The City of Cadiz in Negros Occidental has united 300 visual artists in the first Visayas-wide painting competition, themed “Pagsibol sa Kabihasnang Pamumuhay,” which celebrates Visayan life.
It was the first time Cadiz opened its doors to other artists in the Visayas since the city government-led competition started in 2019.
Cebu’s Jayson Droña bagged the grand prize for his masterpiece called “Mga Kamay ng Pag-asa” (Hands of Hope), highlighting the collective strength and shared aspirations of Visayan communities.
Droña’s winning artwork, painted in oil on a 26 x 32-inch canvas, earned him a cash prize of P200,000 and a trophy.
His painting reflects a powerful commentary on the importance of solidarity in the face of challenges, featuring hands from diverse backgrounds holding symbols of hope.
It featured images representing Cebu’s Sto. Niño and rosary, Bacolod’s MassKara Festival, Bohol’s coconut shell cup, Cadiz’s dried fish, Iloilo’s hablon fabric, Capiz’s shell, Ormoc’s pineapple, Southern Samar’s fish trap and Northern Samar’s tuba (coconut wine).
Droña, a licensed mechanical engineer from Danao City, said the hands in his painting symbolize every individual’s role in building a better tomorrow, adding that it is “a call to action, reminding us that even in times of hardship, hope thrives when we come together.”
“The hands that hold our culture and heritage showcase steadfast faith, bountiful harvests, colorful traditions, creativity and diligence, the elements that bring light and hope to our lives,” he added.
The art contest, with the theme loosely translated as “emergence of civilized life,” is one of the highlights of the Dinagsa Festival 2025.
This festival, which culminates the 50th anniversary of the northern Negros city’s version of the Ati-Atihan fiesta, will end Sunday.
Hondrey Debalucos, also of Cebu, placed second with P100,000; Paul Jhon Cabanalan of Iloilo, third place, P50,000; Matthew Henry Jusayan (Sagay City), fourth place, P40,000; and Marvin Lomosad (Siquijor), fifth place, P30,000.
The panel of judges included renowned artists Cid Reyes, Ron Lopez Davis, Dopy Doplon, Otto Neri, Aladin Antiqueño, Emmanuel Garibay and Isabel Diaz.
“It was not easy to gather them all, but we succeeded. Art unites us,” Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. said in a statement on Saturday, January 25. (PNA)