Due to the overwhelming influx of interested participants in the 1st National Art Competition of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the agency has decided to increase the cash prizes to be won by the contest’s grand winners and finalists.

Each of the three grand winners for the professional category will now receive P200,000 plus trophy. Meanwhile, each of the three winners for the amateur category will be receiving P75,000 plus trophy.

PAGCOR’s Assistant VP for Corporate Communications Maricar Bautista said the state-run gaming firm decided to increase the prizes at stake for its 1st Art Competition to pay tribute to the extraordinary talent of Filipino painters.

“We did not expect that we will be flooded with a lot of good feedback about the contest. Even seasoned artists have lauded this initiative and have expressed their intention to participate in our project,” she said.

“In order to encourage more deserving participants and discover the best artwork which we can showcase in our promotional collaterals, we decided to increase the prize for the winners in both the professional and amateur categories,” Bautista added.

The Professional Category is for individuals who have mounted a solo painting exhibit in a recognized art venue or art gallery. Participants in the Professional Category must submit proof that they have already mounted a painting exhibit. Meantime, the amateur category is for individuals who are at least 12 years old and have no experience in mounting a solo painting exhibit.

Apart from the bigger cash prizes for the grand winners, the finalists in the two categories will also receive bigger consolation prizes. “From P5,000 cash prize, the seven other finalists in the amateur category will each receive P10,000. Meanwhile, P20,000 each will be given to the grand finalists for professional category, instead of P10,000,” Bautista explained.

PAGCOR staged the 1st National Art Competition as its way of fulfilling its mandate to help promote the country’s tourism industry. The state-owned gaming firm adopted the government’s tourism slogan “It’s more fun in the Philippines” as the contest’s central theme.

“Through this Art Competition, we intend to tap professional and budding painters in coming out with beautiful pieces of artworks that will truthfully depict the colorful culture and undeniable beauty of the Philippines, the famed warmth and hospitality of its people, and the diverse activities that could be experienced in the country which will truly make one’s visit to the Philippines more fun and memorable,” Bautista stressed.

Entries should be executed in full color using acrylic, oil, pastel and watercolor. “Since PAGCOR shall have the exclusive ownership of all six grand prize winning entries for both professional and amateur categories, all entries to be submitted should not have been entered in any other art or design contest, and must have never been published commercially,” Bautista noted.

PAGCOR will start accepting entries from June 11 to 15, 2012. Entry forms for the 1st PAGCOR National Art Competition are available in all Casino Filipino branches nationwide and may also be downloaded from www.pagcor.ph.

For complete details on the contest rules and mechanics, kindly visit www.pagcor.ph or call PAGCOR CCD at telephone numbers (02) 247-1049 or 242-0121 local 622 or 629.