Eleven pupils and students from various Philippine schools in Jeddah have been chosen as winners of the annual Guhit Pinoy drawing competition, held recently at Gems International School.

The inter-school drawing competition has attracted both art lovers and the Filipino community at large. It showcases the talents and creative skills of several hundred students. Students from the IPSJ, Sunrise International School, Al-Badr International School, Al Hekma International School, Pearl of the Orient International School and Gems International School competed for trophies and other prizes.

The students from elementary to high school level demonstrated their skills, imagination, ideas and creativity to produce colorful works of art.

They were asked to draw and illustrate on the theme “Me and My World” and were chosen on the basis of artistic merit and originality.

Third year high school student Jaycee Tibajia of IPSJ won the prestigious Artist of the Year award for his illustration entitled “Our World Needs Our Help.” Tibajia’s masterpiece depicted the world in need of a helping hand to protect it from the hazardous effects of pollutions and other catastrophes. His work won him the prestigious trophy plus round trip ticket to Manila courtesy of Qatar Airways.

The overall Most Promising Artist award went to second-year high school Ibrahim Julkipli Qassim of Pearl of the Orient International School. He won a trophy plus bronze card courtesy of Hundred Isles Transport & Tours.

“This event is wonderful and the colorful works of students are marvelous,” said Itemad Felemban, directress of Gems International School.

The other winners for the best creative, best theme and most promising artist respectively were:

Primary Level (first to third grades): Karl Patrick Armentia, Sunrise; Arel Jann Clemente, Sunrise; and Maria Rizza Benjamin, Al-Hekma.

Intermediate Level (Grade fourth through sixth grades): Angelica Joy Banaag, Sunrise; Kathryn Carera, IPSJ; and Lauren Badiong, Gems.

High School Level: Kristine Marie Marzo, Gems; Hannah Yahya, Sunrise; and Mary Ann Elleasar, Al-Badr.