Diliman, Edward Russel Romero of UP Cebu, and Shereen Yancy Millet of GK College of Business, Arts, and Technology. Inaaning Tagumpay by Gonzales won first place. Nak, Uuwi na si Mama by Romero, second place, is an homage to the artist’s OFW mother. Third place, Pagsibol by Millet, portrays the life of a young child who calls the streets her home.
Digital Fine Arts Category winners include Mary Dawn Jane Monterde of Holy Trinity University, Mary Ashley Sophia Chikiamco of FEU – Institute of Technology, and Jahn Aldrin Carilimdiliman of the University of San Carlos. Monterde won first place for her Beyond Illumination. Chikiamco depicted the cultural prosperity within a Filipino community in her Mayamang Pamayanan, winning her second place. The third-place winner, Hanapbuhay: Hanap Sining by Carilimdiliman, created a thought-provoking piece exploring the balance between livelihood and artistry.
This year, Shell NSAC introduced the Photography Category, with Marniel Daguio of Tarlac State University, Jennielyn Liezel Sala of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and Connie Grace Carlos of Bulacan State University winning the top prizes. Rahuyo ng Mapag-asang Tala by Daguio bagged first place. The second-place winner, Buhay by Sala, is a poignant image. Pahiyas ng Kamay by Carlos, third place, recognizes that Filipinos have gifted talents in art.
The competition aims to recognize and support the development of young Filipino artists. This year’s theme is “Lakas ng Pinoy,” which celebrates the strength and resilience of the Filipino people.
Shell Pilipinas engaged seasoned artists and distinguished leaders in the art community as judges: Jorell Legaspi, Ardie Lopez, and Edwin Tuyay for the Photography Category; Ross Capili, Lex Kabigting, and Pablo Biglang-Awa, Jr. for the Digital Fine Arts category; Kenneth Esguerra, Nemi Miranda, and Renato Habulan for the Watercolor category; Marina Cruz, Rodel Tapaya, and Ronald Ventura for the Oil/Acrylic category; and Michael Cacnio, Toym Leon Imao, and Ram Mallari for the Sculpture category.
This annual event showcases the creative brilliance of emerging artists, not just as self-expression but as contributors to the cultural fabric of the Philippines.
“The arts that we see around us can be a means to transform ourselves and our communities and our country into one better nation in the future,” said CCP artistic director Dennis Marasigan who graced the awarding ceremony.
Through art, Shell NSAC honors and celebrates the unique heritage shaping the Filipino identity, providing a platform for young talents to explore and showcase their potential in driving positive change.
“As we witness the unfolding of creativity in this competition, let us recognize the immense potential that lies within the hands of our young artists. Art indeed has the power to transcend boundaries and inspire change,” said NCCA chairman Victorino Manalo.