OPPO and CCP Launch the Likha Creative Challenge

OPPO, in collaboration with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), proudly launches the Likha Creative Challenge, a nationwide competition celebrating the bold creativity of young Filipino artists, storytellers, and visionaries.

With the theme “Make Your Moment,” the challenge invites young and emerging talents aged 18 to 35 to submit original work in Video, Photography, or Digital Art, three categories that reflect how this generation captures and creates.

Beyond a competition, Likha is a platform for Filipino creativity to take the spotlight, whether you're a student, self-taught artist, or part of an underground movement. With the help of OPPO Student Ambassadors, the initiative will reach universities, collectives, and communities across the country, giving visibility to voices that deserve to be seen and heard.

This is your moment—on your terms.

Create something that reflects who you are and what you stand for.

Challenge Details

Submission Period: August 15 to September 30, 2025

Announcement of Winners: October 15, 2025

Creative Categories

Video Content: Original videos (max 5 mins) in 16:9 or 9:16 format—vlogs, edits, or reels reflecting the theme. AI-generated or enhanced content is not allowed.

Photography: Up to 10 original photos in any style (portrait, landscape, street, etc.), shot with a camera, smartphone, or OPPO Reno14 Series. AI-generated images are not accepted.

Digital Art: Original digital illustrations, collages, or graphic compositions. Must be created using traditional digital tools—no AI or AI assistance allowed.

Judging Criteria

Creativity & Originality – 30%

Artistic Skill – 20%

Relevance to Theme – 20%

Impact & Presentation – 20%

Technical Skill – 10%

Prizes and Recognition

Three Grand Winners per category will each receive ₱50,000 worth of OPPO products, including the OPPO Reno14 Series 5G and IoT devices.

Winning entries may be featured in an art exhibit at CCP’s Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, partner galleries, or select OPPO Concept Stores nationwide.

How to Join

Post your original work publicly on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok using the hashtags:

  #OPPOxCulturalCenterPH

  #MakeYourMoment

  #OPPOReno14Series5G

Submit the link to your post via the official Google Form available on OPPO Philippines’ social media pages.

Participants may enter multiple categories but can win only once. All works must be original, AI-free, and remain the intellectual property of the artist. By joining, participants grant OPPO and CCP the right to feature works with proper credit for promotional use.

To learn more about the Likha Creative Challenge and OPPO’s partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, visit www.oppo.com/ph and follow OPPO Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Seascape Village Independence Day Flash Sale: 1 KG of crabs for P21

Seascape Village is giving freedom-loving Filipinos the best reasons to celebrate Independence Day! From June 12 to 14, the dining complex which offers an authentic seafood market experience, will have a food flash sale where a kilo of local crabs will be sold for only P21!

80 coupons per day will be given away during the promo. The first 40 coupons will be distributed from 12NN to 4PM, and the second batch from 5PM to 8PM.

To qualify, like the SEASCAPE VILLAGE official Facebook page and share the Philippine Independence Day Promo post at least a day before claiming the coupon.

Coupons will only be given to dine-in customers who will pay the P21 fee and show proof that the promo post was shared in their Facebook account. Cooking and service charges are exclusive of the discounted rate, and only 1 voucher can be used for every group of 5 diners.

After claiming the coupon, dine-in customers will only pay 21 pesos for a kilo of live crabs! They can then have it cooked by any of the 8 participating restaurants at Seascape Village.

A more upscale yet readily accessible seafood market with a wide array of restaurants, Seascape Village also offers the most diverse and freshest seafood—from shellfish and tuna, to groupers and imported crabs and lobsters—at prices that will surely fit everyone’s taste and budget!

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to Seascape Village and celebrate Independence Day with your family and friends over a sumptuous seafood dining experience. Seascape Village is located between Sofitel Philippine Plaza and the Manila Film Center at the CCP Complex in Pasay City. Per DTI-FTEB permit number 9711, series of 2019. Visit https://web.facebook.com/seascapevillage/ for more details.

