The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) unveiled the 21 winning entries of the 17th GSIS National Art Competition on June 24 at the GSIS Gymnasium in Pasay City.
The GSIS National Art Competition is one of the longest-running and most prestigious art contests in the country where Filipino artists can showcase their craft and gain recognition from the local art community.
Around 800 entries were submitted from artists all over the country, as per GSIS.
The winners of the representational painting category with the theme “Pagsulong at Pag-asa sa Bagong Normal”, were James Sanorjo for his entry “Ugaliing Gawin” in the first place, Mark Angelo Argarin's “Partner sa Pagsulong” in second place, and Leonardo Manto III's “Face to Face Class” in third place.
Valerie Anne Feliza Valero got the top prize for the abstract painting category through her artwork called “Shift & Change”.
GSIS said that she is the first female participant to win the grand prize in any category since the start of the competition 17 years ago.
Roberto Lolong's “Di Ako Matalino” got second place and Marcos Antonino Arsenio Royales XI's “Curfew” ranked third.
Moreover, Rinald Sotto's sculpture named “Pillars” received the highest prize in the sculpture category, Leonardo Manto III's “Face to Face Class” was awarded second place, and Ramon Garcia's “Guardian of Nature” placed third.
Each grand winner per category received P300,000, the second placers got P200,000, and third place winners were given P100,000.
Also, GSIS recognized four honorable mentions per category with a P25,000 prize.
They were John Perry Pellejera’s “Refocused”, Norbeto Mallari’s “Tatawid Tayo”, Edwin Ladrillo’s “Ang Bagong Umaga”, and Norlando Pobre’s “Future for the Nation” under the representational category.
The entries “Golden Horizon” by Godorfredo Orig, “Pink Wave” by Artgiveson Arreglado, “Breathing Patches of Hope and Dreams” by Dante Enage, and “Pag-asa” by Evangeline Marquez were the ones with honorable mention in the abstract painting category.
Also awarded with honorable mention were sculptures “Bakunawa and the Seven Moons” by Kenneth Bosangit, “Our Imperfections Make Us Strong” by Walther Ocampo, “Fight Club” by John Erickson Dancel, and “Pressure, Heat and Time” by James Dayrit.
According to GSIS, all major prize entries are now part of the GSIS art collection and will be displayed at the GSIS "Museo ng Sining" in Pasay City until August 31.
The museum, as per GSIS, accommodates a maximum of 25 visitors at a time and is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday, except on holidays.
Visitors need to present their vaccination cards at the entrance.
However, artists with non-winning entries or their designated representatives need to retrieve their artworks from September 1 until December 15 only. (Luisa Cabato)