58th Shell NSAC embodies the ALAB of Philippine art
The fifteen winners of the 58th Shell National Students Art Competition (NSAC), representing five categories, received cash prizes, limited-edition Shell shirts and jackets, certificates, and specially designed trophies.
Photo by Amelia Clarissa de Luna Monasterial for Daily Tribune.
Shell Philippines honoured the country’s emerging young artists on 05 December 2025 as it staged the 58th Shell National Students Art Competition (NSAC) awarding ceremony at the Ayala Museum in Makati City. The event celebrated student creativity under this year’s theme, “ALAB”, a call to recognise the passion, hope, and purpose fuelling the next generation of Filipino artists.
A legacy shaping Philippine art
First launched in 1951, the Shell NSAC remains the Philippines’ longest-running student art competition. For more than seven decades, it has provided young Filipino artists with a national platform to share their ideas and contribute to the country’s cultural landscape. Its long history includes nurturing some of the nation’s most celebrated names, among them National Artists Jose Joya, Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Ang Kiukok, and Benedicto “Bencab” Cabrera, as well as contemporary figures such as Ronald Ventura and Leeroy New.
This year, the competition logged 2,232 student registrations from 172 schools nationwide — a strong testament to its continued relevance in Philippine arts education. Beyond awarding prizes, the NSAC supports participants through exhibitions, institutional partnerships, mentorship opportunities, and scholarships that help young artists develop their craft and enter wider creative networks.
The 58th Shell NSAC Awarding Ceremony at the Ayala Museum brought together student artists, their families, partners, media, and established practitioners for an evening celebrating young Filipino talent.
Photo by Amelia Clarissa de Luna Monasterial for Daily Tribune.
A night of performances and reflection
The ceremony opened with a welcome message from Jorell Legaspi, Senior Director for Arts and Culture of the Ayala Foundation Inc. He spoke about the museum’s commitment to promoting young Filipino talent, noting that its partnership with Shell provides artists with opportunities that extend beyond the competition. Student artists enjoy linkages to institutions, professional development, and broader cultural engagement.
The evening then shifted to a vibrant performance by Move to the Groove, a dance troupe from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Their piece fused Filipino traditional clothing and indigenous musical elements with contemporary hip-hop, mirroring the energy and meaning behind the theme “ALAB”. Their fiery, rhythmic presentation set the tone for a night devoted to artistic passion.
