What was supposed to be a celebration of creativity and Filipino culture has backfired on the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), after its recently launched Buwan ng Wika art contest drew strong criticism online.

PITX invited local artists to submit artworks depicting the state of the Filipino language in today’s generation, with winners receiving only ₱1,000 worth of Mang Inasal gift certificates each.

Instead of sparking excitement, the contest triggered outrage among netizens and artists who described the prize as demeaning to the time, effort, and talent required to produce quality art.

“Jusko, yung prize sa mananalo. Mas mahal pa ‘yong isang kulay ng oil paint ko diyan,” one Facebook user commented.

Another said: “Dito mo talaga makikita kung paano dinedegrade ang mga artist. Concept pa lang, oras na agad. Tapos ₱1,000 GC lang matatanggap? Nakakainsulto.”

Several critics accused PITX of exploiting the skills of Filipino artists under the guise of cultural promotion, calling the contest a cheap marketing ploy.

While PITX has not yet responded to the backlash, the incident has sparked broader conversations about the undervaluing of creative work in the Philippines — especially in public and corporate campaigns.