National Digital Arts Awards 2017: Awards Launched in Baguio, Hoping To Get Northern Luzon Talents to Join the Competition

The organizers behind the National Digital Arts Awards, Brand Guerilla PH, held a press launch of the awards for Northern Luzon during PIA’s Kapihan sa Baguio October 18, in Calle Uno, Baguio City. The Baguio launch is the second of a series of regional launches for the awards, the first of which happened in Cebu a few weeks ago. Another launch will be happening in Davao City and the grand launch in Metro Manila on October 27.

Why launch in Baguio?

Nato Agbayani, founder of Brand Guerilla PH and national organizer of NDAA 2017, was asked why Baguio was chosen as one of the launch sites. His reply was simple and straightforward: there were many digital artists who hailed from Northern Luzon and because of this, it is a good place to launch the awards where talent is apparently present. According to him, there were many digital artists who were outsourcing their work abroad from the confines of their homes in urban and semi-urban areas of Northern Luzon.

NDAA: How It All Started

The awards started in 2012, with Frederick Alegre, formerly of Business Mirror and currently Assistant Secretary of Tourism, according to Agbayani. The first set of awards were given in 2013, and they were in two categories: print and motion graphics/animation. It was open to both students or amateurs and professionals.

The next set of awards were given in 2014 and 2015. The 2013, 2014 and 2015 awards each had 16 winners and had specific themes for the digital artwork submitted. The judges for each year’s competition hail from the top advertising firms in the country as well as digital arts experts.

NDAA 2017: #changeisherenow

The theme for the 2017 competition is Change is Here Now. Agbayani echoed this in his explanation, saying that digital arts is the “now,” because we are after all in the digital age. With technology as a tool, the creativity that is inherent in Filipinos can shine through all the more. He also mentioned that climate change will be a major theme in the competition.

He specifically called on the youth, students from senior high school to college, to join the national competition and have a chance to show off their talents. Aside from the print and motion graphics categories, this year’s awards will also have a digital gaming category, which will open up opportunities for would-be game developers from among the students.

Maribel Morales, project manager of Brand Guerilla PH for Northern Luzon, revealed that they have gotten initial commitments from Saint Louis University, University of Baguio, Baguio City National High School and Cordillera School for Digital Arts to participate in the competition. She expects more schools will join as well.

Mechanics for the awards will be disseminated on October 27, during the grand launch in Metro Manila. Agbayani also invited students to join the mentoring sessions that will be conducted in regional centers, such as Baguio, by the middle of November. Deadline for entries will be in January 2017 and the awarding will be done in April or May 2017.