Art Festival launches nationwide mural campaign on West Philippine Sea

 

(Photo courtesy: West Philippine Sea Facebook page)

By Jerome Carlo Paunan 

MANILA (PIA) — A nationwide public art initiative will launch Tuesday seeking to raise awareness about the West Philippine Sea through murals celebrating Filipino fisherfolk and the region’s ecological importance.

The WPS Mural Festival 2026 grand launch and community night will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Shangri-La The Fort’s Narra Ballroom on the fourth floor, 30th Street corner 15th Avenue in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

Speakers include Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela, retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, artist AG Saño, actress Mae Paner and filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama, along with other partners and WPS advocates.

Under the theme “Karagatan. Kalayaan. Kulayan,” the festival calls on Filipino artists and communities to use public art to narrate stories about Filipino fisherfolk and transform common spaces into canvases advocating for preserving the nation’s maritime future.

Renowned Filipino artist AG Saño serves as festival director for the initiative, which organizers envision as a “creative civilian mission” empowering local art guilds to tell stories celebrating the resilience of coastal communities and the deep-rooted maritime heritage of Filipinos.

Unlike traditional art competitions, the festival features a unique nationwide selection process. 

A national jury, in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, will select 100 winning mural designs from across the country.

Each of the 100 winners will receive a P30,000 cash prize recognizing artistic excellence and contribution to enhancing public spaces. 

Selected works will then become eligible for major awards, including a P1-million grand prize and various special and sponsorship awards.

The festival is open to individual artists, artist collectives, student groups and community-based organizations. Organizers emphasized the importance of local government support in bringing visual narratives to life.

Murals may tell stories about Filipino identity, marine and coastal life, environmental conservation, peace and hope for future generations.

“Let us come together to protect our seas — not only through policy and diplomacy, but also through artistic expressions,” organizers said.

Those interested can contact Katrina Tiu at +639624758251 for more information or to RSVP for the launch event. (JCO/PIA-NCR)