Top 30 Entries in DPC-PLDT Visual Arts Competition on Exhibit Prior to Awards

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Thirty entries from all over the Philippines were chosen out of 87 art works submitted for the 31st edition of the DPC-PLDT Visual Arts Competition (VAC31) which challenged fine arts students nationwide to interpret the theme “Habang May Buhay, May Pag-asa”.

The finalist entries consisted of realistic, abstract and graphic paintings that depict how Filipinos look at life, what they value and how they remain cheerful and hopeful in spite of adversities that they face.

Prior to the final judging and the awards night scheduled on March 23, 2017, the finalist entries will be displayed in an exhibit at Pasilyo Vicente Manansala at the Cultural Center of the Philippines from March 18 to 23. The exhibit is open to the public and admission is free.

The top three winners will have their works on the covers of the Philippine Long Distance Company’s telephone directories for 2017-18, both for the DPC (Yellow Pages) and the PLDT (White Pages). The first place winner will also receive P100,000 in cash and the VAC31 Grand Prize Trophy, plus a P40,000 donation to his/her school’s fine arts program. Second and Third Prize winners will receive P75,000 and P60,000 in cash, respectively, trophies, plus corresponding donations to their respective schools.

67th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards Issues Call for Entries

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc. has announced its call for entries to the 67th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. This year’s competition is also accepting submissions to the Novel and Nobela categories, which are offered only every two years.

Established in 1950 in honor of Don Carlos Palanca Sr., the Palanca Awards aims to continue developing Philippine literature by providing incentives to writers and serve as a repository of our literary treasures for generations to come.

The regular categories for this year are as follows:

· Novel and Nobela categories

· English Division – Short Story, Short Story for Children, Essay, Poetry, Poetry Written for Children, One-act Play, and Full-length Play;

· Filipino Division – Maikling Kuwento, Maikling Kuwentong Pambata, Sanaysay, Tula, Tulang Para sa mga Bata, Dulang May Isang Yugto, Dulang Ganap ang Haba, and Dulang Pampelikula;

· Regional Languages Division – Short Story-Cebuano, Short Story-Hiligaynon, and Short Story-Ilokano.


Young writers below 18 years old may also begin crafting their entries to the Kabataan Division with the theme “How can the youth contribute to building interest in Philippine culture and literature?” (Kabataan Essay) and “Paano makaaambag ang mga kabataan sa pagsulong ng interes sa kultura at panitikang Pilipino?” (Kabataan Sanaysay).

The contest is open to all Filipino or former Filipino citizens of all ages, except current directors, officers, and employees of the Palanca Foundation. Published/produced works, which were first published or first produced between 01 May 2016 to 30 April 2017, and/or unpublished/unproduced works may be entered in the contest. Contestants may submit only one entry per category. The deadline of submission is on April 30, 2017.

For official contest rules and forms, visit the Palanca Foundation offices at Unit 603, 6th Floor Park Trade Centre Bldg., 1716 Investment Drive, Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City or at Unit 3G, OPL Bldg., 100 C. Palanca St., Legaspi Village, Makati City, or download from the CPMA website.

Winners will be awarded at a special ceremony to be held on September 1, 2017. For inquiries and other concerns, participants may contact the CPMA Administrator Ms. Leslie Layoso through email at cpawards@palancaawards.com.ph or at (632) 511-0003 / +639108878552.

Hontiveros Hits TESDA Chief for Sexist Remark

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director-General Guiling Mamondiong earned the ire of Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday for saying that women “don’t have time anymore for their spouses because they are powerful”. The TESDA chief made the remark to media while commenting on overseas Filipino workers’ plight abroad.

“We are not your servants”, Hontiveros declared. “On behalf of Filipino women, especially those who work abroad, I’d like to remind the Director-General that our empowerment does not come at men’s expense," she furthered.

Hontiveros, who is also the Chair of the Senate Committee on Women, said that Mamondiong may have an outdated view of women and gender-relations.

“I respectfully ask the Director-General to clarify his remark and his views on women. It is not within men’s rights to dictate what role women should play whether it is at home or work," Hontiveros said.

The senator also pointed out the irony of Mamondiong's remark that was made while the country celebrates Women's Month. “It seems that we still have a long way to go, not only in educating our people but also our public officials on gender sensitivity and equality”, she said.

“The TESDA chief's sexist outlook reinforces societal structures that deny women our rights and the implementation of policies that are oppressive to us," Hontiveros said.