IT Student Wins Second Place in Southeast Asia Art Contest on Academic Freedom

Bukidnon State University (BukSU) junior Bachelor of Science in Information Technology student Alquien Engaling Capuyan placed Second Place in the Artivism for Academic Freedom Artwork Competition, a Southeast Asia-wide contest organized by the Southeast Asia Coalition for Academic Freedom (SEACAF).

Capuyan serves as the head illustrator of Collegianer, BukSU’s student publication.

Held as part of International Academic Freedom Month, the competition recognized artworks that explored creativity, critical thinking, and freedom of expression.

The regional contest carried the theme, “Reimagining Freedom: Southeast Asian Youth for Creative Expression and Critical Thinking,” and invited young artists across Southeast Asia to interpret academic freedom through visual art.

Capuyan’s winning artwork, titled “Academic Freedom,” presents students, books, scientific discovery, and artistic expression in a single composition. The illustration conveys the idea that while institutions and published materials may face restrictions, the ability to question, imagine, and create remains with individuals.

“Books can be censored, restricted, but not the creative minds of the people. The freedom to think and imagine isn’t decoration. It’s the foundation everything else is built on, and it’s worth defending,” Capuyan wrote.

According to SEACAF, the competition sought to raise awareness of academic freedom and freedom of expression among students and young people, encourage creative and critical thinking in an AI-driven era, provide a platform for youth voices across Southeast Asia, promote art as a medium for rights advocacy, and recognize diverse perspectives and lived experiences.

SEACAF is based in Thailand and is hosted by the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies at Mahidol University.