The country’s largest all-women art competition is returning for a third year, with “Sining Filipina 2026” positioning creativity as both cultural expression and a tool for nation-building.
BDO and SM Supermalls formally opened submissions for the upcoming edition during a media conference, reaffirming their support for women artists through the nationwide platform organized for the benefit of the Zonta Club of Makati & Environs Foundation, Inc.
Now entering its third year, Sining Filipina carries the theme “Babae Para sa Bayan: Women Leading Change from Home to Nation,” inviting Filipina artists from across the country to submit original works until Jan. 25.
BDO vice president and head of the sustainability office Marla Alvarez noted the program’s growth, saying that while the energy surrounding Sining Filipina remains strong, its impact has deepened.
She highlighted how the initiative aligns with the bank’s broader sustainability agenda, particularly its focus on social impact and financial inclusion for women.
“For BDO, sustainability is not only environmental. On the art side, not many people know that BDO has an extensive art collection, and we are planning to showcase that collection in the new building we are constructing along Paseo,” she added.
Alvarez also underscored BDO’s commitment to providing financial services, education, and opportunities that allow women to build and scale livelihoods. She also revealed plans for a future BDO headquarters designed as a fully sustainable structure with an integrated art gallery, which could eventually showcase works by Sining Filipina artists.
“When it comes to sustainability, BDO is really championing social impact and financial inclusion, especially for women, who we see as a vulnerable and underserved sector. We believe women are capable of driving economic development if they are empowered,” Alvarez explained.
From the perspective of art advocacy, Zonta Club of Makati & Environs former president, art collector, and advocate Maritess M. Pineda emphasized how the competition opens doors for women who may be unable to leave their homes due to family responsibilities.
By enabling them to develop skills through peer learning and online platforms, she said, Sining Filipina helps women contribute to cultural and economic life while uplifting entire families.
“Once women artists are discovered, you see real changes—not just in their careers, but in their households and communities,” she said.
Longtime logistics partner Airspeed echoed this sentiment, citing the importance of access in helping women artists thrive.
Airspeed chairperson Rosemarie Rafael shared her own experience of surviving a male-dominated industry and stressed the value of sustained institutional support.
“Supporting women artists matters to me because access is everything: access to markets, access to money, access to mentoring, and in our case as a logistics company, access to movement—bringing artworks in and out of the country,” she said.
Beyond prizes, organizers stressed that mentorship remains central to the program. Plans include residency opportunities and guided artistic development, reinforcing the idea that winning is only the beginning.
Established in 2024, Sining Filipina has grown into a recognized annual platform celebrating the diversity and voices of Filipina artists—proving that when women create, communities move forward with them.
Entry forms and full competition guidelines are available at zontaclubme.com/sining-filipina.
