Four winning artists emerge from 130 entries, sharing powerful reflections on faith, recovery and life after Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi.
SAIPAN, CNMI — A family plants a new tree beneath a proud latte stone. A Mariana fruit dove shelters beneath the branches of a plumeria tree. Children find joy amid storm debris.
More than striking images, these works tell the story of our island community tested by Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi, yet determined to rise with faith, hope and color.
Pacifica Insurance Underwriters, Inc. announces the four winners of its 13th Annual Pacifica Art Contest (PAC), selected from a total of 130 entries across all competition categories, including adult submissions. Inspired by the 2026 theme, “Faith & Hope: Post Sinlaku and Bavi,” the artists transformed memories of destruction, recovery and everyday courage into powerful expressions of what it means to be Marianas Strong.
“If these works of art don’t move you to tears, I don’t know what will. That is the thought that stays with me as I reflect on this year’s extraordinary collection of artwork,” said Shirley Ann T. Sablan, President and CEO of Pacifica Insurance Underwriters, Inc.
“This year’s PAC theme, Faith and Hope Post Sinlaku and Bavi, carries an even deeper meaning as our beloved Marianas continue to endure the force of natural disasters.”
Behind each winning piece is a personal interpretation of what it means to endure, rebuild and find hope. For the four artists recognized this year, those stories took remarkably different forms.
Four Visions of Resilience
For Colin James Lilles, 10, of Green Meadow School, hope begins with something as simple as planting a tree.
Winner of Traditional Category 1 for ages 6–11, Lilles depicted a family planting new life beneath the CNMI flag and a flower-crowned latte stone standing tall above them. His artwork carries a simple yet stirring message: storms may damage homes and trees, but they cannot defeat a community that rebuilds together.
When his name was announced in front of his classmates, Lilles was stunned. Moments later, he was smiling ear to ear as the classroom erupted in cheers.
Where Lilles imagined new beginnings, Hyunyu Choi, 17, of Saipan International School, found hope in the people who came together amid destruction.
Winner of Traditional Category 2 for ages 12–17, Choi portrayed storm wreckage in black and white while bringing the people helping one another to life in color. The striking contrast honors the smiles, generosity and strength that endured despite destruction and food shortages.
“I feel really grateful that I received this award,” Choi said. “Thank you.”
For Monicah Salazar, 15, of Marianas High School, that same spirit of togetherness took shape through symbols deeply rooted in the islands.
Winner of the all-ages Digital Category, Salazar created an image of a Mariana fruit dove seeking refuge beneath a plumeria tree as ropes pull a latte stone back together. The imagery reflects both the fragility of what storms can damage and the strength found in restoring what has been broken.
Salazar said she entered the contest on a whim, never imagining her artwork would resonate so strongly.
“It represents all of us,” she said. “We embrace everything that comes our way.”
While the first three artists explored resilience through illustration and symbolism, Jayson Sablan, 28, of CHCC’s Communications Department, captured it through the lens of a camera.
Winner of the all-ages Photography Category, Sablan took his winning photograph on Rota one week after Super Typhoon Bavi. Amid fallen trees and scattered debris, children reclaim a moment of joy and normalcy, offering a candid glimpse of everyday life continuing in the aftermath of disaster.
The photograph captures a quiet but powerful contrast: destruction may surround a community, but it does not erase its capacity for joy.
Sablan encouraged fellow photographers to “follow your passion, follow your dreams” and share their work with the world.
Art That Turns Experience Into Meaning
For the judges, selecting the winners went beyond recognizing creativity and technical skill. Each entry offered a personal perspective on how the Marianas endured the storms, with stories of loss, faith and hope taking shape through different artistic forms.
“It was moving to see the artists create beauty from trauma and pain,” said judge Asia Camacho Hilario, a self-love coach, mental health advocate and founder of Sagan Flores. “Their work showed how art can help us reflect on difficult experiences and find meaning in them.”
That sense of resilience also resonated with judge Charlotte Tenorio, a daughter of the Marianas turned New Yorker. A graduate of Boston University and Valparaiso University School of Law in Indiana, Tenorio is also an avid enthusiast of the arts.
“Despite the destruction caused by the storms, the young artists held onto their faith and the hope that our islands would rebuild stronger,” Tenorio said. “That sense of resilience came through powerfully in their work.”
For Rev. Fr. James S. Balajadia, JCL, chancellor and judicial vicar of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa and pastor of Kristo Rai Parish in Garapan, Saipan, the artworks invited viewers to look beyond what appeared on the surface.
“Every entrant showed courage by sharing art shaped by real-life experience,” Balajadia said. “These are pieces we should not merely look at, but ‘read’ for the deeper lessons and stories they carry.”
