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When young artists are given the space and tools to imagine, blank walls don’t stay empty for long.
For students Lorie Mae Urgel (Cebu), Gabriel Bañas (Iloilo), and their respective teams, the 5G Building Craft: Paint Tomorrow served as a powerful platform to share stories of family and community resilience.
The contest shows that when youth talent meets cutting-edge technology, entire neighborhoods see the future taking shape on their walls.
Meet the Murals and the Artists: Stories of Going Forward Together
Drawing from their lives, the young artists turned experiences into vivid visual tales. Here, 5G became a symbol of unbreakable links, endless possibilities, and collective forward motion.
The Sinulog 5G Building Craft: Cebu as a “Home Away From Home”
Lorie Mae Urgel, a third-year Fine Arts student at Southwestern University PHINMA, always saw art as a means of expression and her lifeline. Diagnosed with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a child, she found calm in the simple act of drawing, a habit her mother encouraged to help her focus.
“Art has been therapy for me. When I was a child, the only way my mom could help me stay still was by giving me paper and a pencil,” Lorie shares.
Lorie’s style draws inspiration from the bold, chaotic beauty of street art and the sharp social commentary of Banksy, an artist famed for his wild yet meaningful designs. Joining the contest was a spontaneous decision, encouraged by her dean and teachers who saw her potential even as she hesitated due to heavy school demands.
“It was already a big opportunity, so why not?” she says now, happy at how her mentors’ belief gave her team the courage to step up, especially in a school better known for medicine than Fine Arts.
Alongside teammates Maria Leamae Patagnan, Raymark Abarracoso, Kristine Geanne Torno, and Steffany Karell Pillo, Lorie envisioned Cebu as a welcoming “home away from home.”
In their winning mural painting, a commanding Lapu-Lapu figure anchors the scene set in the Philippines, surrounded by festive energy, satellites, and Globe’s vibrant brand colors. The stylized drawings weave in innocence and warmth, reminding viewers of the tender family bonds that technology helps sustain.
The design also echoes Globe’s own call to action. “Our design also aligns with Globe’s narrative, Go Forward Together. Both the child and the parent move forward together. The student graduates and builds a better future, while the parents complete their role in supporting their child’s education. They both step into the next chapter of their lives, sharing a proud and joyful smile,” Lorie explains.
As the mural took shape, so did her hope for what comes next.
“I hope more big opportunities will come for me and my friends. After this mural, we hope to inspire younger artists to follow their creative hearts and share a meaningful, impactful message with the community,” she admits.
The Dinagyang 5G Building Craft: Community and the Future of Communication
Gabriel Bañas, a Bachelor of Industrial Technology Major in Architectural Drafting student at Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U), grew up with art as a family-supported passion. His parents discovered his talent at an early age and enrolled him in workshops at around Grade 5, allowing him to thrive and excel in the arts.
Gabriel has consistently joined and won editorial cartooning contests. He also joined Pasyon Komiks, an independent all-Ilonggo comics group. Through commissioned work, he’s able to turn his creativity into practical support for his allowance.
The mural contest’s theme sparked an instant vision for him.
“When I first heard the contest theme, I got the idea of picturing a student using his phone to communicate with his mother, with something in the background that symbolizes the future,” Gabriel recalls.
Working with Franz Jed Banaag, George Rhegan Colacion, Jude Ashlee Janoras, and Vied Christian Padrones, the team built a mural design with a semi-realistic art style. It showcased the vision of a thriving 5G-powered city, with emotional, relatable figures grounding the futuristic elements, making progress feel personal and achievable.
For Gabriel and his team, 5G represented more than speed.
“We interpreted 5G in the masterpiece as the future because it helps students and the community grow together,” Gabriel says, capturing the essence of technology as a shared ladder upward.
Their process flowed collaboratively: team brainstorming, quick sketches on a pad, and a clever use of AI to test and refine color palettes through iterative prompts.
