UST annual inter-school On-the-Spot Painting Competition winners

MANILA, Philippines - The UST annual inter-school On-the-Spot Painting Competition challenged Fine Arts students across Metro Manila to visualize hope through the colors of their canvas. Thus, this year’s theme was “Hope for the Philippines.” The Fine Arts students were inspired to show how art can be a medium to convey the message of hope to Filipinos in the midst of these trying times.

“The competition seeks to visualize the symbols, allegories and icons of hope that can provide a focus for Filipinos to recover from these upheavals,” says Fr. Isidro Abaño, O.P., director of the UST Museum.

Mike Paulo Yago from Bulacan State University won P40,000 as this year’s first prize winner with his artwork titled, “Pangarap.” Niño Cubacub from Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) won second prize worth P30,000 for “Kambal na Bahaghari” and Emil Adrine Alarcon from Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) won third prize and P20,000 for his painting titled “Alayaan.”

Christian Cedrick Dela Paz from EARIST earned the Metrobank Choice Award and P35,000 for “Tatag na Hinuhugot sa Loob.”

Three students, Melanio Balauitan from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Mark Lester Espina from EARIST, and Gilbert John Gomez from Bulacan State University were recognized as honorable mention and each brought home P5,000 cash.

This year marks the museum’s 143rd anniversary.

“The UST Museum team continues to find ways and means to make the annual OTSPC more relevant to today’s setting for aspiring young artists,” says Prof. Ana Bautista, assistant director of the UST Museum. Artists such as Alfredo Esquillo, Ronald Ventura, Joe Barcena and Mark Salvatus were previous winners of this competition.

The winning artworks are currently on view at the UST Museum.