FAMOUS DANCE ARTIST IN CONTEMPORARY DANCE IN THE PHILIPPINES

Philippine art and culture as we know it today is largely due to the works of the National Artists.
Whether you are an artist, a supporter of the arts, or just curious about Filipino achievements,
their lives and work speak of exceptional talent, discipline, dignity, authenticity in spirit, and
innovation. These are the distinct attributes of trailblazers. We honour their legacies to the
Filipino.

LUCRECIA REYES-URTULA- is the dance director of the multi-awarded Bayanihan

Philippine Dance Company, which was named in 1998 by Congress as the Philippine National
Folk Dance Company, in appreciation and recognition of their pioneering efforts and
international success. Her research on Philippine dance and presentation of these dances lead to a
creative direction that earned critical acclaim and rave reviews from audiences in their world
tours, instilling renewed pride among Filipinos of their cultural heritage and has cultivated
international goodwill.

FRANCISCA REYES AQUINO- The foundation for the accomplishments of the first three
mentioned National Artists were laid down by Francisca Reyes Aquino, the first woman to be
conferred the National Artist Award, and the first in Dance. Acknowledged as the Folk Dance
Pioneer, her work as folk dancer and cultural researcher preserved Filipino cultural traditions,
which would otherwise have been lost. She was honoured with a Doodle by Google for her 120th
birthday on March 9, 2019 which depicted various Philippine traditional dances.

LUCRESIA KASILAG, known as Tita King, is regarded as the First Lady of Philippine Music.
She is an educator, composer of numerous orchestral and chamber music, performing artist,
musical director for the Bayanihan Dance Company and arts administrator (former President of
the Cultural Center of the Philippines). Her music is distinct with her pioneering work of fusing
ethnic music and indigenous Filipino instruments, with Western influences and orchestral
productions.
ANDREA VENERACION is highly esteemed for founding the award-winning and world
famous Philippine Madrigal Singers group in 1963, and her achievements as choirmaster and
choral arranger. A little bit of trivia for Edmontonians: she, along with the Philippine Madrigal
Singers, performed in the Klondike Days in Edmonton in 2002.
Long before Lea Salonga made waves at the West End and Broadway, Jovita Fuentes was
portraying lead roles in many famous operas like Cio-cio San in Giacomo Puccini's Madama
Butterfly in 1925, Pietro Mascagni's Iris and Richard Strauss’ Salome in Europe. Her
performance as Cio-cio San garnered rave reviews as “the most sublime interpretation of the
part”, at a time when Filipino artists were scarcely visible in Europe.

HONORATA “ATANG” DE LA RAMA was the undisputed “Queen of the Kundiman” and
was the first actress in the very first Tagalog film when she essayed the same role in the sarsuela
Dalagang Bukid’s film version. She believed that the sarsuela and kundiman best express the
Filipino soul.

DAISY HONTIVEROS-AVELLANA elevated legitimate theatre and dramatic arts with

breakthrough productions of classic Filipino and foreign plays. Hailed as the “First Lady of
Philippine Theater”, she portrayed the role of Candida Marasigan in the stage adaptation of Nick
Joaquin’s Portrait of the Artist as Filipino for decades. She, along with husband Lamberto
Avellana who is also a National Artist, founded the Barangay Theater Guild by encouraging the
establishment of performing groups and the professionalization of Filipino theater.
Edith L. Tiempo was a poet, fictionist, and critic, with timeless novels such as A Blade of Fern
and The Builder. She also established the Silliman National Writers Workshop with husband
Edilberto Tiempo.

AMELIA LAPEÑA-BONIFACIO- The Grand Dame of Southeast Asian Children’s Theater,

Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio is the founder and playwright-director of the Teatrong Mulat ng
Pilipinas. She was also involved in the production and design of an indigenous fusion of
puppetry, children’s literature, folklore and theater.

https://www.philippineartscouncil.com/amp/women-leaders-the-philippine-national-artists