MADE 2026 navigates realities of the Filipino life

The section “Leading the Way” showcases sixteen standout works, comprising three Grand Awardees, four Special Citations and nine Finalists. These pieces span Oil or Acrylic on Canvas, Sculpture and Mixed Media.

Among the Grand Awardees is Vince Martin A Macatangay for his oil on canvas work, Sonder: Sa Bawat Mundong ‘Di Ko Matahak [Sonder: In Worlds Beyond My Reach]. The piece explores ‘sonder’—the striking realisation that every stranger lives a life as vivid and complex as our own.

Macatangay explained, “Sa painting, hinihigop ang simuno patungo sa siklo ng walang hanggang daloy ng oras, sumasagisag sa walang katapusang interaksyon sa di mabilang na buhay [In the painting, the subject is drawn into the cycle of the endless flow of time, symbolising the infinite interactions among countless lives].”

Kennette A Luague claimed the Grand Award for Mixed Media with his piece Taya (which can be translated to “bet”, “it” or “commitment”, depending on the usage). Drawing from his background as a manual worker, Luague utilised wood, epoxy, oil paint, billiard cloth and a bearing to critique the Filipino labourer’s plight. The motif of the roulette wheel exposes the sobering truth of endless effort spent on limited choices.

Yet, Luague stated, “Bagaman tila nakapako sa gitna ng sistema, ang alab sa kanyang isipan ang nagsisilbing mitsa ng pag-asa. Hindi siya biktima ng pagkakataon; siya ay isang manunugal na may sapat na giting na harapin ang hamon [Although seemingly stuck in the middle of the system, the fire in a person's mind serves as a spark of hope. He is not a victim of circumstance, but a gambler with the courage to face the challenges before him].”

Aldrin B Olaguir, creator of Hinahalal, Binabanal, won the Grand Award for Sculpture. The resin, marble powder and fibreglass piece exposes how systemic greed is accepted. Olaguir shared, “Growing up in the Philippines, I am influenced by survival conditions, inherited moral systems and fragmented histories shaped by colonial interruption and cultural layering.” He added, “What I appreciate most about the 2026 MADE Competition is its open theme. It gives artists the freedom to create works that truly align with their own practice and vision.” 

The Grand Awardees each received a prize of PHP 500,000, consisting of PHP 350,000 in cash and a PHP 150,000 scholarship to the Eskinita Art Residency Program in 2027, along with the More trophy sculpted by Juan Sajid.

Four artists received Special Citations, earning PHP 100,000 each. Raphael Daniel O David was recognised for his sculpture Mirror of Consequence: Millisecond Before Light. Using mirror-finished stainless steel, the work captures a critical threshold before an atomic explosion, implicating the viewer in conversations on state aggression. Richard D Montero was awarded for his mixed media creation Puno ng Kwento (which can be translated to “full of stories”). The title plays on the Tagalog word puno, meaning both ‘tree’ and ‘full’, weaving folklore and memory into a dense visual dendriform.

In the Oil or Acrylic on Canvas category, Artgiveson C Arreglado received a Special Citation for To Weather With You, which challenges the static memory of Tacloban following Super Typhoon Yolanda through masterful linework. Arvin C Cantalejo, Jr also earned a citation for Echoes Beneath My Skin. The painting acts as pure catharsis, blending memory, fear and instinct into an open psychological terrain.

The wider exhibition sections further organise these societal reflections. “Surveying the Social Landscape” highlights works confronting public infrastructure and the complexities of Filipino resilience. Meanwhile, “Urban Navigation” captures the unyielding grit required to endure the artificial landscapes and congestion of city life.

On a more intimate scale, the “Inward Odyssey” section frames vulnerability and emotions like grief and loneliness not as weaknesses, but as emblems of authenticity. Balancing this is the “Paths of Promise” section, which refutes the narrative of disillusioned youth by showcasing moments of optimistic aspiration grounded in family and faith.

The works were selected by a panel chaired by sculptor Reginald Yuson, alongside Mark Andy Garcia, Ling Quisumbing Ramilo, May Lyn Cruz, Lara Acuin, Gaby dela Merced and Rica Estrada. The exhibition opened at The Metropolitan Museum of Manila (The M) on September 17 and is available for public viewing until October 18.

Ultimately, the 2026 MADE exhibition proves that creativity is inherently in motion. Whether dissecting systemic corruption or charting the quiet perseverance of the working class, these artists refuse to remain static observers. They invite the public to walk alongside them, proving that every artistic traversal enriches the living culture we collectively shape.

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