Group 4-Rizal

‘National Artist Award’

A Written Report in Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regionss

Members:
Villena

Bardelosa

Baybay

Descarga

Marasigan

Nuñez

Otero

Perez

Yambao

Zamora
 INTRODUCTION
What is National Artist Award?

National Artist Award (Orden ng Gawad Pambansang Alagad ng Sining)

• Established in April 2, 1972 under Presidential Decree No. 1001 by the President Ferdinand
Marcos.

• Highest form of recognition to Filipino artists for their significant contributions in the arts and
letters.

ORDER OF GABRIELA SILANG

- highest form of award than National Artist Award

GAWAD MABINI

- lower form of award than National Artist Award

Purpose:

• to award Filipino artists who have made significant contributions to the cultural heritage
of the country.
• to promote creative expression as significant to the development of a national cultural
identity.

- The award is conferred every three (3) years through a rigorous deliberation and
selection process.

Criteria for National Artist Award

• Given by National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Cultural Center of
the Philippines (CCP)

1. Living artists who have been Filipino citizens for the last ten years prior to nomination as well
as those who have died after the establishment of the award in 1972 but were Filipino citizens
at the time of their death;

2. Artists who have helped build a Filipino sense of nationhood through the content and form of
their works;
3. Artists who have distinguished themselves by pioneering in a mode of creative expression or
style, making an impact on succeeding generations of artists;

4. Artists who have created a significant body of works and/or have consistently displayed
excellence in the practice of their art form, enriching artistic expression or style;

5. Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through prestigious national and/or international
recognition, awards in prestigious national and/or international events, critical acclaim and/or
reviews of their works, and/or respect and esteem from peers within an artistic discipline.

Artists are awarded in seven different disciplinal area

1. Architechture 5. Dance

2. Film and broadcast art 6. Music

3. Visual Arts 7. Theater

4. Literature

First recipient of the award:

• Fernando Amorsolo (1972)

Category: Visual Arts - Painting

With his art 'Planting Rice'

*best known for his mastery in the use of light

*named as the Grand Old Man of the Philippines

Another awardees:

• Francisca Reyes Aquino (1972) • Fernando Poe Jr. (2006)

Category: Dance Category: Film

• Levi Celerio (1997)

Category: Music and Literature

 WORKS OF NATIONAL ARTIST IN PUBLIC SPACES
Guillermo Tolentino (1973)
- National Artist for Sculpture awarded in 1973
work: Oblation (1935)
- a sculptural work depicting a male nude with arms outstretched as a gesture of self-sacrifice
and freedom
- Its pose of self-offering represents Tolentino’s interpretation of Rizal’s second stanza of Mi
Ultimo Adios
- It is for those unknown heroes who fell during the night.
- statue’s height of 3.5-meters symbolizes three and a half centuries (350 years) of Spanish
colonial rule.
- original sculpture is kept at the third floor of the main library of UP Diliman
- Its base is a stylized representation of Philippine archipelago with Big hard rocks and small
rocks pertaining to islands of the Philippines.
- katakataka (“wonder plant”) symbolizes the heroism of the Filipino people. Seeing that
segments of the plant thrown anywhere would “sprout into a young plant,” He viewed the
plant as a symbol of a patriotism that continually grows in different places.

Fernando Amorsolo (1972)

- first recipient of National Artist Award
- awarded with National Artist in Painting 4 days after his death
- best known for illuminated landscapes
work: romantic painting of bucolic landscapes & idealized portraits of prominent individuals
from Common wealth period and WWII @ Jose B. Vargas Museum, UP
Abdulmari Asia Imao (2006)
- first Moro (Islam) to be awarded with National Artist for Sculpture
- known for using okir, naga & sarimanok as motifs
- source of inspiration is Islamic faith
work: Untitled Piece
- first to greet museum visitors once they enter the driveway
- expresses Muslim ethnic identity through abstract form
- combines 3 theme from Islamic iconography
a. five-pointed star atop the structure reminiscent of the sari-mosque
b. core – figure of sarimanok carrying a fish in its beak
c. curvilinear shape – motifs of pako rabong & naga

Benedicto Cabrera (2006)

- National Artist for Visual Arts – Painting
- also known as BenCab
- noted as “arguably best-selling painter of his generation”
- works’ theme are mostly protest against Marcos’ dictatorship
work: Sabel
- scavenger wearing scraps of plastic
- not only a representation of a homeless woman but of any Filipina as well
- the reason why he quit his work in a magazine & pursued painting

Jose Joya (2003)

