IT WAS their second award as the duo Reese & Vica, but for Reese Lansangan and Vica Hernandez, winning the Loyola Schools Awards for the Arts (LSAA) prize for Music was a completely different achievement.

“Everyone seemed so proud of you—[proud enough] to have arranged a fancy awarding ceremony in celebration of art. The Dean of Humanities was patting your back, Fr. Ben was hugging you and personally commending you for your talent—it was surreal,” Lansangan said of this year’s LSAA held last March 9 at the Escaler Hall.

Lansangan and Hernandez were two of the 31 student artists recognized in the 18th annual LSAA.

Entitled “Dalisayan,” LSAA celebrates beauty and creativity in the community.

Speaking about Atenean artists, School of Humanities Dean Maria Luz Vilches said, “Artists who bring forth beauty, honed by passion… are sources of courage that spark hope in the heart.”

Fairytale music

Reese & Vica describe their musical style as indie pop with fairytale influences.

“[Our] music tries to [evoke] a kind of [naïve] sensibility that brings back a lot of memories from our childhood and other experiences growing up,” Hernandez, a recent communications graduate, said.

“In a music scene where big bands with loud instruments and screaming vocals are all the rage, Reese & Vica offer an alternative that is pleasant to the ears, as well as intriguing and captivating to the audience.”

Lansangan, a recent fine arts graduate, said that the people who recognize their work keep her motivated. “Sometimes, you come to a point where you question what you do and why you’re doing it, but words of encouragement from other people will always inspire you, touch your heart, and keep you going.”

She added that her course and the various organizations that she had joined helped her find different avenues for creative expression.

Drawing and dance

Another LSAA awardee was Rob Cham (BS Mgt ‘11), who won in the Illustration category. He is well known for posting comics and caricatures in his blog, robcham.tumblr.com.

Cham said that he usually draws to kill boredom. “I feel like I’m being more productive when I do art… And if I keep at it, practice and all, I hope that I could be good enough and [gain] that sort of contentment with oneself [that] each artist yearns to have.”

Meanwhile, LSAA Awardee for Dance Tara Abrina had this to say when asked what kept her going: “How can I not keep going?”

She said her companions in the Ateneo Dancesports Club became her motivation. “They welcomed me as part of their group and expected nothing but my dancing. I don’t pay for my lessons, so I can only ever repay them with what they expect from me.”

Her coach, Belinda Adora, is also a major influence on Abrina’s craft. “Without her generous guidance, I could not have possibly learned the technique that I worked so hard to develop.”

Words of advice

Lansangan encouraged budding Atenean artists to be inspired by people rather than be intimidated by them. “Don’t compare yourself to others and just keep on doing what you love and what makes you happy.”

Hernandez said that everyone must just keep doing what they love to do. “Always strive to become a better artist and never allow yourself to become complacent.”

Cham’s simple advice, meanwhile, is to “work on your art.”

Other awardees

Aside from Abrina, Cham, Lansangan and Hernandez, the other LSAA awardees are as follows:

Creative Writing – Kyra Camille Ballesteros, Miguel Iñigo Llona, Rachel Marra, Michelle Abigail Tan, Christine Mae Del Rosario, Gerald Gracius Pascua, Ramon Enrico Custodio Damasing

Theater Arts – Sarah Delphine Buencamino, Dean Jantzen Chua, Tito Cosejo, Jr., Zennon Jean Gosalvez, Melchor Pante

Screen Arts – Gabriel Gonzalo Puyat, Rachel Marie Frances Vergara

Graphic Design – Mary Joy Gacho, Lalaine Lim, Nicole Ernestine Severino, Vianne Franchino Viceral, Analyn Yap

Illustration – Jessica Amanda Bauza, Rafael Alberto Tuaño

Photography – Jose Alejandro Dolosa, Kevin Christopher Tatco, Analyn Yap

Music – Anton Luis Avila, Gianina Camille Del Rosario, Victor Robinson III, Ryan Uy

Editor’s Note: LSAA awardees Yap, Tatco and Viceral are members of The GUIDON.