March 13, 2006
CANVAS’ Romeo Forbes Children's
Storywriting Competition 2006

CANVAS invites you to join its annual contest, now renamed as the Romeo Forbes Children’s Storywriting Competition in honor of the late artist who illustrated and launched “Elias and His Trees,” CANVAS’ maiden and highly acclaimed art exhibit and book launch.

This year, the writing competition will be based on a new oil on burlap artwork (left), by young, rising artist Rodel Tapaya. Click to enlarge.

The deadline for submission of entries is 5:00 p.m. (Manila time), 16 May 2006. A P30,000.00 prize awaits the winner!

If you are interested in participating in the storywriting competition, please click here or download the competition rules here.

November 25, 2005
CANVAS, in partnership with Illustrador ng Kabataan (INK) is pleased to launch the Elias Dakila Competition for Children’s Storywriting on Environment and Culture.

In 1953, French author Jean Giono was commissioned to write a short story about his most unforgettable character. What resulted was the classic eco-fable The Man Who Planted Trees, which told of the inspiring story of a man who through sheer persistence and diligence, brings hope to a once desolate and devastated province.

That story later moved CANVAS to publish the story of Elias & His Trees, a Filipinized adaptation of Giono's inspiring tale, and now, to work with Illustrador ng Kabataan (INK) in launching the Elias Dakila Competition for Children's Storywriting on Environment and Culture.

This year, the contest seeks to inspire writers to come up with original short stories for children (ages 6-8) that celebrate the environment and/or Philippine culture, and which are suitable as big, read-aloud books ideal for sharing or reading to groups of children.

The stories should be based on this painting, rendered by INK member Sergio Bumatay III. Click to enlarge.

If you are interested in participating,
please download the competition rules.

To learn more about Illustrador ng Kabataan,
please click here.

November 25, 2005
CANVAS is pleased to launch Michael Cacnio's "Liwanag" series of limited edition functional lamp sculptures.

	Only ten (10) pieces of Liwanag 1, which exquisitely depicts a young boy reading under a tree will be made. Impressively detailed, this inspired brass sculpture is roughly 14 inches tall and is mounted on Mindoro slate.
	Only twenty (20) pieces of Liwanag 2, a brass sculpture of a tree, crafted in Cacnio's unmistakeable style will be made.  Roughly 12 inches tall, and mounted on a dark hardwood (camagong) block, light emanates from within the tree trunk creating a subdued, relaxed effect.

All pieces are individually hand-made to order, and will come with individually numbered certificates of authenticity.

For inquiries, please email info@canvas.ph or call/text (0917) 890-6160.

September 27, 2005
Read the winning stories

It is fascinating to see how a single painting can inspire diverse and unique stories that children and adults can enjoy alike.  See for yourself!  Below are four of the very best as selected by our panel of judges, downloadable as pdf files.

WINNER:  "The Rocking Horse" by Becky Bravo

THE BEST OF THE REST:

• "Si Ninjang Kabayo at ang Ermitanyong Kalbo"
  ni Andrea Lazaro
• "Treasures I have Known" by Raissa Claire Rivera
• "Sol" by Anna Cristina Llanera

We'd love to hear what you think.  Email us at info@canvas.ph

September 16, 2005
CANVAS is pleased to announce that Ms. Victoria Estrella C. Bravo is the winner of CANVAS' first annual children's storywriting competition, for her story "The Rocking Horse."

The panel of judges was composed of Gigo Alampay (Executive Director of CANVAS), and multi-awarded children's story writers Carla Pacis and Augie Rivera.  In the end, Ms. Bravo won in a close contest with three other writers:

(a) Raissa Claire U. Rivera ("Treasures I Have Known"),
(b) Andrea Lazaro ("Si Ninjang Kabayo at ang Violinistang Kalbo"), and
(c) Anna Christina Llanera ("Sol").

CANVAS will post all four top stories soon.

We wish to thank all 86 writers who participated in this event, and look forward to your continued participation next year.

August 17, 2005
Our 1st Annual Children's Storywriting Competition is off to a great start!

Our 1st Annual Children's Storywriting Competition is off to a great start! Exceeding all expectations, CANVAS received more than 80 entries from all over the Philippines , and from as far away as the United States and the Middle East ! At this time, our judges are reviewing all the stories. We had hoped to pick a winner by September 1, but because of the unexpected number of participants, and in order to give the judges sufficient time to give each entry the time it deserves, we have decided to move the announcement to mid-September. Watch out for it!

June 17, 2005
First Annual Children's Storywriting Competition

CANVAS invites you to join its first annual storywriting competition which will be based on a new oil on canvas artwork by critically acclaimed artist Elmer Borlongan, shown below.  The deadline for submission of entries is 5:00 p.m. (Manila time), 15 August 2005.

If you are interested in participating in the storywriting competition, please download the competition rules. Download contest details (PDF) >

To learn more about Elmer Borlongan, please visit www.elmerborlongan.com.

May 9, 2005
Elias and His Trees - Art Exhibit Opening
and Book Launching

CANVAS presents "Elias & His Trees," a Filipino adaptation of the classic ecofable "The Man Who Planted Trees" by French author Jean Giono. Filipino adaptation by Augie Rivera. Illustrated by acclaimed emerging artist Romeo Forbes, whose illustrations will also be showcased as a much anticipated 1st One-Man Show. Glorietta 4 ArtSpace, Makati City, Philippines. June 13, 2005. Cocktails start at 6:00 p.m.

May 9, 2005
Elias and His Trees - The Studies

The studies for Romeo Forbes first one-man show "Elias and His Trees" can be viewed at the Crucible Gallery, SM Megamall, Pasig City, Philippines from June 13-19, 2005.