Ilocano artist Del Torrano wins GSIS grand prize with art rooted in compassion

Del Torrano’s bigger dreams is to create works that celebrate culture, reflect ordinary Filipino lives, and inspire young artists from the provinces.

When Delmar Jacob Torrano won the Grand Prize at the 21st GSIS National Art Competition, it was not just another medal added to a growing list of honors.

For the artist from Sinait, Ilocos Sur, it was proof that years of quiet work, provincial beginnings, classroom discipline, and repeated attempts at competitions had finally found a place on the national stage.

“I think winning the 21st GSIS National Art Competition is something I’m truly grateful for, and it’s a milestone that I never take for granted,” Torrano said in an exclusive interview.

 

His winning acrylic-on-canvas work, “Pusong Itinanghal,” reflects on the meaning of public service. In the painting, government workers lift an ordinary Filipino toward a key and an old lamp with a glowing heart—a symbol, he said, of opportunity, hope, guidance, and compassion.

“The idea came from reflecting on the true meaning of public service,” he said. “We often see government workers performing their daily responsibilities, but I wanted to look beyond their job titles and focus on the people behind the work.”

For Torrano, the work is also a tribute to bayanihan.

“We achieve more when we help one another,” he said.

From Sinait to the national stage

Long before the GSIS win, Torrano was a boy in Sinait who kept drawing in his notebooks, sometimes getting scolded for sketching during class.

“No one ever told me that I had talent—not my classmates, nor even my teachers,” he recalled.

In high school, that quiet passion started to find recognition. He began representing his school in poster-making and slogan-making competitions. In college, he continued joining art contests, not only to improve his craft but also to help support his education.

Today, Torrano is an Ilocano visual artist, educator, and illustrator who teaches art major subjects at the College of Fine Arts and Design of the University of Northern Philippines in Vigan City. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts major in Visual Communication and a Master of Arts in Teaching Practical Arts.

The artist as teacher

For Torrano, teaching and creating are not separate lives.

“Being both an educator and a practicing artist has been a blessing because the two roles constantly inspire each other,” he said.

His students, he added, remind him to stay curious, experiment, and enjoy the process.

“Sometimes, as artists, we become so focused on making a perfect piece or achieving recognition that we forget the simple joy of creating,” he said.

Key shows and recognitions

Before his GSIS grand prize, Torrano had steadily built a serious exhibition and competition record.

In 2026, he joined “Art Heals: A Pop-up Exhibition” at the Vigan Convention Center, “Art in the Park 20 Years” at Jaime Velasquez Park in Makati, and the 6th Greater Mekong Subregion Art Exhibition in Thailand, where he also served as an international guest speaker.

His earlier group shows include “PARMATA,” a collective exhibition of Ilocano artists in Quezon City; “Philippines Finest 2024” at the House of Representatives; “Echoes of Blue” in Manila; “Wen Ngarud” in Makati; and “TIGNAY,” an exhibition of Ylocano artists in Baguio.

His awards also trace a long climb: third prize at the Faith Colleges National Painting Competition in 2025, finalist citations in the 2025 and 2024 GSIS National Art Competition, champion honors in Ilocos Sur coffee painting and other local art competitions, and multiple wins from 2022 onward.

Art rooted in ordinary Filipino life