
The Dinagsa Festival Visayas-Wide Painting Contest winners with Cebu’s Jayson Dron̈a, second from left, who was the grand winner.*Cadiz City Information Office photo
Cebu-based artist Jayson Droña’s “Mga Kamay ng Pag-asa” claimed the grand prize at the Dinagsa Festival 2025 Visayas-Wide Painting Competition held at the Cadiz Arena on Wednesday, January 22.
The theme of the art contest, held in Cadiz City for five years now, was “Pagsibol sa Kabihasnang Pamumuhay” (Visayan Life), a press release from Cadiz said.
Droña bested 299 other entries from across the Visayas.
More than just a work of art, Droña’s painting is a powerful commentary on the importance of solidarity in the face of challenges, the press release said.
It features hands from diverse backgrounds depicted in action: holding symbols of hope.
This visual representation highlights the collective strength and shared aspirations of the Visayan communities, the press release said.
Droña, a licensed mechanical engineer from Danao City, Cebu, explained that the hands in his painting symbolize every individual’s role in building a better tomorrow.
“It’s a call to action, reminding us that even in times of hardship, hope thrives when we come together,” he added.
“The hands that hold our culture and heritage showcase steadfast faith, bountiful harvests, colorful traditions, creativity, and diligence – the elements that bring light and hope to our lives”, Droña said.
The winning art piece incorporates images representing Cebu’s Sto. Niño and rosary, Bacolod’s MassKara Festival, Bohol’s coconut shell cup, Cadiz’s dried fish, Iloilo’s hablon fabric, Capiz’s shell, Ormoc’s pineapple, Southern Samar’s fish trap, and Northern Samar’s tuba (coconut wine).
Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. lauded the participants in the Visayas-wide painting contest – the first in Cadiz and on Negros Island.
“It was not easy to gather them in one sitting. Impossible to think, perhaps. But we did it. We succeeded. Really, there is magic in art. Art unites us,” Escalante said.
Droña was awarded a cash prize of P200,000 and a trophy, marking a significant milestone in his career as a full-time artist.
Other winners included Hondrey Debalucos (Cebu), who took second place and received P100,000; Paul Jhon Cabanalan (Iloilo), third place, P50,000; Matthew Henry Jusayan (Sagay), fourth place, P40,000; and Marvin Lomosad (Siquijor), fifth place, P30,000.
The judges included Cid Reyes, Ron Lopez David, Dopy Doplon, Otto Neri, Alladin Antiqueño, Emmanuel Garibay, and Isabel Diaz
As the Dinagsa Festival continues to highlight Cadiz City’s thriving culture, “Mga Kamay ng Pag-asa” serves as a reminder that art can transcend borders and speak to universal truths, the press release said.*
