Only in the Philippines!

Philippine STAR and Swatch commemorate the Swatch Year of the Ox Special — Bulls on Parade by welcoming the New Year with its annual competition that has a top prize of P100,000.

This year’s topic is “My Bullish Art.”

The contest is open to all forms of art — painting, sculpture, photography, graphic design, drawing, arts and crafts — anything goes! What's the theme? Why Bullish art of course! Furthermore, the topic’s interpretation is completely up to you. There are no requirements. There are no limits. There is just your imagination, creativity and talent.

Promo Period: Dec. 27, 2008 to Feb. 18, 2009

MECHANICS:

The contest is open to all.

To best inspire everyone’s creativity, the contest is open to all mediums of art - painting, photography, sculpture, graphic design, arts and crafts, including but not limited to paper mache, pottery, paper tole, etc.

The theme of the art competition is “My Bullish Art.”

Entry forms are available daily in The Philippine STAR during the duration of the promo.

All entries must be submitted starting December 27, 2008 and must be accompanied with a completed entry form, contest guidelines acceptance form (available at any Swatch Store or Kiosk). Gift Gate, Inc. must receive all entries by 8 p.m. of February 18, 2009.

Entries may be brought personally to any Swatch store or kiosk and will be received by the store OIC for proper documentation and storage. These entries will be sent to the Home Office (17 New York Street, Cubao, 1109, Quezon City) everyday for safekeeping.

All entries will automatically become the exclusive property of Gift Gate, Inc. and may be used, copied, reproduced and/or reprinted by Gift Gate, Inc. into any size or medium for exhibition, advertising, promotion or whatever purpose. Contest participant further allows Gift Gate, Inc. to use his/her name and/or image/picture/likeness without limit in conjunction with his winning entry.

Gift Gate, Inc. reserves and maintains all intellectual property rights over its name and logo and all names, likeness and logos of its represented brands including but not limited to Swatch. Contest participants may only use the above in conjunction with his entry into this contest and for no other purpose.

Final judging will be on Feb. 28, 2009, 2 p.m., at Gift Gate Home Office, 17 New York Street, Cubao, 1109 Quezon City.

Participants are eligible to win any of the prizes. However, a participant can only win once, and the higher prize prevails.

Criteria for judging are:

Originality: 25 percent — freshness, novelty and inventiveness

Creativity: 50 percent — new forms, imaginative interpretation

Composition: 25 percent — arrangement of combination of elements to form a pleasing and attractive whole

Total: 100 percent

Prizes are as follows:

1st prize – P100,000 and the Swatch Special “Bulls on Parade”

2nd prize – P50,000 and the Swatch Special “Bulls on Parade”

3rd prize – P30,000 and the Swatch Special “Bulls on Parade”

4th prize – P20,000 and the Swatch Special “Bulls on Parade”

10 honorable mentions – Swatch Special “Bulls on Parade”

All winners will be notified by registered mail.

Winners will also be announced in The Philippine STAR Pet Life Special on March 7, 2009.

Awarding of prizes will be at The Gallery, Greenbelt 5 on March 7, 2009. All prizes not claimed after 60 days from receipt of notification letter will be forfeited with prior approval from DTI.

Prizes not claimed at the awarding, may be claimed at Swatch Store SM Mega Mall B during store hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Winners must present all of the following proof of identification to claim their prize:

a. Valid original ID (birth certificate, passport, driver’s license or SSS ID)

b. Claim stub

c. Notification letter

The 20 percent tax for all prizes exceeding P10,000 will be paid by the winner.

All prizes are non-transferable and non-cash prizes are non-convertible to cash.

The decision of the board of judges of the art contest is final and cannot be appealed with the concurrence of the DTI.

All employees of Gift Gate, Inc., The Philippine STAR, the judging committee and their relatives up to the 2nd degree of consanguinity or affinity are not allowed to join this promotion.