BY GEORGE NAVA TRUE II
IMAGINE a future where skyscrapers shoot up from a vast jungle. The people living there are healthy and are not bothered by pollution or disease. They are one with nature and live life to the fullest.
That’s the grand vision of a healthy future that was recently brought to life by three third-year iACADEMY animation students. For their inspiring work, the three were named as the 1st Runner-Up in the digital art category of European Union (EU) Whiz: Filipino Youth of the fEUture Competition 2021.
“Colors of Nature” was made by students Nicole Anna Argañosa, Elisha Gabrielle Briones, and Mesfin Bram Diosina. They won against 179 entries in the Digital Art Competition with the theme “Green Eco I See”.
Peaceful coexistence
The three showed a future filled with skyscrapers set against a lush green jungle. It depicted the coexistence of green economies powered by nature and technological innovation.
“We look forward to a future where we can protect our environment as we move towards technological and industrial development. We hope neglect for nature would be a thing in the past. Like the people in our entry, we carry the task of ensuring that such a future becomes a reality,” the group said.
Romuald Titus Romero, the group’s mentor and iACADEMY professor, revealed that the winning students accepted the challenge of creating their inspiring work despite working on their thesis and other school requirements.
Unwavering spirit
“I was a witness to their unwavering spirit. As their professor, I am proud to see that iACADEMY has nurtured them and given them the heart and courage to rise to the challenges presented to them. That, for me, is the essence of being a game-changer,” Romero said.
EU Whiz is the annual inter-collegiate competition hosted by the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines. The competition is open to Filipino students currently enrolled in local universities for Academic Year 2021.
It aims to encourage the youth to express themselves in various ways so they can make positive changes to the world. It also hopes to raise awareness and promote a better understanding of subjects that focus on the shared values of the EU and the Philippines such as development, green economy, and sustainability.
Watch the highlights of the awarding ceremony at https://euwhizfyf2021.engage.eu/.
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National Press Club and Philippine Dental Association awardee George N. True II has written two bestsellers based on his popular column which has been running for almost 40 years. For questions about health, email georgenavatrue@yahoo.com./PN
