DR. BIENVENIDO LUMBERA (N.
A 2006)
 As a poet, he introduced to Tagalog
literature what is now known as Bagay
poetry, a landmark aesthetic tendency
that has helped to change the vernacular
poetic tradition.
 He pioneered the creative fusion of fine
arts and popular imagination.
 Written and edited numerous books on
literary history, literary criticism, and
film.
 He has collaborated with various National
artists in “Tales of the Manuvu” and
“Rama Hari”
LAZARO FRANCISCO (N.A 2009)
 “Foremost Filipino novelist of his
generation”
 Kapatiran ng mga Alagad ng Wikang
Pilipino
 One of the finest novelists since the
beginning of the 20th century and
developed the social realist tradition in
Philippine fiction
 His reputation as the “Master of the
Tagalog Novel” is backed up by numerous
awards he received for his meritorious
novels.
CIRILO F. BAUTISTA (N.A 2014)
 he has established a reputation for fine
and profound artistry;
 He was also the moving spirit behind the
founding of the Philippine Literary Arts
Council in 1981, the Iligan National
Writers Workshop in 1993, and the
Baguio Writers Group.
 He was instrumental in the formation of
the Bienvenido Santos Creative
Writing Center.
RAMON MUZONES (N.A 2018)
 A Hiligaynon poet and a lawyer by
profession, and he authored an
unprecedented 61 completed novels
 He enriched Hiligaynon literature as it’s
highest, and played a great role in refining
Hiligaynon literature with his wide variety
of novels, from comedy to satire and even
feminist.
 His most famous work was the 1946 novel
Margosatubig, the first-ever Ilonggo
bestseller, which re-wrote the history of
West Visayan fiction
RESIL MOJARES (N.A 2018)
 A MULTI-AWARDED Cebuano writer
 first-ever Cebuano to become a National
Artist
 Conferred the country's highest
recognition for the arts
 He is acknowledged as a leading figure in
the promotion of regional literature and
history.
 Two of his famous works are "House of
Memory" and "Waiting for Mariang
Makiling"
NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR VISUAL ARTS
FERNANDO AMORSOLO (N.A 1972)
 “Grand Old Man of the Philippine
Art”
 Lighting is the most prominent element
of Amorsolo’s painting. His trademark
was the backlighting technique which
makes the subjects of his painting seems
to glow.
 The technique is called Chiarocuro
 His work of art were also notable for
reflecting the artistic and cultural heritage
of the Philippines.
 Among his famous artworks are
"Bayanihan" and "Dalagang
Bukid"
CARLOS V. FRANCISCO (N.A 1973)
 He was a muralist who single-handedly
revived the art of mural painting in
Philippines.
 His works depicts the historical past of the
Philippines; abiding faith of folk values,
folklore, traditional life of Filipinos.
 He is one of the so-called “The
Triumvirate” along with other
modernist Galo Ocampo and Victorio
Edades.
 Famous works include "Blood
Compact" and "Bayanihan"
GUILLERMO E. TOLENTINO (N.A 1973)
 He was the master sculptor who
introduces classical sculpture in the
country.
 He was known for creating monuments
and bust figures of Philippine Heroes like
Andres Bonifacio and Jose Rizal and
Philippine Presidents like Manuel L.
Quezon and Ramon Magsaysay.
 Masterpieces are UP Oblation and
Bonifacio Monument.
 He also designed the gold and bronze
medals for the Ramon Magsaysay Award
and did the seal of the Republic of the
Philippines
NAPOLEON B. ABUEVA (N.A 1976)
 Youngest National Artist awardee
(46)
 Father of Modern Philippine
Sculpture
 he referred to as “buoyant sculpture”
— sculpture meant to be appreciated from
the surface of a placid pool.
 Among his artworks are "Nine Muses"
and "Sunburst"
VICTORIO C. EDADES (N.A 1976)
 “Father of Modern Filipino
Painting”
 He shocked many Filipinos on his exhibit
due to his non-conventional style of
painting.
 He deviated from Amorsolo’s use of happy
and bright colors, and instead used dark
and sad hues in his paintings.
 Depicted in his works were the hardship
in the life of the laborers and low class in
the society.
 Major works include "The Sketch" and
"Builders"
 “Street Musicians”
VICENTE S. MANANSALA (N.A 1981)
 He was a cubist painter who painted
with a
 He contributed in modernism of
Philippine visual arts by his style of
transparent cubism.
 He believes that the beauty of art is in the
process, in the moment of doing a
particular painting.
 “Market Vendor” and “Madonna of
the Slums” are his major works.
CESAR F. LEGASPI (N.A 1990)
 He is one of the Thirteen Moderns
who promoted modern arts in the
country and was a neo-realist.
 He indigenized cubism and produce
artworks showing local temperaments
 His distinctive style and daring themes
contributed significantly to the advent and
eventual acceptance of modern art in the
Philippines.
 Major artworks are "Gadgets II" and
