FROM over 220 entries submitted, 114 students all over Negros Island got the judges' nod to join this year's on-the-spot painting competition organized by Victorias Milling Company Inc. (VMC) during the pre-judging last Saturday, September 7, at the Sugarland Hotel.
Of these, 47 high school students from all over Negros Occidental had the highest number of qualifiers, besting 76 other entrants from a total of 123 entries, while 29 other high school students from Negros Oriental got in the list as well.
In the elementary category, 23 students from Negros Occidental will face off with 15 students from Negros Oriental in this competition which is now on its seventh year.
Dr. Antonio Tejado, Moreen Austria, and Daryl Feril were this year's pre-screening judges and they were clearly impressed at the skills and talent displayed by the students through their submitted artworks.
Students from Negros Oriental will have their on-the-spot contest this Saturday, September 14, at the Sidlakan Village in Dumaguete City while those in Negros Occidental will compete the following weekend on September 21 at Project Orange in Bacolod City. This will be followed by the Awards Night on September 22 also at Project Orange.
This year's theme, "My Community," is more meaningful to VMC who is celebrating its centennial celebration and wishes to impart the same value to our youth and Negros at large on how vital community involvement is in nation-building.
VMC first launched the competition in 2013 and eventually expanded it island-wide in 2016. Winners in the competition get to bring home as much as P30,000 in cash prize plus a computer set for the school they represent. Finalists in the competition will also be invited to join the annual Summer Art Workshop as part of their continuing art mentorship by experts in the field of visual arts.
La Consolacion College Bacolod topped the number of qualifiers with 15 students for the high school category in Negros Occidental along with students from St. Scholastica's Academy Bacolod, Dr. Vicente Gustilo Memorial National High School, Negros Occidental National Science High School, La Castellana National High School, Valladolid National High School, Sagay National high School, St. John's Institute, Bacolod City National High School, UNO-R Recoletos, Castleson High, Don Bosco Technical Institute, Dona Montserrat Lopez Memorial High School, Southland College, Maranatha Christian College, and Rafael B. Lacson Memorial High School.
In the elementary category for Negros Occidental, Crispino V. Ramos Elementary School in Bacolod City have a total of six qualifiers which will compete with students from Silay South Elementary School, Trinity Christian School, Bacolod Tay Tung High School, Talisay South Elementary School, STI West Negros University, Nazareth Institute, University of St. La Salle Integrated School, Eliakim, La Consolacion Bacolod Integrated School, Holy Family School in Sagay, and Calvary Baptist Academy of Pontevedra Inc.
In Negros Oriental, 12 students from Foundation Preparatory Academy in Dumaguete has the most number of qualifiers followed closely by Bais City National School-Special Program with 10 students qualifying while the rest came from Negros Oriental High School, Dauin National High School, Pacuan National High School of La Libertad, Guighulngan National High School, and Sta. Agueda National High School while those in the elementary category will be representing Silliman University Elementary School, St. Paul University, Foundation Preparatory Academy, Bais City Pilot School and ABC Learning Center in Bais City.
The contestants will be informed through email by the organizers or they may look up their names at the VMC Art page on Facebook for confirmation. (PR)