An architecture student from the La Consolacion College-Bacolod (LCC-B) was hailed champion in the first-ever province-wide Golden Dinagsa painting contest (Open Theme) in Cadiz City on January 20.
Therese Marie Ortaliz from the “City of Smiles” bested hundreds of entries that joined the competition.
Her art piece, depicting the life and struggles of hacienda workers highlighted by the sugarcanes and the precious carabao, got the grand prize of P100,000.
Silay City’s Vicky Gasper was named first runner-up with her art subjects- kids floricking on the beach -pocketing P50,000 in cash prize.
The “messy world” concept amid digital age of Allen Descalsota of Cadiz City was declared second runner-up. It made Descalsota P35,000 richer on that day.
Winning third and fourth runners-up were Cadiz’s Jonafer Chavez and Sagay’s Nestor Angelo Dequina, respectively.
Both Chavez’s “sweet date” of an illustrious couple and Dequina’s “complex dream” of a rural boy got the judges’ nod.
Chavez took home 25,000 while Dequina carted away P20,000 in prize money.
Meanwhile, composing the five finalists and winning P15,000 each included Psyche Amor Distor of Valladolid (Paligo sang mga Bata), Analyn Trespicio – La Castellana (The Shoeman), Jessa Marie Gustilo – La Castellana (Handum sang Kubos nga mga Bata), John Steve Gabana -Cadiz City ( Mga Manuglibod Isda) and John Ryan Locsin – Bacolod City (Teenage Boys).
Mayor Salvador Escalante,Jr. was overwhelmed by the throng of entries and the art pieces as well. Each painting piece, he said, tells an amazing story.
He said painting contest in Cadiz is now an “institution” being held twice every year – during Dinagsa Festival in January and Charter Day in July.
Gist of the contest, he stressed, is to give Cadiz artists or , this time, the Negros artists an avenue where they can express their passion and skills in art, particularly in painting.
Cadiz is the only local government unit in Negros Occidental that holds such an event with an immense mission of helping the local artists thrive amidst challenging times.
During COVID-19 pandemic, local artists were among those terribly affected, but Mayor Escalante gave them a breather – painting tilt and mall exhibit – silent yet both activities made them active and gave them an opportunity to balance both their physical and mental health.
What a “stupendous mission” that really made Mayor Escalante to earn great respect from the community of Negros artists.*
