DAVAO CITY – Over 400 artists and aspiring artists from various areas in Mindanao joined the Davao leg of the Manila Bulletin Sketchfest 2024 at the activity center of the SM City Davao Annex here on Saturday, August 31.
WINNERS of the Manila Bulletin Sketchfest 2024 in Davao City pose during the awarding ceremony on Saturday afternoon, August 31. (Keith Bacongco)
Grace Marimon, senior manager of the Manila Bulletin-Davao provincial branch, with SM City Davao Mall manager Leah Delarmente, formally welcomed registered online and walk-in participants and spectators.
"I would like you to keep up your spirits alive and consider yourself a winner. All of you are winners. It's just that this is a competition and we have to abide our judge’s perspectives," Marimon told participants.
The MB Sketchfest, an annual event, is a well-known competition for spontaneous drawing and sketching.
The competition is now on its seventh year in Davao and 13th year in Manila.
Winners were announced at 5 p.m.
They were:
Kiddie category:
First – Danielle Athena A. Saniel
Second – Rolyn Kinette G. Denila
Third – Maurelle Kyre C. dela Rosa
Junior category:
First – Alexa Oducayen
Second – Bhon Bethel Segampong
Third – Flower Reign R. Aca
Senior category:
First – Jefferson Cortez
Second – Lenton John Gecarcas
Third – Rembert S. Vergara
Air Asia Award:
Carl Benedict Pamposa
Cindy Mae Dumapias, marketing and sales manager of the Manila Bulletin-Davao provincial branch, said the event is Mindanao’s biggest on-the-spot sketching and art competition.
Dumapias said that this year's theme, “Alamat: Mythical stories and legends of the Philippines,” aims to highlight Filipino artistry, particularly homegrown artists coming from different parts of Mindanao.
"We believe that all of you here have mystical creatures in mind or concepts that you want to seek inspiration on for this year's Manila Bulletin Sketchfest. May you all have the best time today," Delarmente told participants.
Delarmente thanked the Manila Bulletin for partnering with SM City Davao. She said the mall has been the official venue partner of the Manila Bulletin for the Sketchfest in Davao City since 2017.
ARTISTS compete at the Davao leg of the Manila Bulletin Sketchfest 2024 at SM City in Davao City on Saturday, August 31. This year's theme is ‘Alamat: Mythical Stories and Legends of the Philippines.’ (Keith Bacongco)
Marimon, on behalf of Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. top executives, thanked SM City Davao and all the participants for joining the event.
"Thank you for your continuous support for this Manila Bulletin advocacy project that showcased artistic creativity of our students and art enthusiast throughout the Philippines," Marimon said.
Onsite registration was held from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. There were 418 participants vying for the top spot of this year's Manila Bulletin Sketchfest as of 12 noon.
Contest categories are Kiddie (12-years-old and below), Junior (13- to 18-years-old), and Senior (19-years-old and above).
In the senior category, first place will bring home P30,000, second, P20,000, and third, P10,000.
In the junior category, first place will get P15,000, second, P10,000, and third, P5,000.
In the kiddie category, first place will get P5,000, second, P3,000, and third, P2,000.
All participants must complete their entries before the cut-off time of 3 p.m.
The awarding ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. following the deliberation of the panel of judges who are renowned artists from Mindanao.
The Sketchfest will also be held at SM Seaside City Cebu for the Cebu leg and SM Mall of Asia for the Manila leg on September 28 and October 20, respectively.