Two students from the College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA) landed as runners-up in the Vision Petron National Student Art Competition 2022 on April 28, 2023, as announced via Vision Petron’s Facebook page.
Shane Nicole De Leon, second-year Fine Arts student, and Francis Adrianne Bayudan, first-year Fine Arts student, are among the nine runners-up in the digital art and oil/acrylic painting categories.
De Leon and Bayudan are set to receive 30,000 pesos cash prize from Petron's art competition themed "Pangarap Para sa Kinabukasan."
Bayudan, with his acrylic on canvas entry titled “Liwanag ng Pag-asa," portrays an innocent child doing her craft in a dim place lit by a single candle.
“'Liwanag ng Pag-asa' – kahit na mag-isa ka sa buhay, meron pa ring pag-asa na nagbibigay sa atin ng gabay. Nakalagay po doon 'yung kandila na nagsisilbing gabay nung bata na magsumikap sa buhay kahit na madilim po 'yung paligid. Pangarap na para sa sarili at ang liwanag para sa kinabukasan," Bayudan said in an interview with the Office of Public Affairs.
Bayudan said he did not expect to be a runner-up since the size of the canvas he used is much smaller than those of the other contenders. He also said that he is a rookie and a first-timer in a national painting contest.
Meanwhile, De Leon's digital art entry, "Tomorrow's Dream Today," encourages viewers to embrace their dreams and work while heading toward a brighter tomorrow. The young woman with a determined expression depicted in her artwork represents the potential for change and progress in the future.
“'Yung young lady po sa gawa ko, parang siya po 'yung vision na nagkaroon na po ng progress sa side, unexpected," De Leon said.
Mr. Jessie Tadeo Jr., Fine Arts Department Chairperson, vouched for the student artists' talent and skills.
“Promising si Bayudan. First year pa lang siya [pero] ang expect namin ng coach nya, si Sir Judeo Herrera, mag-ga-grand prize sana, pero maliit 'yung entry niya. Kasi ang gusto ng Petron, every time na may nag-ga-grand [prize], isinasali sa calendar,” Mr. Tadeo Jr. said in an interview.
Mr. Tadeo said they continuously groom students to hone their skills and be more equipped in other national painting contests.
According to him, "the more entries and our number of winners, the higher the points to earn from Vision Petron" since Petron also awards computers, video cameras, printers, and other learning devices to the schools of the top winners.
Vision Petron was first organized in 2001. The competition aims to discover the works of talented young individuals in painting, photography, and other art forms.
Vision Petron also holds virtual workshops and masterclasses from professionals for students who are interested in improving their crafts and techniques in painting.
