Capturing Filipino pride with the DPC-PLDT Visual Art Contest

MANILA, Philippines - Visual Arts National Competition grand winner Ruel James Villamayor from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde won the top plum with his photo of a blinking tarsier that will grace the cover of the 2012-2013 DPC-PLDT telephone directories.

After 25 years, the annual telephone directory cover contest has changed its medium from painting to photography with the theme “Only in the Philippines.” Thousands of photographs of jeepneys, balut, churches, tourist hotspots, festivals, landscapes and more were submitted — all of which pay homage to the youth’s concept of what Filipino pride really means.

Organized by Directories Philippines Corporation (DPC) and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), the contest recognized the top five winners at an awarding ceremony at the SMX Convention Center.

First prize winner Ruel James Villamayor says, “My professor once said that photography takes time and patience, so with every shot, you really have to wait for the perfect moment,” said Villamayor.

Sheila Mae De Vera of University of the East bagged second place with “Luksong Tinik, Larong Pinoy,” a silhouette of three children playing the beloved Filipino game. The picturesque silhouette of “Bayanihan” by Hillside Academy’s Kevin Zerrudo placed third. “Sweet Corn” by Encar Sarah Lopez of Southville International School and Colleges landed in fourth place while University of San Carlos student Claudette Diane Doroon’s “Patterns of Life,” which captures a swirl of dried bangus in the market placed fifth. All the winners received trophies designed by National Artist Napoleon Abueva.

“Through photography, we feel we can involve more youth to capture the positive essence of being uniquely Filipino,” said DPC president Ricardo Bautista. “We believe that our contest with the theme of what makes the Filipino unique is our modest contribution to national development.”