Judge Jeroen Montenejo, founder of Saipan-based dance group The Profound Bandits, similarly reflected on how the entries revealed the beauty of the islands and the strength of their people. The theme of faith and hope held personal significance for Montenejo, whose dance group’s motto is “Have Faith and Trust.”
For judge Jacqueline Che, Interim Commissioner of Education, choosing among the entries was no easy task.
“This was certainly a hard choice—the artworks were amazing,” Che said. “Best wishes and congratulations to all participants and winners of the Pacifica Art Contest!”
In selecting the winners across all categories, the judges considered creativity and originality, technical quality, clarity of theme and presentation.
A Community-Wide Canvas
The competition concluded on September 28, 2026, drawing participation from artists representing 18 schools across Saipan and Rota, along with adult entrants. The widespread involvement reflected the community’s enthusiasm for artistic expression and the deeply personal significance of this year’s theme.
Among the participating schools, Green Meadow School, Mount Carmel School and Saipan Seventh-day Adventist School received special recognition for submitting the highest number of entries.
Participating schools included Agape Christian School, Brilliant Star Montessori School, Chacha Ocean View Middle School, Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior/Senior High School, EUCON International School, Francisco M. Sablan Middle School, Grace Christian Academy, Green Meadow School, Kagman High School, Marianas High School, Mount Carmel School, Northern Marianas International School, Saipan Community School, Saipan International School, Saipan Seventh-day Adventist School, Saipan Southern High School, San Vicente Elementary School, and Sinapalo Elementary School.
As another successful PAC comes to a close, President Sablan expressed her gratitude to those who helped bring this year’s event to life.
“To every artist who shared a piece of their heart and experience, to our judges, school administrators, dedicated volunteers and the incredible Pacifica team—thank you and Un Dangkulu na si Yu’us Ma’ase for making this year’s contest one for the books,” Sablan said.
Organized by Dana Marie Sablan and Loriann Rabe, the annual contest brought together artists, schools, families and judges from across the Marianas.
“Every year, the work behind the scenes reminds us why we do this. Our kids, our people continue to surprise us through the stories they bring to life in their artwork. It never stops being rewarding, and our hope is that PAC will continue to inspire generations of artists to come,” said this year’s organizing committee.
Sharing Stories of Hope
The stories told through this year’s entries will continue to reach the community beyond the competition.
All submitted artworks will be displayed at the Pacifica Insurance office on the second floor of the Joeten Building in Susupe through January 8, 2027. The public is invited to view the exhibition during normal business hours.
Selected entries will also be featured in Pacifica’s corporate marketing materials, print publications, social media platforms and The PAC Gallery at www.pacificains.com/artcontest.
PAC serves as both a celebration of local talent and a reminder of the important role art plays in preserving experiences, connecting people and inspiring hope.
Through every brushstroke, digital layer and photograph, this year’s artists delivered one lasting message: storms are part of the Marianas story, but so are courage, care and the will to bloom again.
“I was so moved with the art pieces. Having gone through the typhoon and remembering how traumatizing it was for everyone, it was touching to see how beautiful art was created through the trauma and pain. I could really feel the emotion through the art pieces.”
“Judging these works of art was no small task given this year’s theme. I commend all the artists for sharing their talents and vision. One thing that stood out is that despite the destruction the storms left, the children still had enduring faith and positive hope that our islands will come together and rebuild stronger. This message was clear in all the submissions.”
“This is my first time seeing and judging the various art pieces. I definitely see the artistic talent demonstrated by the various artists and their courage in submitting their own work of art. I commend all of them for their submissions because it’s not easy for one’s work to be critiqued or judged by others. They used their real life experiences to express the faith and hope shown by people after the storms. To me the one’s who were the most creative allowed the judge to sit with the piece of art. In one art history class I took the professor told us that we are to read the piece of art, not just see what pops out instantly. To allow the viewer to read the piece of art and draw out lessons or messages from the artwork.”
“All of the artwork was beautiful and unique in its own way. Each piece made me realize even more how beautiful our islands are. Despite the many typhoons we’ve experienced as a community, these artworks remind us of our strength, resilience, and ability to always come back stronger. The theme of “Faith and Hope” also really resonated with me because of my dance group, The Profound Bandits, has a motto that says “Have Faith and Trust.” Seeing this theme reminded me that no matter what challenges we face, we should always have faith, trust, and HOPE.”
“This was certainly a hard choice—the artworks were amazing,” Che said. “Best wishes and congratulations to all participants and winners of the Pacifica Art Contest!”
Pen, paint, charcoal, oil pastel, crayons, and more. Maximum size: 18 × 24 inches. Traditional entries must be submitted to the Pacifica office.
Digital artwork in JPEG or PNG format.
JPG, JPEG, or PNG.
