58th Shell National Students Art Competition Crowns 15 Talented Filipino Artists

Fifteen talented Filipino artists from across the country were honored at the 58th Shell National Students Art Competition (NSAC) Awarding Ceremony, held at the Ayala Museum in Makati. This year, the competition received 2,200 entries from across the Philippines, all responding to the theme “ALAB”, which celebrates the passion and creative drive of emerging Filipino artists.

“We at Ayala Foundation are proud to partner with Shell NSAC in nurturing the next generation of Filipino artists, their passion and vision give life to the future of our culture,” said Jorell Legaspi, Senior Director for Arts & Culture, Ayala Foundation, Incorporated.

Celebrating “ALAB”: Fiery Creativity Across Art Forms

With the theme “ALAB,” the 58th Shell NSAC symbolizes the passion, hope, and purpose that drive today’s young artists. It reflects the fire that fuels their creativity and the stories behind their inspiration. Through their works, these individual flames come together to celebrate Filipino ingenuity and illuminate a shared vision for a brighter, more progressive Philippines.

The 58th Shell NSAC brought together a distinguished panel of judges across all categories. Watercolor was evaluated by Renato Habulan, Nemi Miranda, and Thomas Daquioag; Digital Fine Arts by Jose Tence Ruiz, Ross Capili, and Pablo Biglang-Awa Jr.; Photography by Edwin Tuyay, Luis Martinez, and Wig Tysmans; and Sculpture by Paul Albert Quiaño, Salvador Alonday, and Ram Mallari Jr. Meanwhile, Raul Isidro, Raul Lebajo, and Nestor Olarte Vinluan assessed the Oil/Acrylic entries. Each panel carefully reviewed the works, weighing creativity, technique, and how well each piece captured the spirit of ALAB.

“We all carry that moment when an inner voice tells us we have something to share with the world. But ALAB is more than passion—passion fades. ALAB is purpose. It is when your art becomes testimony, when every line, frame, and gesture speaks to something bigger than yourself. In that moment, you are not just creating art; you are shaping culture,” said Abdulmari “Toym” D. Imao Jr., Filipino visual artist and newly elected Dean of the UP Diliman College of Fine Arts.

58th Shell NSAC Winners

Watercolor Category

The first-place winner in the Watercolor category is “Odyssey of the Scrap Mariner” by Jonnas Almazar of Bataan Peninsula State University. The artwork shows how a child’s simple scrap-made toy boat becomes a grand vessel through imagination.

The second-place award goes to “Two-Big” by Irish Fernandez of Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College – Main Campus. The piece features a figure in a yellow garment, symbolizing light, hope, and the pursuit of future success.

The third-place winner is “Kinsesas” by Keth Byonnsey Estilo of Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology. The painting highlights a father who works as a welder, with the sparks representing his love and dreams for his daughters’ future.

Digital Fine Arts

The first-place winner in Digital Fine Arts is “Sagwan Math-tatag!” by Adam Martin De Leon of the University of the East – Caloocan. Inspired by his workplace, the piece reflects the country’s struggle with math proficiency and the hope to uplift future learners.

The second-place award goes to “This Flame Remembers Me” by Sofia Frances De Guzman of Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna. Her work portrays a personal reminder of motivation—a flame that represents passion, resilience, and the strength to return to one’s purpose.

The third-place winner is “Moving Stories” by Amos Ulang of the University of the Philippines – Diliman. The artwork draws from everyday commutes, capturing the nostalgia, shared culture, and simple moments that inspire his creative journey.

Photography

The first-place winner in the Photography category is “Alab: A Burning Vision of Hope” by Jerry Balanay of Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology. The photo captures an artist illuminated by candlelight, shaping hope and creativity in the darkness.

The second-place award goes to “Hangga’t May Liwanag” by Jason Mendoza of Sorsogon State University. Taken on a busy street in Gubat, the image highlights the persistent warmth and energy of everyday community life through a vibrant barbershop scene.

The third-place winner is “The Flame Within” by Shainne Maica Ayap of Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas. Set between shelves of books, the photo shows a young woman reading as golden light reflects onto her face, symbolizing an inner fire that fuels her passion.

Sculpture

The first-place winner in Sculpture is “Pinagtagping Piraso” by Ivan Joysen Del Rosario of Rizal Technological University. The piece portrays a grandmother with Alzheimer’s, stitching together fragments of memory as an act of love and quiet resistance against time.

The second-place award goes to “0.02g” by Jusun Joshua Estoce of the University of Santo Tomas. Centered on a Filipino farmer and a single grain of rice, the sculpture highlights the weight of agricultural injustice and the fragile livelihoods that depend on it.

The third-place winner is “Paglayag Tilupad” by Gian Paolo Marchadesch of the University of the Philippines – Diliman. Inspired by a child’s paper boat, the work reflects the fragile yet determined journeys of Filipinos whose dreams rise despite ongoing systemic challenges.

Oil/Acrylic

The first-place winner in the Oil/Acrylic category is “Usok na Nagiging Buhay” by Ruth Cenas of the University of the Philippines – Mindanao. The painting shows a young dreamer sketching by candlelight, where rising smoke forms the image of a painter, symbolizing the future she hopes to build. 

The second-place award goes to “Raniag ni Maskbayan (The Light of Futurity)” by Don Ace Rabbon of the University of Northern Philippines, depicting children shaped by family and community guidance as they grow into the next generation of leaders and bearers of light. 

The third-place winner is “The Flame Within” by Vilia Crestene Gelaga of Cebu Technological University – Argao Campus, a reflection of the artist’s younger self, carrying an inner spark of creativity and purpose, an ALAB that inspires her to create and dream.

Shell Continues to Inspire the Next Generation of Filipino Artists

For over 70 years, the Shell NSAC has stood as a tribute to the creativity and vision of the Filipino youth. More than a competition, it is a collaborative effort that unites communities and institutions in empowering young artists to imagine and shape a brighter future. Each year, the competition invites student creators to explore their craft and produce works that reflect the Philippines’ progress. Together, we help them dream boldly, create meaningfully, and inspire deeply, transforming Shell NSAC from a platform into a movement that ignites the future of Filipino art.

“As we celebrate our Shell NSAC artists, we encourage them to keep painting, designing, sculpting, and dreaming. Their craft is a contribution to our cultural identity and a beacon of hope for the future,” said Serge Bernal, Vice President for Corporate Relations at Shell Pilipinas Corporation.

For updates on the 58th Shell National Students Art Competition, including exhibit schedules, finalist announcements, and key events, follow Shell Pilipinas Corporation’s official website and social media channels.