Ballet Manila Closes 23rd Performance Season with DEUX

After a spectacular 23rd performance season, Ballet Manila is set to close its curtains with Deux, a double header that gracefully combines classical and contemporary ballet. The show will be held at the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex on March 2 and 9 at 6PM and March 3 and 10 at 3PM.

The first chapter of the show will open with classical vignettes. It will highlight “Les Sylphides,” also known as “Chopiniana” in Russia, a romantic dreamy white ballet that depicts a lone danseur (The Poet) surrounded by his muses – white-clad sylphs or air spirits, dancing in the moonlight. While there is no plot, its lingering music by Frederic Chopin and lyrical choreography by Michael Fokine evoke the illusion of ethereal weightlessness which characterized the romantic era of ballet where technique is the focal point, especially the intricate pointe work of ballerinas.

From this dreamy ambiance, the audience will be transported to the second chapter filled with contemporary numbers, and exhilarating rock and roll beats in the world premiere of Martin Lawrance’s The Winding Road set to the legendary music of The Beatles. The young or old will surely connect to the music and lyrics of I Saw Her Standing There, Here, There and Everywhere, Something, The Long and Winding Road, She Loves You, and many more!

“It has been a very exciting and rewarding 23rd season for Ballet Manila. It kicked-off with electrifying productions that formed part of our “Tour de Force” and now we’re poised to close it with Deux,” says Ballet Manila CEO and Artistic Director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde. “We thank our audiences for their continued patronage and support and we hope to see you all again when the curtains rise for our 24thseason.”

Don’t miss this newest and most special double header! For tickets, visit www.bit.ly/balletmaniladeux.

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Ballet Manila is The Philippines’ Premiere Classical Dance Company. Under the leadership of Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Ballet Manila has brought the magic of classical ballet to the farthest-flung regions of the country, as well as the important ballet capitals of the world. Ballet Manila also continuously innovates to provide its audience, clients, and business partners with a myriad of shows and performance options.

Seafood Dining: Seascape Village is More Affordable Than You Think

The Chinese New Year, a special non-working day, is celebrated by most Filipinos by displaying round fruits, wearing ubiquitous red garments, and gathering together for sumptuous meals.

But while enjoying a relaxed ambiance with families and friends and feasting on delicious food is ideal, it need not be expensive. Seascape Village, a dining complex with restaurants and a wet market, boasts of having the most diverse and freshest seafood supply in the metro – one that is easily accessible and reasonably priced.

“Most people think that just because we offer premium experience, dining here is already expensive. Actually, what Seascape Village offers is the best value for money for all the guests. We have a wide array of restaurants to choose from that will fit everyone’s palate and budget,” said Christine Suntay, Seascape Village marketing and events head.

On February 4 and 5, Chinese New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year, respectively, Seascape will be having traditional Chinese performances, dragon and lion dances, fireworks display, and Feng Shui reading.

While giving guests an authentic seafood market experience – complete with tanks full of live seafood and the traditional haggling for lower prices – Seascape Village has evolved this experience into something better. The dining destination inside the CCP Complex has beefed up measures to ensure the security of its guests, wide parking spaces and valet service for convenience, and an exciting mix of restaurants.

Located along the coast of Manila, Seascape Village also offers one of the most beautiful views of the unparalleled Manila Bay sunset.

“With our guests always our top priority, we have ensured that only the freshest produce are sold here at Seascape Village, if not live, these produce are flown in fresh from various parts of the country. We also have our own ice production facility to keep cold products cold,” said Suntay.

Seascape Village brings together the treasures of the Philippine seas – from shellfish sourced in Roxas, among others, to crabs and lobsters from the Pacific coast, to groupers from the Visayas, tuna from Mindanao and everything in between, including the majestic view of the setting sun on the horizon of Manila Bay. Truly, it is an experience no other dining destination can offer.

