14-year-old aspiring architect to represent PHL in Korea art competition

At 14, Grade 8 student Wika Nadera is set to represent the Philippines at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, Korea, in September after winning the qualifiers held by the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission (POC-PSC) in July.

A student at the Philippine High School for the Arts, Nadera's watercolor piece garnered 92 percent approval from judges, allowing his piece to become the Philippines' representative for the art leg of the Asian Games.

But Nadera's fortune could've easily turned out different, as he meant to paint his piece using a different medium.

"I'm more used to watercolors [but] acrylic suits [the] solid colors that I used for the design. But because I didn't bring with me the acrylic paint, I just used watercolor," Nadera told GMA News Online.

Nadera believes that the competition, held from July 7 to 18, was influential in promoting the values of Asian intercultural relations among its 43 participants. He hopes that the games themselves would extend this to other Asian youth.

"I noticed that we, adolescents, know less about about Asia compared to how much we know about western culture. I think we need to strengthen these Asian relations and knowledge among the youth," he said.

A former student of Fernando Seña in painting and Jay Javier in photography, the high school student views painting as a hobby and plans on taking architecture in the future.

However, he said a gallery featuring his works is part of his plans.

PSC Chairman at Asian Games Chef de Mission Richie Garcia said in a statement that the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee (IAGOC) will asses Nadera's work, along with official entries from other participating Asian countries, during the grand finale from September 19 to October 4.

“The objective of the project is for the Asia’s youth to display their knowledge and personal view on the Asian Games through artworks. The project also envisioned the development of intercultural relations among the Asian countries,” said Garcia. —KBK, GMA News