30/11/2025
๐ก๐๐ช๐ฆ | A powerful call for environmental action and data literacy took center stage at the 6th FOI Multi-Arts Festival, where a young writer from Mindanao stood out among participants nationwide. The festival, organized by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and held at The Bellevue Hotel in Alabang, Muntinlupa, celebrated artworks and stories that empower the public through access to information.
One of the eventโs major highlights was the recognition of outstanding student pieces. Earl Owen Ares, a second-year aquaculture student from the College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of Mindanao State UniversityโGeneral Santos City, clinched 1st Place in the Essay WritingโEnglish Category with his entry โWhen Data Speaks and No One Listens.โ
Aresโ essay tackled a pressing issue in the digital age: the abundance of accessible information that often remains unused or misunderstood, resulting in inactionโparticularly on urgent environmental concerns. His piece underscored how data, though powerful, becomes meaningless when ignored, misinterpreted, or left without concrete action. Following the announcement of winners, Ares shared his sentiments, describing the victory as both unexpected and deeply meaningful.
โWinning at a national level felt surrealโhappy, accomplished, yet humbled. I had no expectations at all since I joined without fully knowing the contest details or the organizations behind it. But beyond grateful pa rin,โ he said.
The festival, themed โEnsuring Access to Environmental Data in the Digital Age,โ sought to emphasize the importance of accurate and accessible environmental information. It encouraged the youthโand the public at largeโto use creativity and critical thinking in transforming data into art that inspires awareness, community action, and evidence-based policymaking.
Ares also offered words of encouragement to aspiring writers and artists hoping to make their mark beyond their local communities.
โTo my fellow writers who dream of reaching the national stage or standing on the podium: donโt just writeโfeel your words. Write with your heart, not just your hand. Donโt stop showing up for your craft. Your moment will find you the way this one found me.โ
His win not only brought pride to MSU-Gensan but also amplified a timely message: data becomes power only when people choose to listen and act.