“The best way to experience Seascape Village is to come and visit us and see and taste for themselves what we offer,” said Suntay.

Seascape Village is located between Sofitel Philippine Plaza and the Manila Film Center at the CCP Complex in Pasay City.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with feasts of the country’s freshest seafood only at Seascape Village. The wide array of restaurants offers a variety of dishes that will satiate everyone’s cravings.

Usher in the Year of the Earth Pig at Seascape Village while indulging in the freshest seafood from around the country. Live lobsters, crabs, fish, even groupers, are available at affordable prices.

National Artist Napoleon Abueva Receives Award at DPC-PLDT Visual Arts Competition

The late National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon V. Abueva was honored with a special tribute by Directories Philippines Corporation (DPC) and the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) during the awarding ceremony of the DPC-PLDT Visual Arts Competition 32 (VAC 32) held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines recently. DPC and PLDT presented a special plaque of appreciation for the late national artist to Dr. Sergia Abueva, the National Artist’s widow and his daughter, Amihan Abueva. Dean Abueva, who passed away on February 16, 2018, helped establish the foundation for the VAC, along with deans of other Fine Arts schools in the Philippines. As part of the tribute, replicas of the original trophy designed by Dean Abueva in 1990 were given to the schools of the top three winners of VAC 32. Above, DPC Chief Operating Officer Arturo Diago (left), founding VAC Project Director Fred Amat, and long-time VAC Coordinator of PLDT Robert Sarte present the award to Dr. Sergia Abueva and Amihan Abueva. Fittingly, too, the unique ceramic trophies for each of the VAC 32 major prize winners had been designed by Lanelle Abueva-Fernando, niece of the late National Artist.

Cavite student wins annual DPC-PLDT Visual Arts Contest

An oil painting called “Jeeploma”, depicting a jeepney driver’s pride as a hard-working father, bagged the grand prize of the 32nd Visual Arts Competition (VAC 32) of Directories Philippines Corporation and the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company.

The work by Paul Taladtad from Adventist University of the Philippines of Silang, Cavite bested entries submitted by fine arts students this year to the annual tilt. The much-awaited art competition among the country’s schools of fine arts captured the interest of the judges with its interpretation of this year’s competition theme, “Pinoy Pride.”

Jayvee Valencia of Bulacan State University won second prize for his entry, “Ngiti”, while Kenneth Leo Pamlas from Tarlac State University won third prize for “Bayanihan Sa Bayan ni Juan”, an acrylic painting showing a known Filipino custom bayanihan. Aside from the VAC 32 trophy and cash prize, the Fine Arts schools of the top three winners also received cash donations and replicas of the VAC trophy that was designed by National Artist Napoleon V. Abueva in 1990.

Louis Rafael Espinosa from the University of Santo Tomas won the VAC 32 People’s Choice Award with his entry “Kulturang Dalisay.” The winning entries will grace the covers of the 2018-19 White and Yellow Pages PLDT directories.

“Jeeploma”—a play on the words, “jeep” and “diploma”—highlights a jeepney coin box with graduation pictures of the driver’s three children and coarsely textured coins and peso bills, along with the driver’s work-worn hands, to convey the sense that every centavo had been hard-earned and well-spent.

  

Talatad, the grand prize winner, said he got the idea from personal experience, while enrolled in the University of the Philippines in 2009-2012. “Minsan, habang nakasakay ako sa jeep sa UP IKOT, napansin ko pagkatapos kong magbayad na inilagay nungdriver yung barya sa coin box na may graduation pictures ng mga anak niya. Na-touchpo ako noon, dahil jeepney driver din po ang papa ko,” Taladtad said. “Naalala ko, mayroon din pong nag-post online, siguro five years ago, ng picture na kuha din sa jeep na yon. Nag-comment ako noon: ‘ang gandang gawing tula o painting.’”

The photograph Taladtad refers to was originally posted by Justin Linatoc in November 2012, and the winning artist acknowledges that it had been one of his sources of inspiration.