"Women and Children"
HERNANDO R. OCAMPO (N.A 1991)
 One of the Thirteen Moderns who
paved way to art modernism in the
Philippines.
 His works were more radical and more
poetic showing the kind of society there
was after World War II.
 He developed a new style of
abstraction through his use of fierce
and striking colors.
 He proved that the abstract and non-
traditional style of painting can also result
to nationalistic art.
 Major works are "Genesis" and "Slum
Dwellers"
ARTURO R. LUZ (N.A 1997)
 He is an abstractionist known for his
minimalist paintings and sculpture
 He produced works that elevated Filipino
aesthetic vision to new heights of
sophisticated simplicity.
 By establishing the Luz Gallery, he
inspired and developed a Filipino artistic
community that nurtures impeccable
designs.
 Major works are “Bagong Taon” and
J. ELIZALDE NAVARRO (N.A 1999)
 As a painter, he created both abstract
and figure paintings using oil and
watercolor.
 His figure paintings were inspired by
Balinese art and culture.
 As a sculptor, he was popular to his
masks, carved in hardwood with
combined features of human and animal.
 "I'm Sorry Jesus, I Can't Attend
Christmas This Year" was one of his
major works
ANG KIUKUK (N.A 2001)
 He was one of the most vital and
dynamic figures
 Angst, anguish, and anger are the glaring
emotions contained in his cubistic works
as these were created in the time of
Martial Law.
 He pursued an expression imbued with
nationalist fervor and sociological agenda.
 "Pieta" and "The Last Supper" were
his major works
JOSE T. JOYA (N.A 2003)
 Known for his “gestural paintings”.
 The prominent elements of his artworks
include their color harmony inspired
by the country’s landscapes, their
kinetic energy, and their
spontaneity.
 He is also a multimedia artist who painted
on ceramics such as vessels, plates, and
tiles.
 Famous artworks are "Hills of Nikko"
and "Granadean Arabesque"
BENEDICTO T. CABRERA (N.A 2006)
 known as BenCab, is an award winning
painter and printmaker who was tagged as
a master of Philippine contemporary art,
upheld the primacy of drawing over the
decorative color.
 His exploration of form, finding his way
out of the late neo-realism and high
abstraction of the sixties to be able to
reconsider the potency of figurative
expression had held out vital options for
Philippine art in the Martial Law years in
the seventies through the contemporary
era.
 "Mother and Child" and "Sabel" are
his major works
ABDULMARI ASIA IMAO (N.A 2006)
 visual artist from Sulu, who
articulated the Muslim culture and art in
the country.
 He preserved and promoted the
Philippine indigenous art through the use
of ethnic themes like the ukkil,
sarimanok, and naga in his paintings
and sculptures.
 "Monument for the Pursuit of
Happiness" and an unnamed sculpture
out Vargas Museum are two of his major
works
FEDERICO AGUILAR ALCUAZ (N.A 2009)
 He was an artist known for his gestural
abstract expressionistic paintings
using a variety of mediums like
acrylic and oil.
 He was also a sculptor who produced
abstract and figurative sculpture made of
materials like ceramics, paper and
mixed media.
 His works are highly favored, because of
the ease and pleasure conveyed by his
choice of light, color and composition
 "Tres Marias" and "Reveries of
Love" are his major works
FRANCISCO V. COCHING (N.A 2014)
 Tagged as the “Dean of Filipino
Illustrators”, he was popular for his
komiks drawing.
 His significant features in his works were
their fluid drawings and dramatic
storyline: fantasy, love and adventure
were the usual themes of his works
drawing inspiration from awit and
korido.
 His works illustrated gallant men and
beautiful ladies, and the victory of good
over evil.
 Major works include "Pedro Penduko"
and "Lapu-lapu"
LARRY ALCALA (N.A 2018)
 Dean of Filipino Cartoonists, an
achievement award for his lifetime
dedication to the art of capturing humor
in the character and everyday life in the
Philippines.
 In 1991, he promoted the formation of a
group of young children's book illustrators
called Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan
(Ang INK).
 believed in the far-reaching role of
cartoons in education and value
formation.
 Major works include "Mang Ambo"
and "Kalabog en Bosyo"
 CPAR
The National artist gold-plated medallion minted by
THE NATIONAL ARTIST AWARD– is the highest the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
national recognition given to Filipino individuals who
have made significant contributions. a. 200,000 – minimum cash award
o Music b. Lifetime personal monthly stipend 30,000
o Dance
o Theater A place of honor, in line with particular procedure, in
state functions, national commemorations
It was established under PROCLMATION NO. 1001
dated 1PRIL 27, 1972 Nomination procedure