“We first conceptualized and combined our ideas in a small sketch pad. After we finished drafting and were satisfied with it, we sketched it. In the coloring phase, we used tools like Gemini AI to color our concept. We put our color palette in the prompt and made multiple prompts until we were satisfied. After that, we applied the colors to our concept,” Gabriel details, highlighting how modern tools amplified their teamwork.
Now that the mural is complete, Gabriel turns inward to keep evolving.
“After this project, my next step is reflection and application. I’ll reflect on my previous experience and then apply it to my next project,” Gabriel shares, already planning the next creative step.
Scaling Up: From Small Sketches to Public Walls
Shifting from sketchpads to public walls pushed both teams into new territory, with their winning works being their first large-scale public works.
Lorie’s group felt both the thrill and pressure of the leap.
“Actually, this is our first time having our art on such a large canvas, where it will be seen by so many people. We usually paint on small canvases, and our work isn’t often displayed in public spaces. So this opportunity to share our art with a wider audience is truly a dream come true for us,” Lorie discloses. Tight deadlines and a small mishap with gouache on the wrong paper tested them, but they adapted and delivered.
Meanwhile, Gabriel’s team wrestled with scale in practical ways, such as getting proportions right, choosing durable materials that withstand the elements, and syncing as a group. The real magic came afterward.
“The most rewarding part of seeing our design come to life was watching the mural actually affect the neighborhood, seeing people stop and talk about it, and feeling that the message we wanted to send actually got across on such a big wall,” Gabriel emphasizes, savoring the moment when art sparked real conversations.
Art That Connects Communities
Beyond eye-catching designs, these murals carry messages of belonging, identity, and the vital role that young voices play in public spaces.
For Lorie, public art turns blank walls into shared experiences that build pride and connection. “Art makes us human and acts as a tool for communication, reflection, and connection,” she says passionately.
Lorie’s advice to fellow creators is fearless: “Don’t be afraid of what society says about art being useless.”
Meanwhile, Gabriel views art as a form of empowerment for young people. For him, art is an avenue for voicing ideas, tackling challenges creatively, and claiming space.
“Creativity lets you express yourself, solve problems, and make a positive change. It encourages them to chase their own artistic dreams and find their voice,” Gabriel explains.
Public pieces, he adds, “tell a story everyone can relate to, make them think, and make the space look cooler, which gives the community a sense of pride and identity.”
Your Turn to Create, Connect, and Go Forward
At its core, the 5G Mission: Mural Design Contest demonstrates that when young creatives are supported, their ideas shape culture and community. The contest served as a launchpad, platform, and powerful statement that youth perspectives deserve to be seen and heard.
For Lorie, Gabriel, and their teams, their winning murals opened the doors for more opportunities. Art in the Park, in particular, has become a welcoming platform for emerging and independent artists, offering accessible spaces to showcase new work, make connections, and take early steps in their creative journeys.
Additionally, events like Art Fair Philippines further expand these opportunities by bringing together artists, collectors, and communities in larger national conversations around contemporary art.
Lorie beams when thinking of these spaces: “I love watching others enjoying making art and sometimes even making a living from it. It makes me happy to see that artists are now recognized and that we truly belong in this society. I especially love seeing the younger generation so expressive and passionate about art today. It’s inspiring!”
Gabriel feels the same pull: “What gets me excited about art festivals and showcases like Art in the Park is getting to display my work in different places, meet all kinds of audiences, and see how art can bring people together and start conversations all over the country.”
By supporting creative platforms like Art in the Park and Art Fair Philippines, as well as initiatives such as the 5G Mission: Mural Design Contest, Globe provides spaces for young artists to share their work, connect with communities, and contribute to the country’s growing creative culture. With Globe 5G powering stronger connections through flexible prepaid and dependable postpaid plans, these communities can also plan events, promote their work, and share their stories in real-time.
To every young dreamer scrolling from the sidelines: consider this your gentle nudge. Claim your space, trust your unique voice, and pursue the ideas that set your heart racing.
The wall is ready. The future is waiting.
