My SHIRT Story

How my simple aspiration became someone's inspiration.

I've been drawing ever since I can remember: started at the age of 3 or 4 and joined my first art contest and won it at the age of 5. Since then, I've set my mind on taking up fine arts in college but while working my way through grade school, I became active in art contests in and out of school.

Most memorable were winning the VITA (famous soy-based drink in the 80s) drawing contest at the age of 8 (as representative of Stella Maris College) and was interviewed on TV at The Children's Hour show hosted by June Keithley (wife to broadcaster Angelo Castro and mother to former teen actor Diego Castro) and winning the Easter Sunday art contest at the former Philippine Plaza hotel (now known as Sofitel) and using the prize gift certificate for my first taste of hotel dining. In school, I also became a young entrepreneur and started selling my drawings (of various anime and super hero characters) to classmates.

My Shirt.

Then one day, while shopping with mom at a bazaar, I found this gray shirt with royal blue piping bearing the word 'ARTISTIC' smack in the center. Hey! Is this serendipity or what? So I grabbed it from the clothes rack and asked my mom to buy it for me. I wore it to school programs, especially on Career Week, and also on weekends when we go to church and then to the mall. I felt so good wearing it, proud even, as the shirt "announced" to everyone that I am 'artistic.'

The framed magazine feature and my 'ARTISTIC' shirt.

Then came the opportunity for more "public exposure" when I was tapped to be featured on the "Junior MOD" section of then famous women's magazine MOD at the age of 12. I was asked to prepare several outfits for the pictorial but I really chose to wear my fave 'artistic' shirt over a crisp white polo shirt and jeans. I don't have the actual photo taken by the magazine photographer but I was able to save the actual magazine page, which is proudly display at home in a simple frame.

Apart from my artistic ventures, I was a diligent honor student who tried to be every one's friend. I really didn't think that my creativity made a huge impact in school apart from being in charge of classroom and stage decorations, and winning art contests. This continued well into college where I took fine arts and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts, major in Advertising Arts. I started my career as a graphic artist but climbed my way up into the world of marketing communications. Nowadays, I no longer do the creative stuff for work but in my personal time, I use my artistic juices in creating fashion accessories that I sell online and in bazaars.

It was only recently, maybe a year ago, when I joined some former high school classmates for dinner and found out that my artistry made a real impact to one of them. She told me that I inspired her to be more creative and she even chose to become a graphic artist herself. That revelation just blew me away. I mean, I am just a simple person compared to others, and yet I was able to inspire another person in my own little way.

Me and my souvenirs from a not-so distant past.

When I learned about the MY SHIRT STORY blogging contest, only one shirt popped out of my mind -- the only one I've kept all these years even if I couldn't wear it anymore -- my 'ARTISTIC' shirt. I love this shirt! Now I want someone else to love it, too! I support the Electrolux Wash-athon Clothes Donation Advocacy.

Meet the New Green Lantern Recruits

I announced the Green Lantern Contest of the BusinessWorld Student Forum here in my blog (click here) and now that the promo has ended, here are the winners:

WINNER of 2 GREEN LANTERN TICKETS and loot bag:

Paolo Maravilla - Quezon City Polytechnic College

WINNERS OF GREEN LANTERN loot bags:

Jibreel Sabtal - Asia Pacific College

Amiel Santos - Marikina Polytechnic College

Ayla Reyes - UP Diliman

Adrian Reyes - UST

Michael Santos - Novaliches High School

Mark Lexter Ramirez - PUP

Allan Dejino - Batangas State University

Congratulations to all the winners. You may claim your prizes anytime from July 4 - 29, 2011 at the BusinessWorld Publishing Corporation Marketing Department, 95 Balete Drive Extension, New Manila, QC. Look for Omar Itay. Call 5359901 local 826 or email omar@bworld.com.ph.

To see their entries, visit the BusinessWorld Student Forum Facebook Page here.

Rizal @150: Jose Rizal Stamp Design Contest & Exhibition

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines, in partnership with the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) conducted the 150th Birth Anniversary of Jose Rizal Stamp Design Contest, a contest created to celebrate the sesquicentennial birth anniversary of Philippines’ national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal on June 19, 2011. It aimed to promote awareness of the life, ideals and greatness of Rizal and his contribution to Philippine history.

