A UST College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) senior won first prize in the UST annual inter-school on-the-spot painting, hosted by UST Museum on Feb. 28.
This year’s on-the-spot painting competition carried the theme “Philippine Festivities.” Competing artists from all over Metro Manila spent a total of seven hours, creating pieces on culture, heritage, religion, and community at the Benavides Garden.
Vian Pacheco, a fourth-year Painting student, took home first prize for his painting, titled “Tindang Sampaguita ni Niña,” a 36×48-in acrylic and oil on canvas reflecting on social and economic aspects behind a festival.
Pacheco depicted a child being carried by a parent who sells sampaguita flowers during the Santo Niño Festival—a scene that highlights the economic realities of the Philippines and the familiar sight of children working as street vendors.
“Kapag Philippine Festivities, there’s a lot of things happening there. It’s not just about religion, it’s about values, pero minsan, there’s [also] a social aspect to it,” Pacheco said in an interview with the Varsitarian.
John Mohn Madrigal, a fourth-year Bachelor of Fine Arts major in Visual Communications student from the University of the Philippines, placed second with “Munting Mananayo,” a 30x-40-in. acrylic on canvas, spotlighting the intimacy involved in the passing down of family traditions.
The painting portrays a woman dressing her granddaughter with glowing fabric—a symbol of radiant history and culture within Filipino families.
“‘Yong painting ko is parang na-de-depict niya ‘yong silent, ‘yong tahimik na start ng piyesta,” Madrigal said.
Marrielle Cortes, a fourth-year student from the Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, won third place with “Sa Ilalim ng Mesa Iisa,” a 30×40-in. acrylic on canvas—a dramatic illustration capturing the intimate view beneath a family’s dining table.
“Sa Ilalim ng Mesa Iisa” differs from the broad and vibrant imagery of festivals to a more spiritual and intimate setting that uses the act of dining as a symbol of unity within Filipino families.
“Kahit anong estado natin sa buhay, professional o hindi, hayop man o tao, pag nasa ilalim na tayo ng mesa, salo-salo tayong kumakain, lahat tayo nagiging isa,” Cortes said.