FERNANDO AMORSOLO (National Artist for Visual a. DANCE – choreography

Arts) – first awardee b. MUSIC – composition
c. THEATER – direction/production design
The award is conferred every 3 years through a d. VISUAL ARTS – painting, sculpture,
vigorous deliberation and selection process printmaking, photography, installation
e. LITERATURE – poetry, fiction, essay,
NCAA – National Commission for Culture and the Arts journalism
and Cultural Center of the Philippine (CCP) are f. FILM & BROADCAST ARTS –
conferred by the President of the Philippines cinematography, editing, camera work
g. ARCHITECTURE, ALLIED DESIGN –
Vision architecture design, interior design, industrial
Unusual insights achievement art design, landscape architecture and fashion
measured design
Creativity and imagination
Technical proficiency 73 National Artists

Objective of the Award National Artists Controversies

a. Significant contributions to the cultural 1. 1982: FERDINAND MARCOS –CARLOS P.

heritage of the story ROMULO (for literature)
b. Accomplishments at its highest level and to
promote creative expression as significant to 2. 1997: FIDEL V. RAMOS created new category
the development of a national cultural identity – historical literature – CARLOS QUIRINO
c. Dedicated their lives to their works to forge 3. 1999: JOSEPH ESTRADA– ERNANI CUENCO
new parts and directions for future for Music
generations of Filipino artists 4. 2003: GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO named
writer
Honors and Privileges ALEJANDRO ROCES a National Artist for
Literature
The rank and title of National artist; as proclaimed by
President of the Philippines
5. 2006: Arroyo conferred the award on the late
SENATOR FRANCISCO “SOC” RODRIGO (for
writing poetry and translating plays) and
sculptor and painter ABDULMARI ASIA IMAO
as a form of “political accommodation”

6. 2009: Arroyo named as National Artists

filmmaker CARLO MAGNO JOSE CAPARAS,
theater stalwart CECILE GUIDOTE-
ALVAREZ, architect FRANCISCO “BOBBY”
MANOSA, and fashion designer JOSE
“PITOY” MORENO– all not part pf the
shortlist given by the NCAA-CCP