DAVAO CITY – A full-time visual artist and his two sons struggled to hold back tears after triumphing at the 11th Manila Bulletin Sketchfest at the SM City Davao here on Saturday, Oct. 1.
Joseph Isidro, a member of the Las Piñas Artist and Cotabato Artist groups, and his 12-year-old son, Emerald Joseph, placed second in the senior and kid categories, respectively.
Isidro’s 16-year-old son, Prussia Joseph, on the other hand, topped the junior category of the sketchfest. The Isidro family came all the way from Cotabato City to participate in the event.
For Prussia, joining the Manila Bulletin Sketchfest was more than just winning a competition. While he is proud of his family, Prussia emphasized the value of protecting the environment.
“’Risikulo,’ the Tagalog word for recycle, is the title of my work. It means we, humans, need to do our part to keep the Earth healthy. Earth does not need us; we need Earth,” Prussia said.
Emerald also shared the same thought with his brother. He said everybody must protect the environment by recycling, reducing, and using less energy and planting more trees.
Prussia and Emerald are students of the Notre Dame National High School in Cotabato.
Eleandre Aparece, 11, was not able to hold back his tears after he heard his name as the first placer in the sketchfest kiddie category.
“I am just happy,” Aparece said in the vernacular. When asked about his sketch, he said that humans must take care of the Mother Earth the way God takes care of everyone in the world.
The winner of round-trip tickets in the Air Asia #AlwaysREDy, Reben Rey Rosales, an educator from Bago Oshiro National High School, said he was grateful that his sketch was chosen by Air Asia.
“My work means that, though we are living in a fast-paced society, we do not promote chaos and destruction on Earth. We all need to balance both nature and technology,” Rosales said.
University of Mindanao professor and architect Iluminado Quinto Jr. said he had a hard time choosing the best output from almost 400 sketch entries.
“All participants are very good at their craft. I was looking for an artwork that truly captures the theme ‘Saving Earth,’” Quinto said.
Quinto said that he believes that there is no such thing as saving Earth.
“It is actually saving us because the Earth itself does not need us in a way. It is a challenge to preserve the planet for our safety. There are entries that are able to be very humbled about that,” Quinto said.
Self-thought visual artist Rene A. Pilapil said that aside from the criteria given to him, he also sees if the participants understand the event.
Mark Dy, brand and marketing manager of the Manila Bulletin, said the sketchfest is indeed a great opportunity for everyone in the community to gather and communicate through art.
Winners were promptly announced after the competition ended.
Kiddie Category
First – Eleandre Aparece
Second – Emerald Joseph Isidro
Third – Zacahary Liam Macasera
Junior Category
First – Prussia Joseph Isidro
Second – Rubin Christian Silao
Third – Ruel Anthony Aballa
Senior Category
First – Gideon Apurado
Second – Joseph Isidro
Third – Leo Patos
Air Asia Choice Awards: Reben Rey Rosales
After Davao City, the Manila Bulletin Sketchfest will be held at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City on Oct. 22.