Fine Arts Stude Bags National Art Tilt

A Fine Arts student of the University of Mindanao bagged the 3rd spot in Fernando Amorsolo Apprentice National Arts Competition last December 3 in Museum of the Filipino People in Luzon. Elben Mark Fernandez, was announced 2nd runner up in this year’s Fernando Amorsolo Mentor and Apprentice Arts Competition with his painting entitled Maintenance Gardener. The competition did not have a particular theme but required artists to paint a scene of everyday life.

“As I was riding near People’s Park, I saw this gardener faithfully cleaning up the park. He was cleaning the area near a bench in the park for almost three (3) hours. His dedication to his job inspired me to my piece,” Fernandez said when asked regarding his painting. Fernandez won the Mindanao leg of the event while his comrade grabbed the second spot in the Mindanao leg with his painting entitled Lady in Shawl.

Qric John Batilaran, also a BFA student of UM, is more than happy to be the 1st runner up while his good friend was announced the Champion of the Mindanao leg of the competition. “The awards are simply seasonings of the whole thing. They are just icing on the cake. What, truly, matter most is seeing the finished product… having to see the result of all our hard work,” Batilaran said about the feeling of being victorious.

The Mindanao leg of the competition was held last 8th of November at the SM Event Center. Prior the actual competition, there had been a pre-qualification stage wherein from the hundreds who entered the contest only six (6) art works were carried on to the actual judging. “Though only in its early years, our program in the University really helped us, actually every student in our program, into reaching our true potential. Our mentors are really academic and passionate with regards to what we do. We are happy to be here,” both agreed as we head towards the end of the interview.