Shell celebrates Philippine art and the Filipino artists who have enriched the lives of so many with the 50th anniversary of the National Students Art Competition (NSAC). The much-awaited annual art tilt’s awarding ceremony was held on October 9 at the Ayala Museum in Makati City where the finalists from the participating schools all over the country eagerly awaited the announcement of winners.
Shell Companies in the Philippines Country Chairman Cesar Romero explained that the theme this year is “The Golden Voyage” because it celebrates 50 years of the finest in Filipino artistry, and also sails towards the future in discovering more new, young and exceptionally talented Filipino visual artists to elevate them into greatness, just as the competition has done for the past five decades.
“For the past 50 years, Shell has held up the torch of art in the country, giving our young artists a truly national venue where they can all shine,” said Romero. It was in its first two decades, from 1951 to 1971, when NSAC paved the way for some of the country’s national artists — Jose Joya (1952), Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (1954), Ang Kiukok (1955), and Ben Cabrera (1962). The Shell NSAC alumni have been lighting up the Philippine artistic firmament with these big names.
What was once an on-the-spot art contest in 1951 has since blossomed into a mainstay of the Philippine art scene and a launching pad for many careers. This is a matter of honing artistry, one that is driven by passion and guided by discipline. Each NSAC competition has brought with it new energy that helped move the artistic community further forward.
All young artists need a venue to showcase their talents and a way by which to benchmark themselves against the best of the best. This is part of growing in the craft and being able to see in what other ways one can be better. Shell NSAC has been this to many young artists, providing them a very concrete way to level up and reach for their dreams.
Present during the awarding ceremony were executives from Shell led by Romero, Ayala Corporation President and COO Fernando Zobel de Ayala and Ayala Foundation President Ruel Maranan.
The 1st place for the oil/acrylic categoryis Kenneth H. Santiago from the University of the East-Caloocan for his work Living Through Enigmatic Passion. In 2nd place is Christian S. Culangan from the Technological University of the Philippines for Fragments of Human Nature. Queen Jewel G. Abo from the University of the East-Caloocan was awarded 3rd place for her piece entitled Sa Likod ng mga Kulay.
For the watercolor category, the 1st place winner is Joanaly D. Anunciacion from De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde for Reminiscence; Michael Jay D. Ramos from Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology got 2nd place for Refuge while Bayani Jamesson I. Galera of the University of the East-Caloocan won third place for Lakbay.
John Raymond B. Guevarra from the Technological University of the Philippines won 1st place for his piece Sumayaw sa Indak ng Panahon for the sculpture category. In 2nd place is Jun Orland E. Espinosa from Iloilo Science and Technology University for Pamahaw, Panyaga, Panyapon and in 3rd place is Arin G. Santos from the University of the East-Caloocan for his work Laman ng Loob.
In the digital artscategory, students from the Technological University of the Philippines bagged the top three awards led by 1st placer Queenie Cleer V. Tapales for Endless Way, Clarence F. Navarro in 2nd place for My Journey is not yet Over and Angelica C. Lantin for The Façade.
The winners in each category received cash prizes, medals and plaques while the school where the first place winners come from received citations and cash donations to support to their faculty development programs.
The artworks of the winners and finalists of the 50th Shell NSAC will be displayed in the Ayala Museum until October 22.
Shell supports innovative programs for youth development such as the National Students Art Competition as part of its future energy vision of powering nation-building and sustainable, inclusive growth as a global leader in the production, marketing, technological advancement, and the trade of petroleum and its derivatives. Shell also does this by promoting technology and innovation, energy efficiency, smarter mobility, energy conservation, and by diversifying the energy mix through continuous efforts to explore gas technology and supply cleaner-burning natural gas along with other initiatives.
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