HORDES OF ART FANS flocked to The Link in Makati on February 17 to view works from various artists showcased at Art Fair 2017. On the top floor, known and young artists, art enthusiasts, and members of the media gathered to celebrate this year’s winners of the Don Papa Art Competition.

Don Papa Rum, a small-batch rum from the island of Negros, has long supported local artists in their push to break into the international market through the Don Papa Art Competition.

Having received numerous international awards for its unique, bespoke packaging design since its 2012 launch, Don Papa recognizes a common thread between its own design aesthetic and the work of the Philippine artistic community — bold, complex, and multifaceted.

The event marked the culmination of the art competition. Twenty-two-year-old Henrielle Pagkaliwangan, whose piece “Field Notes for Papa Isio” (pen, ink, and watercolor on canvas) took the grand prize (featured photo). The youngest artist in this year’s competition, Henrielle graduated from the Philippine High School for the Arts in 2011 and graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Fine Arts, where she earned one of the Outstanding Thesis Awards that same year. She’s a resident artist at Tin-Aw Gallery, which traces its roots to the island of Negros.

Pagkaliwangan’s work consists of detailed ink drawings of various objects on paper, adopting the taxonomic format of natural history prints and illustrations. She uses illustration to frame material and visual culture through the grouping of objects, presenting order as a kind of visual language.

The artwork tells the story behind the Masskara festival, a symbol of Negros’ resilience and positive spirit during a time of crisis. That dark history behind the lively festival inspired the piece’s mix of contrasting yet coexisting elements: the inevitable symbiosis of sugarcane and pests, the rum barrels and glasses representing the production of succulent rum, the beautiful yet endangered species of Negros, and the ornate, smiling, mustached Masskaras (in honor of Negros’ unsung hero, Papa Isio) that conceal a difficult past.

First Runner Up is Dexter Sy of 1335 Mabini, who created “Papa Isio” in mixed media on canvas. A seasoned Filipino artist, Dexter has held various art expositions both in the Philippines and abroad.

His work depicts the story of Papa Isio and his heroism during the colonial struggle in the Philippines, imagining him as a “Christ” figure indigenized through a native loincloth printed with the Sacred Heart. Surrounding him are smaller figures and scenes juxtaposing indigenous peoples, icons and traditions, workers toiling in sugarcane plantations, and the fiestas that represent our Christianized culture.

Second Runner Up is John Paul Antido of Pinto Art Museum, with his piece “Journey to Paradise Island” in oil on canvas. John Paul, an award-winning artist from Antipolo City, has joined several art competitions and held various solo and group exhibitions in the Philippines and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. His work reflects the richness of character and culture found in Sugarlandia.

The People’s Choice award went to Ricky Ambagan of Gallery Anna for his acrylic-on-canvas piece “The Origin of the Black Gold,” a modern take on a local story about the search for “black gold” in Negros. Papa Isio, the hero of the story, is prominently featured alongside colorful imagery tied to him: his Ilonggo lineage, the hacienderos who owned the sugarcane plantations, and an ethereal Michelangelo looming over the painting, concocting your favorite divine cocktail. Old barrels and endemic Philippine animals round out the festive feel.

Brand Director Monica Llamas-Garcia said last year’s Art Canisters were released in the Philippines, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. “Art is the most tangible connection they have to the Philippine culture aside from our exotic and lush landscape. We are very happy with the response of the consumers and Don Papa lovers for the Art Competition and the Art Canister Series,” Monica said.

As grand prize winner, Pagkaliwangan’s winning artwork will serve as the visual basis for Don Papa Rum’s limited edition Art Canister Series, releasing in the Philippines and internationally for the 2017 Holidays.

Henrielle will also receive a four-week Artistic Sojourn in Florence, Italy, complete with airfare, accommodations, allowances, and an artistic immersion in key locations, courtesy of Bleeding Heart Rum Company, the makers of Don Papa Rum. Tin-Aw Gallery will also receive a round-trip ticket to Florence.

Don Papa Rum continues to support and empower Filipino artists through its art ambassadorship with the brand, both in the Philippines and abroad.