CEBU CITY — For 12-year-old Chelsea Omila, joining the Manila Bulletin Sketchfest was more than just winning a contest.
WINNERS take center stage during the awarding ceremony of the Manila Bulletin Sketchfest Cebu leg on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the City Wing of SM Seaside Cebu. They are (from left) Jackielou Ponce, AirAsia #AlwaysREDy award; Chelsea Omilia (first place, Kiddie Category), Tinker Myles G. Bonita (second), and Phil May Lingatong (third); Irah Mae Alforque (first, Juniors Category), Angel Lyne dela Cerna (second), and Christel Jane Samonte (third); and Christian Medallo (first, Seniors Category), Ernie John Dadula (second), and Sharem May Riconalla (third). With them are (back row, from left) Ma. Regina E. Verame, Senior Trade Industry Development Specialist, Department of Trade and Industry-7; Mark Dy, Brand and Marketing Manager, Manila Bulletin; Kevin Bryant Samonte, Communications and Public Affairs and Executive for Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, AirAsia; Renato C. Leduna Jr., Group Public Relations Manager-VisMin SM Supermalls, and judges visual artists Jun Impas and Orley Ypon. Not in photo is Dr. Felma Aliño, chairman, Fine Arts Department, University of San Carlos. (Photo by Calvin D. Cordova/MANILA BULLETIN)
Omila emphasized that the contest highlights the important role of the youth in helping protect the environment.
“My drawing represents the mind of the child. If we teach the children at a young age how to conserve our environment, then in the future they will teach others to help conserve our environment,” said Omila, a student of the Zapatera Elementary School in Cebu City.
Omila won the kiddies’ category which pitted artists aged four to 12.
Tinker Myles Bonita placed second while Phil May ranked third in Manila Bulletin’s annual art contest that made a successful return after taking a two-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The event was held on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the City Wing of SM Seaside Cebu.
Omila said that apart from the noble goal of promoting the advocacy of art, the Manila Bulletin Sketchfest is a worthy cause for the younger generation to be a part of.
“It teaches us a lot out environment conservation. Little action such as recycling can make a huge impact in saving the environment,” she said.
Omila said it was her first time to join the competition although she has been competing in other art contests.
“I really didn’t expect to win especially after I saw the output of my fellow contestants. I am very happy that I won because I wanted to make my school proud,” Omila said.
Copping the juniors’ category title was Irah Mae Alforque of the University of Cebu.
“I really like the concept of the contest. My drawing was about Mother Nature who has given so much to us but we failed to give back,” the 17-year-old Alforque said.
Placing second in the juniors’ category was Angel Lynne dela Cerna while Christel Jane Samonte wound up third.
The juniors’ category was open to participants aged 13 to 18.
The seniors’ category, which was contested by 19-years-old and above, was won by Christian Velle Medallo.
The second time proved to be the charm for Medallo, who didn’t get a podium finish when he first joined the Manila Bulletin Sketchfest in 2019.
Medallo, 25, said his winning entry focused on the need to have a collective effort to save the environment.
He said artists like him look forward to joining the competition as it gives him an avenue to enhance their skills.
Joining the Manila Bulletin Sketchfest helps boost his morale to pursue his craft, Medallo said.
“This is a good opportunity especially for those who doesn’t have enough confidence. Like this one, this is a big event. I tried to encourage my cousins to join but they declined because they said they do not have the confidence to compete in this kind of a big event,” said Medallo, who works as a layout artist.
Completing the top three finishers in the seniors’ category were Ernie John Fel Dadula (second) and Sharem May Riconalla.
Prizes amounting to as much as P50,000 were given to the winners.
The AirAsia #alwaysredy award went to Jackilou Ponce.
Some 200 artists joined the Cebu leg of the Manila Bulletin Sketchfest. The next stop will be at SM City Davao on Oct. 1 to be followed by the SM Mall of Asia stop on Oct. 22.