The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has raised its cash prizes for grand winners and finalists of its 1st National Art Competition to P200,000and P75, 000 for the professional and amateur categories, respectively.
Pagcor Assistant Vice President for Corporate Communications Maricar Bautista said the state-run gaming firm decided to increase the prizes in the contest “due to the overwhelming influx of interested participants.”
“We did not expect that we will be flooded with a lot of good feedback about the contest. Even seasoned artists have lauded this initiative and have expressed their intention to participate in our project,” Bautista said in a statement on Thursday.
“In order to encourage more deserving participants and discover the best artwork which we can showcase in our promotional collaterals, we decided to increase the prize for the winners in both the professional and amateur categories,” Bautista added.
Bautista said each of the three grand winners for the professional category will now receive P200,000 plus trophy while each of the three winners for the amateur category will be receive P75,000 plus trophy.
The professional category is for individuals who have mounted a solo painting exhibit in a recognized art venue or art gallery but they must submit proof that they have already mounted a painting exhibit.
The amateur category, on the other hand, is for individuals who are at least 12 years old and have no experience in mounting a solo painting exhibit.
Apart from the bigger cash prizes for the grand winners, the finalists in the two categories will also receive bigger consolation prizes.
“From P5,000 cash prize, the seven other finalists in the amateur category will each receive P10,000. Meanwhile, P20,000 each will be given to the grand finalists for professional category, instead of P10,000,” Bautista explained.
Bautista said all entries should be executed in full color using acrylic, oil, pastel and watercolor.
“Since PAGCOR shall have the exclusive ownership of all six grand prize winning entries for both professional and amateur categories, all entries to be submitted should not have been entered in any other art or design contest, and must have never been published commercially,” she said.
For its first National Art Completion , Pagcor decided to adopt the government’s tourism slogan “It’s more fun in the Philippines” as the contest’s central theme.
“Through this Art Competition, we intend to tap professional and budding painters in coming out with beautiful pieces of artworks that will truthfully depict the colorful culture and undeniable beauty of the Philippines, the famed warmth and hospitality of its people, and the diverse activities that could be experienced in the country which will truly make one’s visit to the Philippines more fun and memorable,” Bautista further explained
Pagcor said it will start accepting entries from June 11 to 15, 2012. Entry forms, it said, are available in all Casino Filipino branches nationwide and may also be downloaded from www.pagcor.ph.