CALABARZON is a hub and wellspring as well of artists.
Not only plain artists but award-winning ones.
One example is the versatile artist Maria Gemma Suguitan San Jose, also known in the arts circle as Gemma Suguitan or simply, Gem Suguitan.
Gem is from the bucolic town of Lopez in Quezon Province, a region under the jurisdiction of the geopolitical divide of CALABARZON.
Gem recently won Grand Prize in the Non-Figurative category of the first ever Sining Filipina art contest, an all-female art competition in the country spearheaded and partnered by The Zonta Club of Makati and the Environs, BDO and SM Supermalls.
Out of hundreds of entries in the division, Suguitan's art piece, "Layers of Experiences" was chosen as the most outstanding, the First Prize.
"I dedicate my winning to all women of Lopez where my mom Marietta Arella Suguitan hails from, of the Philippines and of the world.
"And because my dad, the late Guillermo Suguitan was from Vintar, Ilocos Norte, I also offer my award to the women of Vintar.
"I also have roots in Pila, Laguna and Laguna is part of CALABARZON so I also dedicate the award to the women out there in the whole province.
"The first Sining Filipina art competition is in honor of women done in March, primarily this month is Women's Month," Gem elucidated.
Gem received a trophy, a certificate and a cash prize of P250,000.00.
At the SM Aura in Taguig City where the awarding was held, retired marketing man of Mead Johnson and Unilab Lorenzo L. Barros, Jr., a CALABARZON guy, was looking down on the Sining Filipina art exhibit on the ground when Suguitan's name was called.
"Sabi ko, pamilyar ang pangalan, kababayan ko 'yon, a. Pareho kaming taga-Lopez, Quezon. At si Gem Suguitan nga (I told myself, the name sounded familiar, a town mate. It was her indeed).
"So I went down to see Gem and we had a photo together," quipped Chichi, Lorenzo's pet name.
"I am indeed proud of CALABARZON achievers especially Quezonians," BarrIS beamed.