The UST Museum held its annual interschool On-the-Spot Painting Contest (OTSPC) with the theme ‘Art Uncompromised by AI’ on February 21, 2025. Competitors worked on their pieces at the Benavides Garden, while the awarding was held at the Plaza Mayor.
Mark Tuason of Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST), who was also the 2024 champion, claimed first place, while Vince Oliver Antonio of the University of the East and Honey Grace Fabon of EARIST won second and third place.
Joseph Domasian of the Technological University of the Philippines, Emily Anne Tungol of Bulacan State University, and Piolo Andre Cruz of Mapua University, earned honorable mentions.
Winning artists received Php 50,000 for first place, Php 40,000 for second place, Php 30,000 for third place, and Php 10,000 each for the honorable mentions.
UST Museum Director Rev. Fr. Isidro C. Abaño, O.P., Fundacion Sansó Director Ricky Francisco, art collector Ron L. David, Interior Designer Flora M. Urquico, and CFAD alumnus and contemporary painter Ivan Roxas served as the judges.
Founded by the former UST Rector Fr. Silvestre Sancho, O.P., in 1941, UST’s OTSPC is the oldest competition of its kind in the country and has elevated many big names in Philippine art, such as Fernando Amorsolo, Vicente Manansala, Carlos “Botong” Francisco and Galo Ocampo, whose works can also be seen in the UST Museum. Some student winners in its more recent competitions are now celebrated names in the contemporary art scene, among them, Ronald Ventura, Mark Salvatus, Alfred Esquillo, and Raffy Napay.
