Out of almost 100 entries for the ‘Exhibition Category’ this year, 20 artworks will be chosen to compete as finalists at the MB Sketchfest 2023 to happen on Sept. 30 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

The entries for the exhibition category were judged by Manila Bulletin Publisher Sonny Coloma, President of Saturday Group of Artists Roel Obemio, and professional artist Ross Capili at the Manila Bulletin lobby in Intramuros, Manila City.

The judging process was exciting as the three esteemed judges closely inspected the artworks, all to peer into the heart and soul of the artists who created the pieces. Watch the judging below:

The judges shared their insights about this year’s competition.

"You can really see the beauty, the creativity and the talent shown by our young artists. This shows that the arts are indeed lively and flourishing in our country," Sonny Coloma said in Filipino, during the judging. "Showcasing Filipino talent is one of the primary goals of the Sketchfest contest."

The MB Sketchfest 2023 theme is "We are all created equal."

"From the entries, you could really see a wide scope of interpretations that allow us to understand the different dimensions and the different aspects of equality. And by understanding equality, we are able to practice it toward our fellow Filipinos and toward other human beings." Sonny Coloma said.

Roel Obemio was impressed with this year's entries. "I can see that the artists effectively conveyed their personal views into the artworks. Especially with regards to the issue of gender equality and other social issues," he shared in Tagalog. "This competition has given these new generation of artists a platform to express their views and enter into the world of visual arts."

Ross Capili sees the value of nurturing the arts, and giving voice to a new generation of artists. He was also impressed with the quality of the submitted entries. "Several of the artworks are evident of the maturity in artistry. You can see the improvisation of materials, the depth of the works they have shown here is quite different and unique," he said in Filipino.

"Just viewing each of the works here, you can immediately feel and see the message they want to convey. A lot of the works here are silent, you don't need a caption or a slogan, but you can see and feel the message."

The finals for the MB Sketchfest 2023 will be held on Sept. 30 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall. The ‘Exhibition Category’ entries can be viewed at the Manila Bulletin lobby in Intramuros, Manila until Sept. 28.