Pilipinas Shell’s 54th National Students Art Competition award ceremony celebrates the role of young artists in nation-building
Dec 15, 2021
The recent culmination of the Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation’s 54th National Students Art Competition (NSAC) showed the influence that the next-generation of talents can exercise in securing a bright future for the country.
More than 1,500 entries nationwide, in illustrating the contest’s theme ‘reSTART,’ were a collective call to action to inspire the youth to take a stronger role in rebuilding the nation. Awards were given to the three most outstanding pieces in each of the four categories: Digital Fine Arts, Sculpture, Watercolor, and Oil and Acrylic.
Lorelie Quiambao-Osial, Pilipinas Shell Country Chairwoman, expressed to the young artists her confidence in how they can make a difference in a world that is slowly rebuilding itself after a major crisis: “The pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives. Yet there was a strength of spirit inside you that shone through. We see it mostly in your art, and that is what we are recognizing today. As we bravely continue to navigate through this pandemic and look forward to recovery, we believe that art could start change and progress."
Lorelie Quiambao-Osial, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, extended a warm welcome to the participants of the 54th Shell NSAC, which encourages and supports the country's young artists to reach their full artistic potential.
As the event guest speaker, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Secretary of the Department of Tourism, agreed, "That art and artist have an important part to play in nation-building. Art allows us to engage with current situations, and the young generation is changing the way they think and speak to create a more inclusive society." She also echoed BTS's famous phrase about the issue on today's youth before the UN General Assembly, "You are not the lost generation, but rather the welcoming generation."
Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Secretary of the Department of Tourism, inspired the 54th Pilipinas Shell NSAC participants by noting that art and artists play a critical role in nation-building.
Resilience, hope, and courage were the recurring messages that shone from the top three prizes in the four categories.
Digital Fine Arts Category
1st Place: “Pintura” by Gerard Lynn Mara Santos from the Technological University of the Philippines. This winning piece in the digital fine arts category encourages the people that, despite the pain they are experiencing as a result of the present epidemic, they can still seek out good, rewarding experiences. Life’s many canvases are still blank slates that can be painted on by life lessons and insights.
2nd Place: “Pagtanggap Mo Sa Aking Pagkukulang” by Mary Franz Salazar from Technological University of the Philippines, Manila. Its message: the rebuilding of a nation does not take a single person, but rather a community of people who care about each other and their common vision.
3rd Place: “Tayo'y Makakahinga Muli” by Ralph Enzo Rabaya from Xavier University. The image depicts the artist’s childhood who grew up yearning for love because of insufficient parental direction.
Oil-Acrylic Category
1st Place: "Panibagong Umaga" by Jarren Dahan from the University of Mindanao. The winning piece in the Oil/Acrylic Category demonstrates that moving forward collectively and harmoniously can overcome challenges and lead to a brighter morning.
2nd Place: “Regrowth” by Ranier Angelo Bolivar of GK College of Business, Arts, and Technology. The artwork depicts how during the pandemic, individuals, like nature, can regenerate and adapt to any condition in order to become stronger and better. After the rain, there's a new sprout of hope that we may hold and cultivate for our future.
3rd Place: “Puhon” by Gyles Maverick Abac from the Univeristy of the Philippines-Diliman. His artwork is an exhortation to move forward, rather than be stuck in a place, when a debilitating crisis hits.
Sculpture Category
1st Place: "If Only We'll Unite and Conquer" by Maica Rozel Borlagdan from the University of the Philippines-Diliman. The winning piece in the sculpture category demonstrates that some of us have to endure a day by passing through a needle hole. Some of us have our safety nets, which allow us to be pampered all day without worrying about tomorrow.
2nd Place: “Laban Lang!” by Mark Eclipse from Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges Marbel Inc. The artwork recommends courage and moving forward to continue the fight for one’s advocacies and passions.
3rd Place: “Future on Our Fingerprint” by Zoe Manigan from Far Eastern University. The artwork illustrates that molding the future begins with exercising our responsibility in voting for the next leaders of our country, who will hopefully bring us to a brighter tomorrow.
Watercolor Category
1st Place: “Moving Forward” by Ranier Angelo Bolivar from GK College of Business, Arts, and Technology. The winning art piece in the water color category presents Frontliners as our modern heroes, dedicated to their passion to protect the nation.