Filipino student shines in UN art tilt

AFilipino grade six student from Quezon City earned recognition from the United Nations Office on Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) for his entry in the 2017 Peace and Cooperation School Award International children’s art competition.

Arvie Orpeda, 12, a student of Melencio M. Castelo Elementary School, was among the 11 students from the Philippines, Latvia, Bulgaria, Spain, Slovakia, and Mexico who impressed an international panel of jury for their interpretation of this year’s theme, “Watching the Stars: The Future of the World.”

Orpeda was awarded last week in a ceremony held at the Vienna International Center in Switzerland.

Over the past year, hundreds of students from around the world have submitted their artworks showing how the exploration of space can bring benefits to humankind.

Several individuals who have been selected as the winners of the competition attended the ceremony, while the rest of the awards, including that of Orpeda’s, were presented to the Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in Vienna of the respective winners’ countries.

Deputy Chief of Mission Sulpicio Confiado of the Philippine Embassy in Switzerland received the diploma on behalf of Orpeda.

In a report to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Confiado said the Filipino student gained the recognition of the UN office for his entry in the poster and motto category.

The Peace and Cooperation Award School Award is an annual arts competition which aims to raise awareness about global social topics and how exploration of space can bring benefits to humankind.

The embassy said in its report that Orpeda’s recognition coincides with this year’s 60th anniversary of the launch to outer space of Sputnik I, as well as the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.

The other categories of the competition are free drawing poster and motto; mural or collective work, free composition, and the extraordinary prize Yuri Gagarin. UNOOSA works to promote international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of space, and in the use of space science and technology for sustainable economic and social development.