t0701shell-art_feat11_1 — FIRST-PRIZE winners together with professors and judges Raul Isidro, Ramon Orlina and Nestor Vinluan. Taken during the awarding night ceremony of the 45th Shell National Students Art Competition held at AyalaMuseum last year

t0701shell-art_feat11_2 — BENEDICTO “BenCab” Cabrera, second place winner in the 12th Shell National Student Art Competition, went on to develop his figurative style in such works as “Boy Afraid of Tremors” (1992).

Every year, student artists look forward to the Shell National Student Art Competition, the decades-long annual contest for students sponsored by Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., a leading energy, gas and power company in the country.

This competition is a legacy project by Shell that encourages young Filipino students to hone their talent as visual artists. The company believes in the power of the youth in becoming productive citizens who would help in the development of the Philippines.

Its establishment in 1951 was timely because the Philippines was undergoing rehabilitation from the ravages of World War II, and the high hopes for the economy were matched by high hopes for a renaissance in arts and culture.

It became one of the top national contests for beginning artists at that time until it was silenced by martial law in 1972. After the Edsa Revolution in 1986, Shell revived it in 1989.

The beginning years of the competition started as a simple search for an artwork to grace the annual Shell company calendar. Eventually it extended to various categories. Now its categories include Oil/Acrylic Painting, Sculpture, Watercolor and Digital Art.

Winners and finalists get the bonus of being granted fellowships by Shell to join workshops facilitated by art masters, most of them past Shell winners. In this way, they get to better hone their craft.

t0701shell-art_feat11_4 — While still a student in 1953, noted Filipino watercolorist Angel Cacnio won the top prize in the 3rd Shell competition for his work “Tatlong Sabungero.”

The schools of Fine Arts where the winners are enrolled also get a faculty development grant so as to improve the quality of art education in Philippine academic institutions.

Through its Shell Art Interaction Program, the contest does not limit art education to universities and colleges, as it extends help to students in rural Philippines. Established artists, as well as past winners, are invited to teach art, conduct workshops and dialogue with students.

t0701shell-art_feat11_5 — NATIONAL Artist for Visual Arts Federico Aguilar Alcuaz’s “Barcelona” (1963) won first place in the Modern Art category.

For 46 years, the competition has been prominently discovering young visual artists who would eventually emerge as the finest artists of the Philippines. Past winners include National Artists for Visual Arts José Joya (1952); Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (1954); Ang Kiukok (1955); and Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera (1962).

Other winners are Angelito Antonio, Norma Belleza, Angel Cacnio, Danny Dalena, Junyee, Fred Liongoren, Juvenal Sansó and Nestor Vinluan.

Younger artists who have won the Shell award are Ronald Ventura, Rodel Tapaya, Hanna Pettyjohn, Maria Taniguchi, Andres Barroquinto, Ivan Roxas and Gino Bueza.