November 2023 was a busy month for the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as it celebrated Filipino Values Month with a slew of activities celebrating the values that shape Filipino society, capped by a digital poster making contest featuring Heneral Tuna, the witty and fierce blue alien cat from NCCA’s eponymous animated and book series.

The Heneral Tuna Digital Poster Making Contest featured artworks done by Filipino high school and college students, with each poster interpreting the theme Filipino Values for the Common Good in their own mode and style. This year’s competition is a little different from last year’s fan art contest, which featured traditional and digital artworks, but nevertheless became a vibrant showcase of talent and creativity among young Filipinos. This year’s contest was held from Nov. 12 to 27, 2023 and attracted 220 entries from young Earthlings representing 56 cities and provinces throughout the country.

Young Boholano artist Anna Rina Oncog won first place with her interpretation of Filipino values imbibed by the different sectors of society. Oncog weaves Heneral Tuna into the unique elements of Filipino culture such as the jeepney and pagmamanowhile highlighting the aspirations of being "Maka-Diyos," "Maka-tao," "Maka-bayan," and "Maka-kalikasan."

Second place went to Lorenzo Angelo Maranan of Baguio City, whose monochromatic color scheme complemented by golden figures underline the realistic depiction of Heneral Tuna and the Earthlings of Barangay Hiraya. In selecting the Filipino values to portray in his poster, Maranan draws inspiration from the animated series, where each of the seven episodes show how values can weave together a community’s fabric.

Receiving third place is Khem Mary Abalos of Antipolo City, who portrays Heneral Tuna as full-fledged member of Barangay Hiraya. In this digital poster, Heneral Tuna lives out the traditions and values he has learned and finds himself immersed in the day-today lives of his neighbors.

With the wealth of talent shown by the number of entries received, it was a tough job for the NCCA and its panel of judges to choose just three winners. Some of the equally fantastic artwork include:

Oncog received a cash prize of P10,000 for her grand prize-winning entry while Maranan and Abalos received P7,500 and P5,000 respectively. The winners also received a certificate and special tokens from the NCCA to recognize their achievement.

The contest is one of the many activities included in the NCCA’s celebration of Filipino Values Month, which is held every November to promote the adoption of Filipino values in our daily lives. This year’s celebration was extra special with the launching of the Heneral Tuna children’s book series, published by the NCCA and Aklat Alamid, and a new partnership with the Knowledge Channel to air the Heneral Tuna episodes.

The Heneral Tuna animated and picture book series shows how Filipino Values are woven through daily life via stories that are entertaining yet meaningful. Sharing Filipino Values through animation and literature is NCCA’s way of upholding, instilling, and promoting these values to a new generation of Filipinos.

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