Pinoy teener tops UNEP art contest

MANILA, Philippines - A 13-year-old girl was honored by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for bagging the top prize in this year’s International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Trisha Co Reyes was given the scholarship at the DENR central office where Secretary Ramon Paje lauded her achievement as “another resonant Filipino voice, telling the world of the Filipino’s aspiration for a more secure, prosperous and life-sustaining world.”

“In truth, this scholarship grant pales in comparison to what she has already accomplished early in life through her art,” Paje explained, stressing Reyes’ achievement is aimed at getting the world’s attention to correct humanity’s excesses against Mother Earth.

This year’s UNEP-organized competition received four million entries from 99 countries from children ages six to 14, posting the largest number of entries by far since it began in 1991 with Bayer.

This year’s contest theme, “Life in the Forest,” was portrayed in Reyes’ entry showing a girl looking at a picture of vibrant animals and plants in full color through a clearing behind two curtains through which images of a polluted environment is punctuated with felled trees and dead animals.

Her winning this year is “the most rewarding in terms of prestige and financial benefits among the 70 awards she has received since she started competing in art contest 10 years ago,” according to her mother, Conchita Co-Reyes.

“This is the first time Trisha’s talent has been recognized with a scholarship award,” Mrs. Reyes said.

Paje said apart from the recognition plaque, the young artist was awarded with a DENR scholarship grant that will cover tuition and other school fees for the regular semesters and summer courses in any college or university offering environment-related courses; monthly stipend of P3,000; book and school supplies allowance of P1,500 per semester and P700 per summer course; thesis or research allowance not exceeding P10,000.