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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Arts and Culture devider Here are the winners of the inaugural Sining Filipina national art competition

Here are the winners of the inaugural Sining Filipina national art competition

It's also coined as the first all-female art contest in the Philippines

Published Mar 22, 2024 02:53 pm

Some may find it surprising, but did you know that the Philippines has 17 National Artists for Visual Arts, but none are women?

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(From left) SM Supermalls’ president Steven Tan, Singapore Ambassador Constance See, British Ambassador Laure Beaufils, US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation president Elizabeth Sy, ZCME president Jeannie Abaya, and BDO Private Bank president Albert Yeo signed the Sining Filipina canvas to symbolize their support for Filipina artistry and officially mark the opening of the exhibition.

In an effort to celebrate Filipina artistry and women’s empowerment through art, SM Supermalls, BDO Unibank, Inc., and the Zonta Club of Makati and Environs (ZCME) formed Sining Filipina, an all-female art competition. On March 15, 2024, the winners of this inaugural art competition were announced at an awarding ceremony and exhibition opening at SM Aura.

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Singapore Ambassador Constance See, SM Foundation Executive Director Debbie Sy and actor Xian Lim

Out of the 732 entries from women artists nationwide, Hanna Joy Sayam from Negros Occidental won top honors in the figurative category with her artwork titled “Pira-pirasong Tela ng mga Marias,” while Maria Gemma San Jose from Ilocos Norte claimed the top spot in the non-figurative category with her artwork named “Layers of Experience.” Each of them received a grand prize of P250,000.

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Embassy of Denmark’s Madame Eva Fischer-Mellbin, Embassy of Nigeria Counsellor and Head of Chancery Charity Ekeadon Davidson, US Embassy’s Deputy Director for Public Engagement Pauline Anderson, Zonta Club of Makati and Environs’ Maritess Pineda, Zonta Club of Makati and Environs’ Oliva Perry and BDO Unibank senior vice president and head of compliance Atty. Federico Tancongco

The winners of the Figurative category, Luckyshia Jenielou Canonigo (2nd place) and Ma. Christina Baltero (3rd place), and the Non-Figurative category winners Maria Melissa Sangoyo (2nd place) and Isabelita Rodillo (3rd place), were awarded a cash prize of P150,000 for second place and P100,000 for third. All winners also took home the Sining Filipina trophy, specially created by sculptor and Zonta member Charming Baldemor.

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The inaugural Sining Filipina winners with the competition’s esteemed judges (from left): Maria Gemma San Jose; Ma. Christina Baltero; Hanna Joy Sayam; renowned sculptor Julie Lluch; Metropolitan Museum of Manila president Tina Colayco; Ateneo Art Gallery director and chief curator Victoria Herrera; Isabelita Rodillo; Maria Melissa Sangoyo; and Luckyshia Jenielou Canonigo

“We believe that for centuries, women have not been given the necessary support and patronage that they deserve,” ZCME President Jeannie Abaya said during the awarding ceremony. We aim to give creative women a platform and, in so doing, level up the playing field for women in art.”

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Hanna Joy Sayam from Negros Occidental was awarded the grand prize in the figurative category for her artwork entitled “Pira-pirasong Tela ng mga Marias,” and Maria Gemma San Jose from Ilocos Norte and her artwork entitled “Layers of Experience” won top honors in the non-figurative category

Distinguished members of the diplomatic corps, business sector, and the arts community gathered to celebrate the winners and participants of Sining Filipina. Guests of honor - women leaders themselves - were US Ambassador Mary Kay Carlson, British Ambassador Laure Beaufils, Singapore Ambassador Constance See, Embassy of Denmark’s Madame Eva Fischer-Mellbin, Embassy of Nigeria counselor/head of chancery charity Ekeadon Davidson, together with SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation president Elizabeth Sy and SM Foundation Executive Director Debbie Sy.

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Top row (L-R): “Gabay na Ilaw” by Luckyshia Jenielou Canonigo, 2nd place winner in the figurative category, Ma. Christina Baltero’s “Kula” which won third place in the figurative category, “She’s not that complicated” by second place winner in the non-figurative category and Maria Melissa Sangoyo, Isabelita Rodillo’s “The power of many” which won third place in the non-figurative category

SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, BDO Private Bank president Albert Yeo, and ZCME president Jeannie Abaya also attended to lead the awarding.

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The Sining Filipina trophy, made from mango and narra wood, is a creative representation of everything that means to be a woman. A play on contrasts presents a piece that is strong yet soft. The trophy was crafted from wood, artfully shaped to form smooth, flowing curves and brushstrokes. The female silhouette was also reimagined to look like a cornucopia — symbolizing abundance and the overflowing creativity in the arts

The awarding ceremony also marked the exhibition's opening, featuring the six winning works and those of the 72 finalists. Proceeds from the sale of the artworks will go towards the artist and ZCME’s charitable programs. 

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