Far Eastern University’s Fine Arts students Marc Aran C. Reyes, Deanne Fernandez and Lex Kempho Y. Lacar were named winners in the college category. Heinritzh Sales and Ramon Vismonte of Team Manila won in the open category. Fernandez's and Reyes' output will appear as a stamp, while Lacar's piece will be featured in the First Day Cover Envelope that will be issued on June 19, 2011.

STUDENT CATEGORY

Deanne Fernandez' (FEU) Entry

The Noli me tangere symbolizes Rizal’s writing that has inspired Filipinos and awakened their nationalistic consciousness. The oil lamp stands for enlightenment and reason which was Rizal’s advocacy in attaining freedom. His face takes center stage as he is the most important part of the design.

Marc Aran Reyes' (FEU) Entry

The artist wanted to show Rizal standing with a dove beside him symbolizing Rizal’s aspiration for freedom. The Philippines, like a dove, is meant to be free from all kinds of oppression. Also depicted is the cover of the Noli me tangere, one of Rizal’s greatest novels. He also included the elements of the flag: the stars and the rising sun, symbolizing hope and bright future.

Lex Kempo Lacar's (FEU) Entry

To show how Rizal became a pillar of the nation, there is a depiction of the colors and elements of the National flag (blue, red, three stars and a sun). The sun also symbolizes Rizal’s peaceful quest for freedom.

OPEN CATEGORY

Heinritzh Sales' (Team Manila) Entry

The aim of the faceless profile is for us to reflect who Rizal really is and what he has done to our country. The red color symbolizes the courage demonstrated by Rizal in writing his two books which stirred the nationalistic revolution of his country. The white border represents our former colonial master, Spain. It also represents the theme, Rizal: Haligi ng Bayan. Rizal is placed partially outside the border, symbolizing his contribution in leading his country to independence. The same is applied in the figure 150, wherein it is partially out of the picture, symbolizing our gratefulness and celebration of his life for years to come.

Ramon Vismonte's (Team Manila) Entry

The design is rendered in monochromatic blue which symbolizes Jose as an advocate of reforms through peaceful and diplomatic means. The solid block at the left stands for the theme, Rizal: Haligi ng Bayan. It also signifies darkness and uncertainties. However, the sun at the background is for hope; suggesting to us to stay strong and be inspired by the legacy of Jose Rizal. The three stars represent Faith, Science and Creativity; things the artist associated with Rizal. The artist believes that that will make our country great. The angle by which Rizal is portrayed, looking up, suggest the feeling of being proud and hopeful for our country. The artist wants to convey the same message to his countrymen, at the same time, to be grateful and learn from the past.

The winning works of the students, a representation of the interpretations of their perceptions of Rizal and his significance in Philippine history, were used in a Special Limited Stamp Issue from Philpost, in commemoration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Jose Rizal. The students were also awarded Certificates of Participation and Tokens of Recognition.

The contest was participated by students, amateurs and professionals; Jeremy Barns, director of the National Museum, Dr. Ngo Tiong Tak from Philippine Postal Corporation, Danilo Pangan from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and Fidel Sarmiento from the Art Association of the Philippines served as judges.

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In line with the celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of our National Hero, Jose Rizal, the Philippine Postal Corporation is coming up with the Jose Rizal@150 stamps which will be issued on June 19, 2011. It is classified as a “Commemorative” kind of issue with a denomination of P 7.00 and a quantity of 70,000 pieces each for two se-tenant pairs. Also available is a souvenir sheet with a denomination of P 150.00 and a quantity of 6,000 pieces.

Philpost has an exhibit of stamps and other memorabilia dubbed as “ Rizaliana Collection on Stamps Exhibit by Jorge Cuyugan and Philatelic friends” which opened last June 13 at the lobby of the historic Manila Central Post Office Building in Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila. The exhibit will run until the end of June.

On display are complete sets of Rizal stamps issued by PhilPost including winning artworks of the Jose Rizal stamp design contest conducted by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). The exhibit also contains an almost complete collection of Rizalian stamps and other philatelic items limited to his self portrait, monuments and works from the very first issue of 1906 to the latest issues of Rizal stamps on June 19.

The exhibit will feature all original items never before featured or shown in any exhibits for viewers to fully appreciate. Visitors and students will also have the chance to view special related trivia’s, pictures and Rizalian collections.