Finalists of Pioneer Insurance and Team Manila’s Graphic Shirt contest

Have gratitude in your heart and wear your heart on your sleeve. Put them together and wear heart filled with gratitude on your shirt!

That’s the inspiration that budding millennial graphic artists used in their submission to the Big Heart Graphic T‑shirt Design Contest by Pioneer Insurance and local graphic design powerhouse Team Manila. The contest was launched in December last year, and from the top ten designs were selected from 153 submissions and presented to the public on February 1, at the Greenbelt Mall. The contest is a part of Pioneer’s campaign to reach out to colleges and universities on the importance of insurance through the media of art. Pioneer has previously had songwriting and playwriting contests to help spark young talent.

The top ten shirt designs were not just presented on frames to the audience, but were worn by dancers who showed just how impactful the designs were in a moving, grooving body. The top ten designers automatically win at least ₱5,000 in cash, ₱100,000 worth of personal accident insurance and ₱10,000 worth of dengue insurance by Pioneer to protect the talented artists.

Art Samantha Gonzales

Antonette Perez from De La Salle University‑College of Saint Benilde won first place, with her shirt “Isang Lahi, Isang Puso.” Four people with indistinct genders sharing one heart, Perez shows that love and gratitude knows no age, color or gender. She won ₱50,000 in cash for her design. University of Makati’s Joshua‑Rei Panaligan won second place and ₱30,000 cash for “Taos Puso”, a creative illusion where an anatomically correct heart, upon closer inspection, is actually made up of linked arms, with the words “salamat po” written in the middle in script. Micaela Marie Balagapo from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila won third price and ₱20,000 cash for “Kindness Without End”, an eye‑catching graphic design that says “kindness” in bold, proving that you don’t need badass words for a badass shirt.

The contest was judged by CCI‑Asia Chairman Emily Abrera, Associate Creative Director OJ Desuasido, Graphic Designer AJ Dimarucot, Team Manila Co‑Founder Jowee Alviar, and Pioneer Life Inc. President Lorenzo Chan Jr.

Starting next month, the top three shirts will be sold on Team Manila’s online shop, Suez & Zapote Gallery, and Lazada. Proceeds from the shirts will go to the contest winners, jump‑starting their careers as graphic designers.