The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Museum will hold the 2026 On-the-Spot Painting Competition (OTSPC) on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the UST Benavides Garden. Colleges and universities in and around Metro Manila are invited to send up to 25 fine arts students to compete in the oldest student art competition of its kind.  

Registration will take place from 7:30 to 10:00 a.m. and the competition will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This will be followed by awarding ceremonies, and the exhibit opening will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the UST Plaza Mayor.  The winning works will be on exhibit at the UST Museum until March 27, 2026.  

Centering on “Philippine Festivities: Painting the Spirit of Filipino Celebrations, “the theme invites young artists to explore and interpret the spirit behind Filipino celebrations, going  beyond vibrant visuals to reveal their deeper social and cultural significance. Philippine festivities offer a pause from the ordinariness of daily life, creating moments where communities come together to  celebrate, reflect, and reconnect with shared values and traditions.

Through painting, students are  encouraged to express how these celebrations foster joy, faith, resilience, and unity, ultimately strengthening communal bonds and inspiring collective responsibility. Works should reflect how Filipino  festivities not only honor heritage but also lead to a more compassionate, collaborative, and harmonious community working together toward a better society. 

With a legacy dating back to March 12, 1941, the UST Annual On-the-Spot Painting Competition has showcased the talents of generations of artists including those of Vicente Manansala, Ricarte  Puruganan, Galo Ocampo and Arsenio Capili.

Over the years, the competition has become one of the most anticipated campus activities among fine arts students in Metro Manila and nearby areas. Several student winners of the  UST OTSPC are now celebrated names in the contemporary art scene, among them Ronald Ventura, Ivan  Roxas, CJ Tañedo, Thomas Daquioag, Mark Salvatus, and Raffy Napay. 

For inquiries, please contact the Competition Secretariat at museum@ust.edu.ph or at tel. no. (02)  8781-1815 and ask for our Project Coordinator, Ms. Maita Oebanda.