Thursday, December 14, 2006 John Hay art contest winners bared
STUDENTS from three Baguio schools emerged as big winners in the recently concluded 13th Camp John Hay (CJH) annual art contest at the CJH Bell Amphitheater.
Gel Serafica of the Rizal Elementary School (RES) dominated category A for children aged 7 to 11 years old, winning the P7,500 cash prize.
Joan Mae Tuguinay of the Mabini Elementary School (MES) came in second with the P5,000 prize while Marx Lenix Yaneza of the Antonio Maceda Elementary School (Ames) finished third, taking home P2,500.
Yae Reen Dho of the Small World Christian School (SWCS) and Ysabel Maria Dacanay also of MES both garnered first and second honorable mentions, respectively, each winning P1,500 in cash.
For category B or those aged 12 to 16 years old, Mabelle Bohol of the St. Louis University Laboratory High School (SLULHS) won the first prize of P7,500 while Renz Huijae Ilao of the Baguio City National High School (BCNHS) and Kym Arlaw Yambot of the University of the Philippines (UP), landed in the second and third places with cash prizes of P5,000 and P2,500, respectively.
Jon Carlos Tabios and Mykel Chryz Abuan, both of BCNHS, won first and second honorable mentions, with cash prizes of P1,500 each.
For category C or those aged 17 to 21 years old, Edmund Andrada of UP-Baguio won the top prize with the P10,000 plum. Coming in second is Andre de Guzman of the Saint Louis University (SLU), with a cash prize of P7,500, while third place went to Jethro Reuel Mata of UP, who earned P5,000.
The honorable mentions were Wilhelm Calderon of the Data Center Philippines (DCP) and Reymar Tacadenia of the Baguio Central University (BCU). Each of them received P2,500.
This year's panel of judges included Jodie Alabanza, Minnie Ramos-Bembo, veteran artists Pyx Picart and Leonard Aguinaldo, and cartoonist and sportswriter Jogin Tamayo.
All winners also received special handcrafted trophies made of fiberglass resin by Baguio artist Hubert Cabanban. For three consecutive years now, the ArtCon prides itself with unique trophies that coincide with the designated theme for the year, which, by themselves are already works of art.
The ArtCon is an annual event organized by CJH entities -- CJH Development Corporation and CJH Management Corporation -- to bring out the best in today's aspiring young artists.
This year, more than 200 young artists participated in the contest, whose theme of "A Christmas Wish for Baguio on its Centennial," was announced only in the opening ceremonies on the day of the contest itself.
The organizers, in coordination with the Baguio Centennial Commission (BCC), have agreed to put a Baguio centennial flavor to the annual art contest to heighten community awareness and cooperation for the 100th Charter Year Anniversary of the city on Sept. 1, 2009.
On week, winners of the 13th ArtCon were displayed and exhibited at the lobby of the Baguio City Hall as part of the city's 1,000-day countdown to the Centennial. (AB)
