Post-Event

UST marks 70th year of Manilas liberation in art contest

The University of Santo Tomas (UST), a former internment camp during World
War II, partnered with the Embassy of the United States Manila and Metrobank
Foundation in holding a painting contest that commemorates the 70th
anniversary of the liberation of Manila in the final stages of the war.
A fine arts student from the University of the East (UE)-Caloocan bested 219
participants from other fine arts schools in capturing the essence of the liberation
in the Annual UST Inter-school On-the-Spot Painting Competition held last
February 7 at the Benavides Garden, UST, Manila. It was also in partnership with
Metrobank Foundation.
John Nikko S. Pelaez won first place with his piece Unsung Heroes, a 30 x 40
in. acrylic art on canvas in the competition which had for its theme, Memories of
Valor, Dreams of Peace: The 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of the
Philippines.
Pelaez work depicted a child wearing a military uniform while holding a dove set
against a background that shows various scenarios of war. It won P40,000.
Meanwhile, an abstract painting titled Alaala at Pag-asa of Arnulfo Ragma II
from UE-Caloocan received the Metrobank Choice Award and a cash prize of
P35,000.
Placing second was 70 Untold Stories by Ricky J. Natividad from Eulogio
Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST). The work
showed a soldier-father telling stories of war to a child.
Francis Dennis G. Urquiola from the Technological University of the Philippines
(TUP)-Manila landed on third place with Past for the Future. His work presented
three smiling childrensymbolic of the new generations hope and dream for the
future after the war.
Natividad and Urquiola received P30,000 and P20,000 cash prize, respectively.

Death March by Marina Monina Ceriola from the University of Santo Tomas
(UST) was named first honorable mention, followed by Kayamanan Pamana sa
Aming Kabataan, Alay sa Mahal na Bayan of Jhon Michael Macariola from
EARIST (second honorable) and Victory at the Pearl Harbor of Naomi B.
Mendoza from the University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman (third honorable).
Winning works together with other entries are currently on exhibit at the UST
Museum Main Gallery until March 7.
Participating schools in this years contest were: Bulacan State University,
College of the Holy Spirit, EARIST, Far Eastern University, Mapua Institute of
Technology, Philippine Womens University, Polytechnic University of the
Philippines, St. Scholasticas College, TUP, UE-Caloocan, University of Makati,
UP, and UST.
The Board of Judges was composed of UST Department of History Chair Dr.
Augusto de Viana, Embassy of the United States (US) Manila Counselor for
Public Affairs Ms. Bettina Malone, and professional artist Mr. Ninoy Lumboy.
Judges for the Metrobank Choice included Noell El Faul (sculpture), Clarence
Eduarte (visual arts), and Salvada Ching (installation art).
The yearly painting competition was organized by the UST Museum.#AV