The 2014 Maningning Miclat Art Competition was a celebration not only of art and creativity but also of writer Mario Miclat’s 65th birthday.
Aside from the awarding of the art winner, the affair saw the launching of the festschrift in honor of Miclat, “Fairground: A Literary Feast.”
Mario is the father of poet and visual artist Maningning, who passed away at the tender age of 28. The Maningning Foundation was founded in 2001 in her honor to encourage creativity among the youth.
The awarding ceremony was held at the Art Circle Gallery in Shangri-La Plaza last Sept. 4.
For the biennial Maningning Miclat Art Competition (held alternately with a poetry competition), Niño Cubacub from the Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (Earist) was named the grand prize winner for his oil and acrylic painting, “Abstract Family.”
Jurors were artists Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, Danilo Dalena, and Nestor Vinluan.
In her citation, Cajipe-Endaya said that Cubacub’s work was very contemporary and was rendered with a fresh approach on the subject of ageing. She said that she liked the photographic rendition of the portraits that were blurred for contrast.
Cubacub received a trophy designed by sculptress Julie Lluch and cash prize of P28,000 sponsored by the Erehwon Center for the Arts.
Peter Buenavente’s acrylic painting, “With Pleasing Personality,” won second place. Fernando Antimano’s oil on canvas “Prisoner of War” was third.
Dalena noted that Buenavente’s painting was a “beautiful rendition of color” that you would not think that such work was perhaps just a result of luck. Meanwhile, Vinluan praised how Antimano had done the figures in his artwork in a rather disturbing manner.
The 10 shortlisted works were Andrew Tan’s “Soulmates;” Alfredo Martinez’s “Sagacious;” “Ruzzle Abella’s “Pangakong Pagkabigo;” Crispin Casuga’s “Malevolence;” Jhon Michael Macariola’s “Panibagong Sibol ng Kapayapaan at Pagkakaisa;” Carl Anthony Modelo’s Oras Katuwang ng Buhay;” Chrisanto Aquino’s “Binulabog na Pugad;” Greggy Rivera’s “Deathrow;” Renzo Guino’s “Panaginip ng Alikabok;” and Christina Pineda’s “Fishers of Men.”
Festschrift
Co-edited by Gémino Abad and Alma Cruz Miclat (mother of Maningning), “Fairground: A Literary Feast” is an anthology of poems, essays, monologues and stories by 40 of the best poets and writers in the country, such as National Artists for Literature F. Sionil Jose and Virgilio S. Almario.
Contributors inluded Marjorie Evasco, Jose Dalisay, Alfred Yuson, Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, Gémino H. Abad, Ricardo M. de Ungria, J. Neil Garcia, Teo Antonio, Marne Kilates, Rogelio and Fe Mangahas, Susan S. Lara, Ramon Sunico, Celina S. Cristobal, Mila Aguilar, Aida F. Santos, Delfin Tolentino, Frank G. Rivera, Sarge and Mookie Lacuesta, Rebecca Anonuevo, Michael Coroza, Alma Anonas Carpio, Mikael de Lara Co, Allan Pastrana, Jim Pascual Agustin, Mayo Martin, Edgar C. Samar, Joselito de los Reyes, Kristian Sendon Cordero, Nerisa del Carmen Guevara, Agnes Miclat Cacayan, Banaue Miclat Janssen, Maningning Miclat, Joel Toledo, J. Likha Yatco and Liza Magtoto.
