Several young talents and artists blossomed during the annual free art workshop, the Arts in the City: Valenzuela Arts Workshop 2025; which ran from April 21 to June 1, 2025, all throughout the summer. An initiative of the City Government of Valenzuela through the Cultural Affairs and Tourism Development Office, the workshop consisted of various training sessions such as singing, dancing, acting, piano, ukulele, classical guitar, visual arts digital painting, wall art painting, and photography.
These sessions were facilitated by professional and hands-on mentors who guided the young Valenzuelano trainees during the month-long workshop held at the Valenzuela City Academic Center for Excellence. For this year, a total of 1,070 Valenzuelano youths registered in the summer arts workshop while 27 mentors signed up to teach them the fundamentals of each art form.
The time has finally come for these trainees to showcase what they learned from the workshop at the culminating activity of AITC known as Recital Day, which will show different performances and visual art exhibits starting from May 29 to June 4. In the recital, various presentations from the departments of singing, acting, dancing, and instrument demonstrated each learner’s artistry and improved set of skills – not only practical skills but also personal skills such as confidence and determination. Meanwhile, the visual department also displayed their artistic masterpieces in their artwork exhibit
Running on its 18th year, the Arts in the City: Valenzuela Arts Workshop aims to enhance art appreciation among the youth, by providing opportunities for free training and unleashing their skills and potential prowess for any art form. Part of AITC’s goals is to ignite the passion of the young generation toward making art and encourage productivity.
On the other hand, the local government also featured the creativity of young Valenzuelano writers across the city through its Susulat Ako: 1st Valenzuela Storywriting Contest for the Youth which opened last February 3, 2025. This contest was open for participants from Grades 7 to 12 in public or private schools in Valenzuela City. A comprehensive writing workshop was also held before the contest proper.
Today, the contest yielded a grand winner who received a Php 20,000 cash prize, a laptop unit, and an additional Php 10,000 for his/her school; 2 honorable mentions who both received a Php 10,000 cash prize and an additional Php 5,000 for their respective schools. Further, there are 2 special awards which were granted as well namely the Mayor’s Choice Award and Best Effort Award.
Ms. Mikhaila D. Avendaño of Valenzuela National High School was crowned as the grand winner of the story writing contest, recognized for her remarkable piece “Ang Taling Hindi Maitali”. Meanwhile, Ms. Einjhelle Mishz Delos Santos and Ms. Beatriz Allondra M. Magallanes, both hailed from Gen. T. de Leon National High School, were awarded Honorable Mentions.
A revolutionary project of Mayoress Tiffany Gatchalian and the City Government of Valenzuela through the Valenzuela City Library, the “Susulat Ako” aims to develop the writing skills of the children and reflect their creativity and authenticity through their work.
With these two art programs that concluded, it is proven that the life of art – in all of its intricacies and forms — is well-thriving and continuously celebrated in the City of Valenzuela.
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