There are moments in life when you least expect something good to happen—then suddenly, everything shifts. For Bear Jay Bermeo, winning the ARFIEN On-the-Spot Art Contest wasn’t just about creating a stunning piece of art. It was a turning point.
Bear had originally planned to take a break before heading to college, his dreams put on hold due to financial struggles. But fate had a different plan. His hands, guided by talent and sheer passion, crafted an artwork that not only won him first place but also secured a one-semester scholarship—a ticket to continue chasing his dreams.
So, what drove him to pick up his brushes that day?
“The first ones who inspired me were my teachers, who encouraged me to join,” Bear shares. “And of course, the ‘manongs and manangs’ from ARFIEN—the upperclassmen I look up to. I’ve always wanted to be like them.”
His winning piece was more than just colors on a canvas. It was a visual narrative of the evolution of art in the Filipino community—a tribute to the ever-changing, ever-growing creativity of our people.
𝙂𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙡𝙤𝙬
Some artists plan every detail before touching their medium. Not Bear.
“When they gave me the theme, I just went with the flow of my imagination,” he explains. “Whatever came to mind, I arranged and placed it into my artwork.”
But that doesn’t mean it was all smooth sailing. Oil pastels—the medium provided for the contest—weren’t exactly his comfort zone. “I’m not that good with oil pastels,” he admits. “That was my biggest challenge.”
Still, he adapted. He worked with what he had. And it paid off.
𝘼 𝙒𝙞𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙈𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙖 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙮
Winning wasn’t just about the prestige—it was a lifeline.
“I wasn’t expecting this at all,” Bear says. “I had already planned to take a year off because of financial struggles. But now, after this win, I know God has other plans for me.”
That’s the thing about destiny—it has a way of redirecting you when you think you’ve hit a dead end.
𝘽𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙈𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙧
Talent is one thing, but the right mentors can shape raw skill into something extraordinary. For Bear, two people have played a crucial role in his artistic journey:
Ms. Mary Nelyn Guilaran and Sir Ej Robete.
“Since Grade 11, Ms. Guilaran has been so supportive of me in every competition I joined,” he shares. “And Sir Robete—he’s one of my biggest supporters and mentors, too. I owe a lot to them.”
𝙇𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙: 𝘼 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙨
With college now within reach, Bear has his eyes set on pursuing Studio Arts under Fine Arts.
“My dream is to be a good artist someday—and maybe even become an art teacher,” he says, reflecting on the mentors who have shaped his path.
And why not? One unexpected win has already rewritten his future. Who’s to say what else is in store for him?
One thing’s for sure—Bear Jay Bermeo is just getting started.