LCC, USLS-IS Dominate 8th VMC Interschool Art Contest

Victorias Milling Company, Inc. (VMC) has once again revived its well-attended art competition in the province in search of promising young artists. Dubbed the 8th VMC Interschool Art Contest, the event drew in elementary and high school registrants from all over Negros Occidental. In the end, students of La Consolacion College-Bacolod (HS) and USLS-IS (Elementary) bagged the championship trophies. The awarding ceremony was held on November 25, 2023, at the Grand Pavilion of Acacia Hotel Bacolod.

The 8th VMC Interschool Art Contest

Pre-pandemic, the last VMC Interschool Art Contest was held in 2019 with a much larger group, as the contest was opened to schools from both Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

As we are still gathering our bearings, VMC Corporate Communications Director Anne Tiongco said that this year, they confined the art competition to Negros Occidental. This is also due to health concerns that might arise from the pandemic.

But despite that, more than 130 hopeful young artists sent in their possible entries so, “We are very happy with the turnout,” Tiongco adds.

VMC and the VMC Foundation remain committed to promoting the artistic and cultural development of the youth through this annual Interschool Art Contest. “Arts and culture are at the core of our projects because situated in the VMC compound is one of the most treasured cultural properties in the country — the St. Joseph the Worker Chapel. This drives our pursuit of art and cultural excellence in the region, recognizing the role that the arts can play in defining our identity as a nation,” said Engr. Linley A. Retirado, VMC President.

My Role in Society

The theme of the 8th VMC Interschool Art Competition is “My Role in Society.”

Tiongco said that “this year’s theme aims to drive the value of growth and development among our youth and what they think their role should be in their community, our society, and in nation-building in general. We hope that through this exercise, our youth may realize that each one of them is important, needed, and has value in the formation of a progressive and inclusive society.”

No other competition in the Philippines offers such an opportunity to the young in the field of visual arts. Semi-finalists got to join art workshops with known Bacolod artists. Meanwhile, all the art supplies used in the competition were provided by VMC. All these student artists needed to bring was their message and their creativity.

• Related: Bacolod Master Artist RODNEY MARTINEZ Shares Art, Passion, and Life

Winners of the 8th VMC Interschool Art Competition

Last Saturday, 62 of the semi-finalists interpreted their message in the on-the-spot painting session at the Grand Pavillion of the Acacia Hotel. In the afternoon, the top 5 finalists per level were announced. The Grand Awarding Ceremony was held subsequently with the winners revealed during a program held over dinner.

Here is the complete list of winners of the 8th VMC Interschool Art Competition held in Bacolod City.

Elementary Level

• Champion: Kris Edward Belaguas, USLS-IS
• 1st Runner-Up: Heart Sta. Maria
• 2nd Runner-Up: Zhyenaiah Tonogbanua
• Consolation Prizes: Sophia Emerald Caminong and Sheena Rain Reyes

High School

• Champion: Jhodie May Salomon, LCC-Bacolod
• 1st Runner-Up: Stephen Jay Gallano
• 2nd Runner-Up: Erin Ysabelle Dosayle
• Consolation Prize: Adrian Andrade and Bear Jay Bermeo

The high school winners received P30,000, P20,000, P15,000, and consolation prizes of P5,000 each. Meanwhile, the elementary winners received P30,000, P20,000, P10,000, and consolation prizes of P2,500 each. Each of the champion schools also received a 43″ LED TV from VMC.

More Than Just a Contest

One of the thrusts of VMC and the VMC Foundation through its various programs is to promote Youth
Development. Engr. Retirado said that VMC is “providing educational scholarships through the Miguel Ossorio Scholarship Grant, augmenting schools and students educational needs through the Brigada Eskwela, fostering cultural awareness and expression through the arts.”

He added, “Through this annual Interschool Art Contest, we believe that engaging the youth in arts at an early age helps develop their creativity, identity, culture and imagination. This also impacts positively on their confidence, selfesteem, personal, social, emotional development and behavioral health.”