Text by Vince Xyrex Aglosolos | Photo by Veejay Catadman
Jose T. Joya Awards officially marked its 50th anniversary by opening its annual awards exhibition on October 23, 2026, themed “Cascading Histories: 50 Years of Making, Questioning, and Becoming,” which celebrates five decades of artistic practice and recognition.
The golden jubilee reflects on the awards’ artistic legacy and the generations of artists who have contributed to its history. Through the theme, the celebration looks at the continuity, disruption, and renewal that shape artistic practice.
The program featured remarks from Prof. Juanito Karl Roque, who discussed the history of the Joya Awards and emphasized that recognition carries the responsibility to continue creating and questioning through art. Fine Arts Students Organization (FASO) Chairperson James Villarin acknowledged the event’s sponsors, while Jose T. Joya Gallery coordinator Asst. Prof. Grey Compuesto delivered the welcome remarks.
“Recognition is meaningful, but the greater achievement is having the courage to create,” Compuesto said, emphasizing the importance of artistic practice beyond formal recognition.
The exhibition was formally opened through a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Asst. Prof. Palmy Tudtud, College of Communication, Art, and Design (CCAD) Dean Asst. Prof. Crina Tañongon, Fine Arts Program faculty members, and the judges.
The program also recognized the judges, presented this year’s award objectives, and then announced the recipients.
The competition received 93 submissions from the Studio Arts program and 23 submissions from the Product Design program. Ten semi-finalists and seven finalists were selected before the announcement of the top three awardees:
- Karl Marius Furog
- Van Aaron Cinco
- Kaye Plasquita
The program concluded with Compuesto’s closing remarks and official exhibition opening, allowing the guests to walk around the gallery and view the submitted artworks.
Marking five decades of artistic recognition, the Jose T. Joya Awards continues to provide a platform for artists to create, question, and explore new possibilities in art. Its golden jubilee also looks toward the continuing evolution of artistic practice across generations and the emergence of new technologies and mediums.
The Jose T. Joya Gallery will hold Joya talks and workshops in the coming weeks. The exhibition remains open to visitors until November 27, 2026.