The city government of Manila hosted the first "Bayanihan Art Awards" at Bulwagang Villegas, Manila City Hall on Tuesday, May 30.
The awarding ceremony was held in conjunction with the celebration of the 121st birthday of the Philippine National Artist for Arts, Fernando Amorsolo.
Bayanihan Art Awards is an award-giving body initiated by the Fernando C. Amorsolo Art Foundation for beneficiaries and students of Bayanihan Art Workshop, to celebrate, recognize and promote artistry in the country.
"Kung mayroon mang lungsod na lubos na kumikilala at nagbibigay halaga sa kagalingan sa ating unang pambansang alagad ng sining, ito ay walang iba kung hindi ang capitolyo ng ating bansa, sapagkat dito siya isinilang noong 1892 sa Paco, Maynila (If there is any city that fully recognizes and values the excellence of our first national artist, it is none other than the capital city of our country, because it is here that he was born in 1892 in Paco, Manila)," Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan said.
She also said that May 30 was declared "Fernando Amorsolo Day" under Executive Order No. 18 signed by former city mayor Alfredo Lim on May 25, 2012.
"With the help of him [Alfredo Lim] and the city, it was possible for our foundation to host a whole day fair of teaching visual arts among children and adults, with the help of experts in Escolta, Manila," Sylvia Amorsolo Lazo, the foundation president and daughter of Fernando Amorsolo, said.
Lacuna, Department of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, Manila (DTCAM), and Fernando C. Amorsolo Art Foundation, Inc. led the awarding of the top 10 finalists composed of Bayanihan Art Workshop students and persons with disabilities (PWDs) painters.
"Karapatdapat na ito ay ganapin sa lungsod ng Maynila, dahil kaisa ninyo kami sa layuning bigyang pagkilala ang mga malikhaing Pilipino at mga Manilenyo (It is appropriate that this event is being held in the City of Manila, because we are united in the goal of recognizing creative Filipinos and Manilans)," DTCAM Officer-In-Charge Charlie Dungo said.
The city government said the entries submitted by the registrants underwent a thorough evaluation by the selected jury.
The participants whose masterpieces fulfilled and captured this year's theme "My Point of View of Scenes of Everyday Life" bagged prizes worth P15,000 to P50,000.
The foundation also gave consolation prizes worth P7,000 each.
Special awards and cash prizes worth P5,000 were also awarded to two other participants that did not make it to the top 10 finalists.
Fernando C. Amorsolo Art Foundation Inc. Vice President Fernando Lazo said the Bayanihan Art Workshop started in 2014.
"Nandyan po 'yung espirito ng bayanihan. Ayaw kong tawagin na Bayanihan Art Competition dahil salungat, kaya Bayanihan Art Awards (The spirit of bayanihan is there. I don't want to call it Bayanihan Art Competition because it would contradict the concept)," he added.