Writer-illustrator wins 38th Romeo Forbes Children's Story Writing Competition

The Center for Art, New Ventures, and Sustainable Development awards the prize for its 38th Romeo Forbes Children's Story Writing Competition to Ang Naglalakbay na Karinderya written by Jayson Baltero Barona, who shall be receiving the cash prize of forty-five thousand pesos for his story. A record-breaking number of three hundred twenty (320) entries, all based on the artwork by June Digan, were received for this competition.

A young Filipino writer and artist, Barona credits the development of his imagination to being brought up “in the gnarly, flood-prone areas of Dagat-Dagatan, South Caloocan.” He has received his share of wins (and losses) in drawing and writing competitions and recently, his story Manang Angal, Ang Katipunerang Manananggal was a finalist in the 37th Romeo Forbes Children's Story Writing Competition. Barona is part of the LGBTQIA+ community, identifying as gender-fluid, and currently works as a graphics illustrator for schoolbooks.

CANVAS also congratulates Christopher Rosales for the story Ang Nagpapalit Hugis Naming Eskuwela and Eric Roxas for the story Ang mga Kamangha-manghang Kaibigan ni Kiko which were selected as finalists for this run.

CANVAS holds the Romeo Forbes Children's Story Writing Competition at least twice a year, open to Filipinos worldwide. The first and only of its kind, it invites writers to pen a children’s story inspired by a painting or sculpture by CANVAS’ chosen local Filipino artist.

That same artist will then bring the winning story to life through a series of around 20 new artworks. These are finally showcased in a major solo exhibition and used as illustrations for the ultimate offspring of this unique collaboration: a full-color children’s book which could reach public schools and communities in the Philippines under CANVAS’ One Million Books for One Million Filipino Children.