- National Artist for Visual Arts – Painting
- BenCab’s teacher
- abstract artist who pioneered abstract expressionism in the Philippines
- his works contain dynamic spontaneity & quick gestures of action painting
- influenced by tropical landscapes
work: Barter of Panay @ the lobby of BA Building
- speaks of the tale of arrival of the 10 Bornean datu in Panay Islands as they escaped wars in
their homeland
- met Ati people and Chief Markudo & traded for their lands (coastal area)
* the event is commemorated in Ati-atihan and Dinagyang Festival
Napoleon Abueva (1976)
- National Artist for Sculpture
- youngest recipient of National Artist Award
- Guillermo Tolentino’s student
- exhibits modernist styles & techniques
work: Spirit of Business @ Cesar EA Virata School of Business
- study & application of progressive management of wealth & resources
- symbols are in geometric entities – mainly cylinder – which means no end nor beginning
- projecting stainless steel rubber tubes with varied multiple pierced components shows the
complexity & indeterminate nature of world business
double-sided crucifix @ the Church of the Holy Sacrifice, UP Diliman
- 1 side depicts Christ crucified while an image of a resurrected Christ is on the other vantage
point

Leandro Locsin (1990)

- proclaimed National Artist for Architecture by President Corazon Aquino in 1990

- eldest of the seven children of his father

- named after his grandfather, Don Leandro Locsin which is the First Governor of Negros
Occidental

- studied Pre-law, pursue a Bachelor's degree in Music. He changed to Architecture eventhough

he is a talented pianist.

- influenced by Victorio Edades, a painter and also an architect.

work: Church of the Holy Sacrifice

- 1st masterpiece of Leandro Locsin

- The creation of the design was the time when He was recommended by his friend Zobel to the
Ossorio family to design a family Chapel in Negros Occidental but then the project was
cancelled because the head of the family left for US leaving with unbuilt design.

- Suddenly, Father John Delaney, a priest from UP Diliman requested and commissioned him to
design a Catholic Chapel.
- He adapts the Ossorio Chapel design and produced a unique circular plan based from Father
John Delaney's concept that can occupy a maximum number of the believer covered with a
thin-shell concrete dome, with 14 entrances.

Arturo Luz (1997)

- born in 1926, in Manila

- While still in college, he began showcasing his talent and exhibiting his works.

- chosen as “The Outstanding Young Man in Art" by Manila Times (1955)

- He described his works as "semi representational" and "semiabstract"

- famous for his simplistic design, geometric and abstract style of art. - 1970-1980, - He is served
as the founding director at the Museum of the Philippine Arts

work: Terrazzo Floor

- called "River of Life"

- a geometric zigzag pattern throughout the church.

- signifies that life is similar to a river flowing from God which is the source/center of all life.

Vicente Manansala (1980)

- born in 1910, in Macabebe, Pampanga

- known for cubist paintings

- addressed issues of intimacy, poverty and culture

- His paintings were described as visions of reality on the edge of abstraction

Ang Kiukok (2001)

- He was born in 1931, in Davo City

-"Ang Hua Shing" - his name in Chinese

- His family was Chinese immigrants to Davao

- chose dynamic subject art in an abstracted geometric style

- style of art is much more similar with Vicente Manansala

- student of Vicente Manansala

work: 15 Stations of the Cross

- painting mural by Vicente Manansala and Ang Kiukok

- passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ

- 15th panel is the Resurrection of Christ

Jose Maceda (1997)

- a piano prodigy, composer, musicologist, teacher and performer

- born in 1917, in Manila

- made an understanding on Filipino traditional Music

- undertook music research throughout the Philippines and part of South East Asia

- devoted much of his time to ethnomusicological studies of the music of Philippines and South
East Asia.

work: Pagsamba

- a composition that displays a ritualistic atmosphere on the tagalog text of the Mass

- 241 performers are to be scattered among the audience.

- requires a mixed group of 100 voices.

 TRANSLATIONS AND COLLABORATIVE WORKS OF NATIONAL
ARTIST
Genghis Khan (1950)

-Produced by Manuel Conde and Carlos V. Francisco

-The film told the epic adventure of a Mongolian conqueror.

-Played and directed by Manuel Conde

-Costume and set design by Carlos V. Francisco

-Screened in many film festivals abroad

-Translated into 16 languages for international distribution

- Most recent was at the 2015 Venice Biennale

- Original name Temujin

-Genghis Khan- Genghis or “jenggis” means Right and true. Or tenggis Ocean and wide
spreading. And khan means “ruler”

Manuel Conde

-National Artist for Film

- Actor, film maker, producer

-declared as National Artist for Cinema in 2009, but officially conferred in September 27,
2016

Carlos V. Francisco

-National Artist for Painting

-known for creating murals

-helped enriched the film by his imaginative production

-Tales of Manuvu (1985)

 -jazz/rock opera
-performed at CCP in 1985
-retelling the original myth of Manobo tribe
-originally staged in 1977
-it is a one week run but extended 3 more days due to popular demand
-popularized the song “noong unang panahon”
-recorded by Kuh Ledesma
-Benefitted from the efforts of the following Philippine National Artist:
-Bienvenido Lumbera
-Alice Reyes
-Salvador Bernal

Bienvenido Lumebera

-National Artist for Literature

-awarded in 2006
-He’s recognition as a national artist had been a difficult journey because of many
hindrances but the NCCA (National Commission for Culture and the Arts), who screens
the nominees and gives the award, insist that he is worthy of the award
-contributed to the strengthening of what is Filipino in Filipino Culture
-development of an authentically Filipino culture by Poetry and drama
-the themes of poetry and drama reflects the continuing Filipino quest for full
independence
-received his first award for his cultural research in 1991
-received Ramon Magsaysay award for Journalist, Literature, and creative
communication arts in 1993
-wrote the libretto of the Tales of the Manuvu
-based on the article published in the Philippine heritage written by historian and
anthropologist E. Arseno Manuel
-the song writer was the popular compose Nonong Pedro
-about Filipino traits like being helpful, happy, all the good traits.

