DENR holds art contest

The final phase of the three-Saturday DENR On-the-Spot Kids’ Art Contest was held at the Children’s Library of the Robinson’s Galleria, Ortigas Centre, Pasig City last June 29, 2002. Students and out-of-school youths who are residents of Metro Manila and nearby provinces participated in the contest. Dubbed as "Isa, Dalawa, Tatlo…Ehersisyo, Magpinta Tayo Para sa Malinis na Hangin, the contest was divided in two categories: seven to nine years old and 10 to 12 years old. Similar contests were also held the previous two Saturdays at the Children’s Libraries of Robinsons Malls in Novaliches and Imus, Cavite respectively, where finalists from the two branches were selected and combined with the finalists from the Ortigas branch, from which the winners were determined.

Special awards of P3,000 each for the seven to nine years old category, were given to Jerson Wong from the Antonio Regidor Elementary School in Sta. Cruz, Manila; Ingria Shean Morte from the City Homes Academy, Dasmariñas, Cavite; and Gabriella Angela Santos from the Immaculate Conception Academy, Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila.

For the 10 to 12 years old category, the first prize of P7,000 was won by Michelle Ty from the Pedro Guevarra Elementary School, Binondo, Manila. The Second prize of P5,000 went to Jeunnense Erika Del Rosario from the St. Jude School in Dasmariñas Cavite, while the third prize of P3,000 went to Elvin Ashley Agustin from the Lakandula Elementary School in Tondo, Manila.

In addition to the above prizes, each of the six winners also received a certificate of award and a gift pack from Nestle Philippines, one of the sponsors of the contest.

The board of judges was composed of national artist Napoleon Abueva; Adelaida Roman, lead program coordinator of the Metro Manila Air Quality Improvement Sector Development Program; Virgilio Santos, artist of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB); and Michael Torres, artist of The Children’s Library. Special guests were Director Sixto Tolentino Jr. of the EMB-NCR; Ms. Anne Cheock, executive director of the Children’s Library and Ms. Elizabeth Gokongwei of the Robinsons Malls.

The contest, which was part of the culminating activities of the Philippine Environment Month in June, was a joint undertaking of the DENR Public Affairs Office and the EMB, and the Robinsons’ Children’s Library. – Benny Enriquez