On-the-spot art tilt brings Ninoy Aquino closer to youth

The President’s sisters Viel Aquino-Dee and Ballsy Aquino-Cruz and Rev. Fr. Nino Mangussad pose with winners of the on-the-spot painting contest held to honor former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. KIMBERLY DELA CRUZ

His award-winning artwork may show a blurred image of former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. but 12-year-old Kim Alfred Saguimpa of Makabata School Foundation Inc. has a very clear idea of what the man was like.

“He was a good man. And the people cared for him,” Saguimpa told the Inquirer.

The boy, who lives in a depressed area in Barangay (village) Sta. Lucia, Pasig City, said he learned of Aquino’s heroism from his grandmother who closely followed the ex-senator’s life.

Saguimpa said his grandmother told him how much Aquino had sacrificed for the country.

For Isabella Tan, 15, a student of St. Jude Catholic School in Manila, the senator was a hero.

Which is why, she said, she thought of writing the word “Bayani” on an image she had drawn of him.

“He was a hero. And he died for our country,” she said.

Saguimpa and Tan were the grand prize winners in Categories A (6-12 years old) and B (13-16 years old), respectively, of the On-the-Spot Painting Contest held at Edsa Shrine in Mandaluyong City on Saturday.

The event was organized by the communication and education ministries of the Edsa Shrine Rector’s Council.

A participant in the art contest works on his “masterpiece.” KIMBERLY DELA CRUZ

Rev. Fr. Nilo Mangussad, Edsa Shrine rector, said they held the contest to inform the youth of what Aquino did for the country in time for his 30th death anniversary.

“[It’s sad that] many of the children nowadays don’t know who [Aquino] is anymore so we have to remind them,” he told the Inquirer.

He said a similar event that honored the slain father of President Aquino and other Edsa heroes was held last year.

There were a total of 51 participants in this year’s on-the-spot art contest: 30 in category A; and 21 in category B.

Maruxa Pita, founder of the Makabata School Foundation Inc. for poor children in Pasig City, said around 20 children were selected by their teachers to join the contest.

Other participants came from Tulay ng Kabataan, an organization that organizes outreach programs for street children in Manila; and schools in Metro Manila such as Montessori in Pasig and St. Jude Catholic School in Manila.

The participants were asked to paint their vision of the former senator on an 18×24 illustration board. Some made use of colored pencils, others markers and oil pastels.

After roughly an hour, the judges composed of President Aquino’s sister Ballsy Aquino, Mangussad and Edsa Shrine Vice Rector Rev. Fr. Benjo Fajota picked out three winners: a grand prize winner and two consolation prizes from each category.

The criteria for judging included composition and visual impact (40 percent); relevance to the theme (20 percent); technique (20 percent) and creativity (20 percent).

Apart from Saguimpa and Tan, the winners of consolation prizes were Rodney Fernandez, Jonjon Gozon and Jefferson Aquino from Makabata and Tulay ng Kabataan.

The winners in each category received a P2,000 cash prize, a trophy, a medal and a coffee table book while the consolation prize winners each received a P1,000 cash prize and a medal.

All the winning artwork will be displayed at the Ninoy Aquino Museum in Tarlac.

“I am truly thankful to Father (Mangussad) because he [reminds the youth] of the sacrifices of Ninoy Aquino,” Ballsy Aquino told the winners.