By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
FOR THE first time, I had the privilege of being invited to an inter-school art contest hosted by the Lucio Tan-led Victorias Milling Company (VMC). The event was held at the Acacia Hotel’s Grand Ballroom in Bacolod City on November 25, 2023. This year marked the 8th annual VMC art competition.
Upon entering the contest and awarding hall, I was intrigued by the theme: “My Role in Society”. This seemed quite challenging, especially for the younger minds. The contestants, numbering 61, were from elementary and high schools. I pondered whether they could effectively interpret the theme’s essence.
However, I was pleasantly surprised. During a visit to the comfort room, I encountered Entry No. 22 in the high school category. Created by Steve John Gabana of Tiglawigan National High School in Cadiz City, the piece was striking. It portrayed an ordinary boy, reminiscent of my own childhood in the remote village of Cudangdang in EB Magalona town.
The painting featured a bust portrait of a poor boy, with a jagged line extending from his heart through his shoulders and ending at his head, transforming into a college graduate. This line, to me, symbolized the struggle and energy leading to future stability. Despite not winning a prize, the painting conveyed a deep message about perseverance and the journey to academic achievement.
For me, the artwork represented the flexibility required in the quest for a college diploma, starting with determination and enduring various challenges. The painting aptly depicted a young boy’s significant role in his society: initiating change and progress, beginning with personal development. I named this art piece “Nawong sang Handum” or “Face of an Ambition”.
STUPENDOUS IN ESSENCE
My salutation to VMC for endeavoring this kind of community work – an art contest. Might be boring for others, but stupendous in essence. This is simply an artistry of putting a certain “mission” on a canvass.
Hearing from both VMC’s President Linley Retirado and VMC Foundation and Corporate Communications Director Anne Tiongco that the very gist of their annual art contest is to promote artistic and cultural development of the youth, I can’t help but be awed.
What a mission!
But why?
Speaking of VMC, the quickest thing that will register to one’s mind is sugar.
So, what’s the relevance of sugar to art?
‘BORDERLESS’
Well, art is “borderless”. Art unites people…their dreams…their aspirations.
Yes, art could be harmless or harmful, too. But the bottom line is, art is an expression, especially in the midst diversification in all aspects.
Hard to interpret sometimes, but “superbly beautiful” to know the meaning of every piece.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
VMC’s art competition reflects the company’s humble beginnings. Before Lucio Tan’s acquisition, VMC, Asia’s premier sugar refinery in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, was owned by the Ossorios, a secretive billionaire family.
Among them was Alfonso Ossorio, a Filipino-American artist known for his “Angry Christ” mural in St. Joseph The Worker Church on the VMC grounds.
This mural, an example of abstract expressionism, attracts widespread attention.
Ossorio, along with international artists like Jackson Pollock, William Koonig, and Mark Rothko, contributed to this masterpiece. Today, the church is a destination for religious and spiritual tourism.
In sustaining such an art heritage, VMC’s inter-school art tilt thus born.
VMC per se wanted to discover and have the next “Alfonso Ossorio” among the GenZ (Generation Z). Therefore, providing an avenue for Negros’ budding artists, discovering more potential artists, honing them to become professional artists, transforming their lives 360 degrees via art pieces are just simple processes.
Combining them altogether, it becomes a tedious gigantic quest. VMC, however, is committed to (really) effecting various changes in society, and one of them is thru a sustained painting tilt.
Though not so “louder” or “loudest” in terms of publicity yet the number of “younger souls” craving for potent exposure via their painting masterpieces are continually growing anywhere.
Their passion in art is basically translated into a noteworthy mission (of VMC) carefully dipped and portrayed on a canvass.
What a brilliant and hailable concept, indeed!/PN
