PFifteen talented Filipino artists from across the country were honored at the 58th Shell National Students Art Competition (NSAC) Awarding Ceremony, held at the Ayala Museum in Makati. This year, the competition received 2,200 entries from across the Philippines, all responding to the theme “ALAB”, which celebrates the passion and creative drive of emerging Filipino artists.

“We at Ayala Foundation are proud to partner with Shell NSAC in nurturing the next generation of Filipino artists, their passion and vision give life to the future of our culture,” said Jorell Legaspi, Senior Director for Arts & Culture, Ayala Foundation, Incorporated.

Celebrating “ALAB”: Fiery Creativity Across Art Forms

With the theme “ALAB,” the 58th Shell NSAC symbolizes the passion, hope, and purpose that drive today’s young artists. It reflects the fire that fuels their creativity and the stories behind their inspiration. Through their works, these individual flames come together to celebrate Filipino ingenuity and illuminate a shared vision for a brighter, more progressive Philippines.

The 58th Shell NSAC brought together a distinguished panel of judges across all categories. Watercolor was evaluated by Renato Habulan, Nemi Miranda, and Thomas Daquioag; Digital Fine Arts by Jose Tence Ruiz, Ross Capili, and Pablo Biglang-Awa Jr.; Photography by Edwin Tuyay, Luis Martinez, and Wig Tysmans; and Sculpture by Paul Albert Quiaño, Salvador Alonday, and Ram Mallari Jr. Meanwhile, Raul Isidro, Raul Lebajo, and Nestor Olarte Vinluan assessed the Oil/Acrylic entries. Each panel carefully reviewed the works, weighing creativity, technique, and how well each piece captured the spirit of ALAB.

“We all carry that moment when an inner voice tells us we have something to share with the world. But ALAB is more than passion—passion fades. ALAB is purpose. It is when your art becomes testimony, when every line, frame, and gesture speaks to something bigger than yourself. In that moment, you are not just creating art; you are shaping culture,” said Abdulmari “Toym” D. Imao Jr., Filipino visual artist and newly elected Dean of the UP Diliman College of Fine Arts.