Filipino Student Awarded at the 20th International High School Arts Festival
7 August 2019 – A Certificate of Merit was awarded by the International Foundation for Arts and Culture and presented by the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo to Ms. Luce Melegrito of the Philippine High School for the Arts, for being selected as the Representative Artist of the Philippines during the awarding ceremony of the 20th International High School Arts Festival at The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo on 7 August 2019.
Ms. Melegrino’s acrylic painting, entitled “BahagHabi”, depicts the weaving tradition of her indigenous culture, symbolic of the cultural tapestry of the Filipino nation. Four other works by Filipino students were selected to be featured at the festival. These, along with over 500 works of art, are exhibited at the National Art Center, Tokyo from 7-18 August 2019.
“BahagHabi”, acrylic on canvas by Ms. Luce Melegrito exhibited at the National Art Center, Tokyo.
In her speech, Ms. Medrano shared how she was inspired by her family whose history was enriched by loomweaving. Through her work, she advocates unity in diversity, true to the title of her work, “BahagHabi”, which is a play on the Filipino words, “bahaghari” (rainbow) and “habi” (weave).
Ms. Medrano was one of the 19 foreign students from 19 countries honored during the ceremonies. She is a Grade 10 student at the Philippine High School for the Arts located in Los Baños, Laguna.
Other students from the Japanese high school category were also awarded for works in calligraphy and fine arts.
The 20th International High School Festival received a total of 11,243 entries from within Japan, and a total of 93 entries from around the world. END.
L-R: Consul Jan Kenneth Bolante and Ms. Luce Melegrito at the National Art Center, Tokyo
