MB Sketchfest 2021 honors Filipino Pop Culture

Dec 17, 2021 02:54 PM

More than just a sketch of normalcy

Our life since the pandemic struck has been upended. The past two years have shaken every Filipino to the core. This is why the theme of this year’s the Manila Bulletin Sketchfest is a bit different from previous years. This time around, the organizers seek to highlight joy, positivity, and humor that continue to represent the Filipino even in the midst of this devastating, life-changing crisis. After all, this sense of joy, this sense of humor, is central to the Filipino character.

Now on its 10th year, under the theme “Pinoy Pop!” the Manila Bulletin Sketchfest celebrates pop art’s vibrant colors, blended materials, and use of mixed media that mirror the more positive facets of Philippine culture and arts. The theme pays tribute to Filipino pop culture and how over time it influences the national, regional, and local creative and art scene.

“From the theme, you could glean that Manila Bulletin is celebrating the joy, the happiness, the uniqueness of Filipino culture,” says the Manila Bulletin Publisher Sonny Coloma. “We are happy that despite the coronavirus pandemic, we received a record number of entries. Our participants expressed their desire to continually create works of art that would reflect the Filipino experience despite the effects of the pandemic and illness. This is a good augury for the Filipino nation.”

With a decade of competition under its belt, the Manila Bulletin Sketchfest continues to push boundaries and keep up with the times with the inclusion of a digital component for its on-the-spot category, which was only introduced last year. Participants were given six hours to complete a 12x18-inch artwork in either portrait or landscape orientation using dry art medium or digital graphics and submit it via an online process.

As an art advocacy project that promotes creativity, tradition, nationalism through arts, the Manila Bulletin also encouraged the participation of artists of all ages and different skill levels.

The on-the-spot categories included Kiddie (12 years old and below), Junior (13 to18 years old), Senior (19 years old and above), and the Digital Category that was open for all ages.

The Exhibition Category was intended for more experienced artists. It was opened to participants aged 16 years and above, who were given at least a month to complete their artwork and submit a ready-to-hang 18x24-inch piece using various mediums. Exhibition category participants from Tarlac, Bataan, and as far as Cebu and South Cotabato sent entries through courier. The Exhibition Category was judged by visual artists Dominic Rubio, Toym Imao, and the Manila Bulletin’s Sonny Coloma.

Exhibition Category Judging with Coloma Rubio and Imao

“Lahat naman sila magaling at saka may talent, ang pagkakaibalang, eh yung identity nila (All of them were good and talented, the only difference was the representation of their identity),” Rubio says, describing the entries.

Imao, for his part, said that despite the challenging times, “in terms of social experiences, you’d see that the artist’s works have exuberance and joy through the expression of colors.”

For the on-the-spot categories, judges were visual artists Norlie Meimban, Jovito Andres, and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) head of Public Affairs and Information Section Rene Napeñas.

On The Spot Category Judging with Meimban Andres and Napeñas

This year’s Sketchfest had two online events. The first one was held on Nov. 13 for the On-The-Spot Category competition proper and the announcement of the Top 20 finalists of the Exhibition Category. Participants were asked to post their artwork on social media with the hashtag #MBSketchfes2021. The second online event was held on Nov. 30, when the winners for all categories were announced. Both events were hosted by Honey Obusan.

Awarding of All winners program wih Honey Obusan

Among this year’s top winners were Zakk Deyniel Titulado for the Kiddie Category, Maria Angelica Tejada for the Junior Category, Jesus Tejada for the Senior Category, Zhor Junavee Antocan for the Digital Category, and Edgar Cruz for the Exhibition Category.