More than 70 art works from fine arts students from all over the Philippines with different interpretations of the theme were submitted for the competition. Thirty entries were singled out as finalists and were exhibited at the Little Theater Lobby at the Cultural Center of the Philippines from March 13 to 20, 2018. Entries were judged according to visual composition, originality, adherence to theme and suitability as cover. 

The awarding ceremonies were held Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at the CCP Main Lobby.

The panel of judges was composed of Chris Millado, Vice President and Artistic Director at the Cultural Center of the Philippines; Don Djerassi L. Dalmacio, Awardee of 2009 Cultural Center of the Philippines Thirteen Artists; Ruben Fortunato M. de Jesus, award-winning illustrator of children’s books, and founding member of the Illustrador ng Kabataan (Ang InK); Marabini S. Williamson, seasoned advertising and publishing expert, formerly of McCann-Erickson Phils; and Wesley Valenzuela, 1995-1996 DPC-PLDT VAC Grand Prize Winner. 

VAC 32 is an annual arts competition organized by DPC and PLDT for student artists in the Philippines. The competition has explored various art forms using different media over the past three decades.

For more information, please visit VAC 32’s website, www.visualarts.ph, and its official Facebook page, VISUALARTSPH. Queries can also be emailed tovisualartsph@gmail.com

*This is Press Release

Top Entries in 32nd DPC-PLDT visual arts contest on exhibit at CCP Little Theater Lobby till March 20

Thirty diverse visual interpretations of the theme, “Pinoy Pride”, in oil and acrylic are on exhibit from March 13 to 20, 2018 at the Little Theater Lobby of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The exhibit pieces are the works of fine arts students, aged 18 to 24, from all over the Philippines. The 30 paintings constitute the finalists, chosen among more than 70 entries to the 32nd edition of the DPC-PLDT Visual Arts Competition (VAC 32), sponsored by Directories Philippines Corporation and the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company. The annual nationwide competition showcases and immortalizes the winning artworks on covers of telephone directories distributed in Metro Manila and other key urban centers and regions across the land, as well as on multiple online and mobile platforms.

“It is heartening to see a broad national representation of the entries this year,” noted Ricardo D. Bautista, DPC president. “We had submissions from Mindanao, the Visayas, northern and southern Luzon, in addition to the usually prolific output from the fine arts schools in Metro Manila. Interpretations of this year's theme are just as diverse. Some student artists dwelt on our natural endowments; others on our customs, crafts, traditions, and unique aspects of our culture; still others on our admirable traits and on unheralded countrymen, like soldiers and overseas workers, who make great sacrifices for our country.”

The 29”x29” paintings rendered in a variety of styles—realist, impressionist, graphic, and abstract, among others—were the nation’s young artists’ response to the VAC 32 invitation to “bring to light the things inherent in our national identity, culture and diversity that are sources of immense pride unique to Filipinos”.

DPC-PLDT officially launched the contest in November 2017 and will announce the winners of VAC32 on March 20, 2018 at the Main Lobby of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City at 1:30 p.m.

The student who painted the first-place winning entry will receive P100,000 in cash and the VAC32 Grand Prize Trophy; in addition, his/her school will receive a P40,000 donation for it’s fine arts program. Second and Third Prize winners will receive P75,000 and P60,000 in cash, respectively, plus trophies and corresponding donations to their respective schools. Besides the trophies and cash prizes, the Grand Prize winner will have his/her work featured on the cover of the 2018-19 Metro Manila telephone directories of DPC (Yellow Pages) and PLDT (White Pages).

The VAC annual competition is a much-awaited event in the art world, particularly for young artists, as it gives recognition to the abundance of creative and artistic talent available in the country’s fine arts schools.

For more information, please visit VAC 32’s website, www.visualarts.ph, and its official Facebook page, VISUALARTSPH. Queries can also be emailed to visualartsph@gmail.com