Philippine Christian University

Sampaloc I, Dasmarinas City, Cavite 4114

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
S.Y. 2020-2021

ACTIVITY 5&6

Name: Strand and Section:

A. Make a research about the 2009 national artist controversy and answer the
following questions. (10 points each)
1. Explain the 2009 national artist controversy briefly.
In 2009, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed a proclamation
declaring four persons as National Artists despite the fact that they were not among the
nominees shortlisted by the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA) and the
Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). They were Cecilia Guidote-Alvarez (Theater),
Carlo J. Caparas (Visual Arts and Film), Francisco "Bobby" Mañosa (Architecture), and
Jose "Pitoy" Moreno (Fashion Design). Meanwhile, Ramon Santos, a musician, was
dropped from the list of nominees in May of that year. The president's prerogative was
based on Executive Order No. 435, s. 2005, which gives the President the authority to
appoint National Artists without the need for a recommendation from the NCCA and the
CCP. As a result, members of the Philippine art community, including a number of living
National Artists of the Philippines, objected to the proclamation, claiming that it
politicized the title of National Artist and turned it into "a way for President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo to accommodate her allies." Furthermore, specific protests were
raised regarding the nomination and they petitioned the Supreme Court to prevent the
four individuals from receiving National Artists awards.

2. Why did the Supreme court nullify the proclamation of Cecile Guidote –
Alvarez, Francisco T. Mañosa, Magno Jose J. Caparas and Jose”Pitoy” Moreno
as national artists?
The Supreme Court nullifies the proclamation because of the protests and
objection of the citizens including some of the National Artists of the Philippines. They
questioned the unexplained removal of composer Ramon Santos as a nominee for music,
as well as the addition of Alvarez, Mañosa, Caparas, and Moreno. The petitioners' main
complaint was that those four people were not among the nominees submitted by the
selection committee for the awards. As a result, the Supreme Court restricted
Maclacañang from granting the National Artist Award on Alvarez, Caparas, Mañosa, and
Moreno, claiming that Arroyo had abused presidential discretion by ignoring the awards'
strict screening process and inserting her own choice of awardees. Thus, the Supreme
Court ruled that Arroyo's Proclamations Nos. 1826–1829 were invalid and ordered that
they be set aside.
 3. Are you in favour of giving the president the right or power to proclaim national
artists? Why or Why not?
I am not in favor of granting the president the right or power to proclaim National
Artists because not all presidents are capable of appointing the appropriate candidate for
the National Artist award. National Artist award undergo a screening process and have a
criteria for choosing the candidate, which is the criteria for the order of national artist.
For me, giving the president the power to proclaim discredits the legal basis and the
criteria that are set upon by those who really appreciate and understand the true value of
art. In addition, the proclamation might also be biased because it is not screened
appropriately; the president might abuse the power and just appoint any person that she
desires. Also, those people who are greedy of the title might intentionally stick with the
president in order to be proclaimed. Furthermore, those who are really worthy of the title
will be set aside because of this power of the president. Thus, granting the president the
power to proclaim national artist is not a good idea and needed to be removed.

Reflective Question: (5points)

Among the national artists, whom do you admire most,

and why?

Among the National artists of the Philippines, Vicente Manansala is the

one that I admired the most. Vicente Manansala was a gifted artist who received a
UNESCO grant and was invited to study at Quebec's Ecole des Beaux-Arts. He
was a member of the Thirteen Moderns, which was led by Victorio Edades. In
1951, Manansala held his first solo exhibition at the Manila Hotel. His work had a
significant impact on the next generation of painters. Some of his most famous
works can be found at the Honolulu Museum of Art, the Lopez Memorial Museum
in Manila, and the Philippine Center in New York. In 1981, he was posthumously
awarded the Order of National Artists of the Philippines in Visual Arts (Painting).
I admired Vicente Manansala not only for the awards he received but also
for the choices he made in creating his artworks. He is most commonly known for
using Cubism, a type of art that emphasizes abstract structure over other pictorial
elements. His work was primarily concerned with global issues and problems. As
a neo-realist, he was one of the few artists responsible for the country's modernist
movement. His works centered on national culture, social environment, identity,
and native sensibility. Along with this, he worked on some abstract pieces, but his
main focus remained on using art to make a social statement.
Vicente Manansala uses his artistic abilities to depict and illustrate the
reality we are currently facing, making him even more admirable. He uses his
skills to create artwork to express his feelings, emotions, and opinions. Because of
his paintings, people will be more aware of our society's problems and issues.
 B. Do what is asked in each item. (5 points)

1. Read the following lines from Amado V. Hernandez’s poem entitled “Ang Panday”:

“Kaputol na bakal na dungkal sa bundok,

dinalisay muna sa apoy, lumambot;
sa isang pandaya’y matyagang pinukpok, niyari
ng panday na nasa ng loob.”

In this poem, the panday is the worker who gives it all for the love of labor. Imagine that
you are the panday illustrated in this poem. Would you give the same love and dedication even if
it takes all your time and strength? Explain your answer.

Yes, if I were the panday illustrated in the poem, I would also give the same
amount of love and dedication, even if it required all of my strength, energy, and time. If
you are passionate about what you are doing, no matter what it is, you will love it and
give your best even if it gives you hardships. Doing things with all your love and
dedication in exchange for your time and strength will be all worth it because the quality
of the product of your hard work will not compare to the products that are made in a rush.
The love and dedication you put into your work will be reflected in it; your work will
reflect your soul as an artist, and that is what makes it all worthwhile.

2. Look at this painting Madonna of the Slums by national artist Vicente Manansala. How
is this portrayal of mother and child different from the common Madonna and Child
paintings?
Madonna and Child painting is a realism Christian art, and it is very popular and
well-known, particularly among religious people. Madonna and Child is a portrait of
Mary and her child, Jesus Christ. Mary holding Christ in her arms symbolizes a mother's
love for her child. This painting depicts a mother and a child, similar to the Madonna of
the Slums, but the two paintings are very different. The Madonna of the Slums painting
depicts a mother and a child living in the slums. This painting depicts the reality of our
lives, which is poverty. Madonna is wearing ragged clothes, and her child has no clothes
at all, and the painting's background, which features houses most commonly found in
slang areas or highly populated residential areas, clearly depicted the poverty. The
meaning of this artwork focuses primarily on the lives of people seeking a living in the
slums or densely populated residential areas. It is where they were born, but they grew up
unprepared to the frequent changes brought about by modernization and economic
development.