-recounting the origins of the Manobo people, the scholar, poet, and teacher. That is
why he is chosen to be part of the Tales of Manuvu
Alice Reyes

-National Artist for Dance

-awarded in 2014
-founder of the Ballet Philippines
-Choreographed the performance of the Tales of the Manuvu
-her mother is a voice teacher, her father is known as Mr Philippines Folk Dancer
-some sources says she is really destined to be a dancer
-popularized modern dance in February 1970 on CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines)
-46 years of dancing
-after 20 years of leadership in Ballet Philippines she left it with her intern
-developed a yearlong program for professional dance

Salvador Bernal

-National Artist for theater design

-awarded in 2014
-took charge for the costume and set design in the Tales of the Manuvu
-Also known as the Father of Philippines Stage Design
-known for using indigenous and locally available material like: bamboo, abaca, fabric,
rattan
-His ground braking design theater: DALAGAN BUKID by Hermogenes, Ilagan

• A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (1950)

- consisted of three scenes
- Joaquin’s most popular play
- Most important Filipino play in English
- National Play of the Philippines
- adapted into film in 1965 by Lamberto Avellana
Summary

- A story that revolves around a painting of the same title dedicated by a crippled
artist, Don Lorenzo Marasigan, to his two unmarried daughters named Candida and
Paula.
- Manolo and Pepang – Don Lorenzo’s son and daughter who support them
financially; urging them to sell the house
- Tony Javier - male boarder
- Don Lorenzo - refused to sell, donate, or even exhibit his self-portrait in public
- The painting has attracted the attention and curiosity of journalists and other
obnoxious visitors pretending as art critics.
- Paula - elopes with Tony; felt regret after destroying the portrait
Nick Joaquin (1975)
- a National Artist for Literature
- wrote the piece for A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino
Lamberto Avellana (1976)

- National Artist for Film

- Adapted A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino into film in 1965
Daisy Hontiveros Avellana (1999)

- wife of Lamberto
- played the lead character for both film and theater of A Portrait of the Artist as
Filipino
- a National Artist for Theater

ISSUES SURROUNDING THE NATIONAL ARTIST AWARD

• Presidential prerogative - allows the Philippine President to bypass the lengthy selection
process done by panels on Cultural Center of the Philippines and National Commission
for Culture and the Arts to confer the National Artist Award on a person of his or her
choosing

• 2009 issue – insertion of four additional names and removal of one name from the
roster of National Artists

- President Gloria Arroyo dropped Ramon Santos from 2009 list

- She added four persons who are not listed:

▪ Cecile Guidote-Alvarez – stage actress

▪ Carlo J. Caparas – komiks writer/movie director

▪ Francisco Mañosa – architect

▪ Jose “Pitoy” Moreno – fashion designer

• There is an “honors” committee that made nominations (aside from CCP and NCCA).

• They were not transparent to the public who were the members of honors
committee.
 • NCCA and CCP board members, consultants, officers and staff are automatically
disqualified from being nominated.

- Cecile Guidote-Alvarez was included in the list even though she was the presidential adviser
on culture and executive director of NCCA.

• In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled against any further exercise of presidential
prerogative.

- Ramon Santos was awarded in 2014 as National Artist for Music

Articles 1 and 2:

Main points:

- “dagdag-bawas” is the coined term of National Artist Award after the 2009 issue.

- The president is allowed to bypass the lengthy selection process done by the panels of
Cultural Center of the Philippines and National Center for Culture and the Arts.

- To avoid some misconceptions about the president’s decision, there is a “honors” committee
that deliberates and confirms the selection made by the president.

- Cecile Alvarez, the current presidential adviser on Culture and executive director of the NCCA
was given the award but it is clearly seen on the guidelines in the NCCA website that “NCCA and
CCP Board members and consultants and NCCA and CCP officers and staff are automatically
disqualified from being nominated.

- Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita defended Cecile Alvarez saying that she is active in terms
of theater and she did not nominate herself but the “honors” committee did.

- NCCA chair and Education Undersecretary Vilma Labrador dared to say that critics should not
put any “political color” in the award and even managed to insult those in CCP-NCCA who put
together their list of recommendations by saying, “Sometimes there are people who simply
ignore the credentials or greatness of some persons because of some personal agenda... If
there will be another group to look at the credentials, there is a balance, there is validation.”

- But in the end, Vilma Labrador’s field of specialization is in education not in arts so her
statement is not well accepted on who deserves the National Artist Award and those who do
not.