The ArtPetron awards / Eugene Onegin re-set

Now on its sixth year, the ArtPetron Contest steadfastly honors its commitment to provide incentive, encouragement and impetus to young, talented artists. A meager 200 entries were submitted during the first year of the ArtPetron Contest; on its sixth year, the entries have exceeded 800 from all over the archipelago in the following categories: oil, water-based media and photography.

On awards night, Nicasio I. Alcantara, chairman of Petron Corporation, observed that the contest helps to preserve, promote, nurture and disseminate the country’s indigenous arts and crafts: weaving (hats, mats, textiles), pottery, jewelry and guitar-making, sculpture (saints, idols), etc.

Khalid D. Al-Faddagh, Petron president and CEO, showed, during his own address, a documentary film glance at a 17-year old Bill Clinton meeting President John F. Kennedy. At that time, Mr. Al-Faddagh pointed out, the teen-aged Clinton never ever dreamed of becoming US President himself. By the same token, argued the speaker, "some of ArtPetron’s unsuspecting winners will become National Artists." Their labors are certainly in the right direction as they continue to pursue their art without necessarily aspiring to win prizes.

One of this year’s judges, Felice P. Sta. Maria, pinch-hitting for guest speaker Alejandro R. Roces – himself the recipient of an award elsewhere that night – gave a highly illuminating and inspiring talk that dipped into her inexhaustible fount of ancient legend and lore.

Each year, the winning art works are reproduced on Petron’s annual calendars; the following prize-winning pieces will likewise grace the forthcoming calendars:

Grand prize, painting category (oil): Hinabing Simbuyo ng Bagong Panagimpan by Angelo B. Tabije, UP Diliman / "The Dreamweaver" by Clarence A. Cantiveros, Technological U. of the Philippines (Manila) /Higanteng Sining by Arturo T. Sanchez, Technological Institute of the Philippines (QC).

Grand prize, painting category (watercolor): Okir-Okir by Judeo R. Herrera, Tarlac State U. / Gitarang Mabutingting by Jacylyn G. Wong, Technological U. of the Philippines, Manila / "Ramos Family of San Miguel, Bulacan" by Antonio M. Totto Jr., UST.

Runners-Up (Oil): Naghimo Og Banga by Lance Kirby T. Yaneza, EARIST, Manila / Husay at Pagatuto Sa Kamay ni Maestro by Wencyl B. Mallari, Tarlac State U. / Buhay Kubo by Johnson C. Lopez, Tarlac State U. / "Furnace Living" by Nomar B. Miano, Cebu Academy of the Arts / Pamana ni Itay by Gualberto M. Licong Jr., Northern Mindanao State Institute / "Shoe Specs" by Jaime A. Gubaton, Chasse Arteskuela.

Grand Prize Photography Category: "Observing Grandpa Make Native Hats" by Dave J. Buenconsejo, Javasphere Learning Center / Tagagawa ng Barong by Maria Charmaine D. Layno, Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation / Dibuhong Masinsin by Hilarious De Jesus, UST / "Wood Carver 2" by Marilaine Claudette G. Gapal, San Sebastian College-Recoletos / "Abstraction in the Making" by Romulo G. Oñate II, FEU / Karunungan Mula Kay Lola by James Brian K. Ona, Polytechnic UP (Manila).

Runners-Up, Photography: Bangang Gawa sa Kamay by Maria Chairmaine D. Layno / Sto. Niño ni Nina by Jophel B. Ybiosa, Polytechnic UP (Manila) / "Connecting Our Culture in Our Own Hearts" by Alex P. Ordoyo, Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (Iloilo) / Kultura ng Kasuotan by Jophel B. Ybiosa, Polytechnic U. Manila / "Kalesa Maker" by Mari Rose Angeline G. Gapal, Letran College / "Guitar-Making" by Dave J. Buenconsejo, Javasphere Computer Learning Center.

For the last six years, National Artist Billy Abueva has chaired the board of judges in the painting category. For this year, the rest of the jury consisted of Sanso, National Artist Ben Cabrera, F. Sta. Maria, Roberto B. Feleo, this columnist, Anton San Diego, Mr. Alcantara, Jose K. Campos Jr., Petron’s VP for Marketing, and Antonio G. Pelayo, Petron’s VP for Finance and Subsidiaries.

Judges in the photo category were Wig F. Tysmans, Romeo V. Vitug, son of legendary lensman Honesto Vitug, Denise Weldon, Edwin Tuyay, Mr. Al-Faddagh, George C. Tapan, Alfredo A. Trio, Jose Jesus G. Laurel and Sulaiman M. Ababtain, Petron’s VP for Corporate Planning.

Distinguished art critic and professor Alice Guillermo has written on the first five years of the ArtPetron Contest in the book "Brushstrokes from the Heart". Herewith are excerpts which convey sidelights in the lives of the winning participants, or influences on their works.

"Fate would have it that it would be Romeo Rosette III’s dad who would answer the phone when the ArtPetron team called to inform him of his win in ArtPetron I, and the need for him to come to Manila for the awards night. There was a long silence on the other end of the line . . . the old man was heard weeping while muttering to himself, ‘Akala ko wala siyang ibubuga!’

"Mark Salvatus’ win in ArtPetron 2 is especially interesting. Hailing from Lucban, Mark took pride in the town’s colorful tradition, the yearly Pahiyas. Not only because he was a true-blooded Lucbanon, did the name Pahiyas hold a special meaning to him and his family. Apparently, it was his grandfather, Ramon Salvatus Sr., then municipal secretary of Lucban in the 1970s, who coined the term pahiyas.

"Because of his extreme timidity and inferiority complex, Ian Cheng, when told that he had won in ArtPetron 3, did not show a hint of excitement. His parents were not even aware that he had won, not until the ArtPetron Awards Night, when he was declared one of six first prize winners. Apparently, Ian only told them to accompany him to Petron without any mention of the occasion. Ian’s loving parents got the most wonderful surprise of their lives.

"Rain seeped into Emman Servito’s work, ruining a large portion of his art work. Devastated as he was, he vowed to salvage his work at all costs. In the midst of the hustle and bustle in the secretariat office with contestants and artworks galore, Emmanuel brushed away, hoping to restore the grandeur of his painting. Miraculously, something beautiful came out of that very unlikely incident. Spots of rain water on his work actually added an aesthetic element to his painting, giving it a beautiful look.

"Ada Grace Venci’s highly original watercolor painting entitled Bahaghari sa Tagolami shows the Tagolami river wending its way through a dense forest. In style, the artist shows the influence of cubism in the rendering of the water scene and its surrounding vegetation. This results in a quality of freshness that permeates the entire work. In the early morning, the clear water and the lush vegetation are still glistening with dew in facet-like tones of dark and light blue."

One presumes that in all their labor, pain and anxiety, the artists – both the winners and non-winners – have hewed closely to Shakespeare’s counsel: "To thine own self be true. And it must follow, as the night, the day, Thou canst not be false to any man."

In sum, ArtPetron unwaveringly plays a vital, indeed, an indispensable role in creating permanent contributions to the art scene which will help to preserve and enrich the country’s heritage and traditions, as well as enhance the nation’s cultural life for generations to come.

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Eugene Onegin is re-set for Oct. 5 and 6 at 8 p.m., Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. All tickets will be honored.