LESSON 4-5: Philippine National Artists

I. Introduction
The Order of National Artists of the Philippines (Filipino: Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng Pilipinas)
is an order bestowed by the Philippines on Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the development of
Philippine art. Members of the Order are known as National Artists. Originally instituted as an award, it was elevated
to the status of order in 2003.

II. Objectives
1. identify the Philippine National Artists who have made significant contributions to the development of
Contemporary Arts;
2. recognize the contributions of local artists to Philippine art and culture; and
3. evaluate the criteria and/or award system of NAA.

III. Discussion

WHEN WAS NAA ESTABLISHED?

- In 1972 under Presidential Decree No. 1001 issued by then President Ferdinand Marcos.

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL ARTIST AWARD?

- the highest form of recognition to Filipino Artists for their significant contributions in the arts and letters.
- Is conferred every three years through a rigorous deliberation and selection process.

Nominations for National Artist of the Philippines are based on a broad criterion, as set forth by the Cultural Center of
the Philippines and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts.

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; and
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.

WHAT ARE SOME ISSUES SURROUNDING THE NAA?

- The most controversial aspect of conferring this award is the reported name insertion – committed by former
presidents themselves – in the final list of honorees.
- The Palace exercised its controversial “presidential prerogative” over the final list of awardees. The adding
of names exempted from the supposedly rigid selection process.
- Newsbreak reported in 2009 that since the creation of the awards in 1972, almost all presidents, except for
Corazon Aquino, have bypassed the recommendations of the NCCA-CCP and favored some personalities
instead.
1982: During the time when a circle of advisers was consulted on who should be named National Artists, former
president Ferdinand Marcos insisted on having a say in the selection. He wanted the award for Carlos P. Romulo (for
literature) and got his wish.

1997: Then president Fidel V. Ramos created a new category – historical literature – to accommodate biographer
Carlos Quirino, who was eliminated as early as the first stage of the selection process. Quirino’s children reportedly
lobbied for his inclusion by sending the president a letter that mentioned how Ramos and Quirino knew each other
personally.

1999: Former president Joseph Estrada named his good friend Ernani Cuenco as National Artist for Music even
before the NCCA-CCP could submit to him the list of awardees, which did not include Cuenco. This resulted in the
proclamation for Cuenco bearing a date earlier than the proclamations for the other awardees.

2003: Arroyo named writer Alejandro Roces a National Artist for Literature in 2003 even though he was eliminated
from the first round of selection. Roces was education secretary of the late President Diosdado Macapagal, the
incumbent’s father. He was even fired as chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board during
Arroyo's time, yet was given the National Artist Award.

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 accomodation." Rodrigo was Macapagal’s
contemporary as an anti-Marcos politician, and his daughter was Arroyo's high school best friend and
correspondence secretary in Malacañang. Imao, on the other hand, was conferred the award after Malacañang was
flooded by petitions and endorsements mostly from Mindanao. Between the two, only Imao was given the award in
the end.

2009: Arroyo named as National Artists filmmaker Carlo Magno Jose Caparas, theater stalwart Cecile Guidote-
Alvarez, architect Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa, and fashion designer Jose “Pitoy” Moreno – all not part of the shortlist
given by the NCCA-CCP. Of the 4, the choices of Caparas and Alvarez were the more controversial ones. None of
them were conferred the award in the end.

2013: The Supreme Court issued its decision to invalidate the questionable conferment of the NAA to Carlo J.
Caparas and three other awardees.

2014: Nora Aunor was excluded from the final list of honorees.

NATIONAL ARTIST CATEGORIES:

 Visual Arts (Painting and Sculpture)  Music
 Film and Broadcasting Arts  Theatre
 Literature  Architecture, Design, & Allied Arts
 Dance
NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR VISUAL ARTS Vicente Manansala
(Painting; 1981)
Fernando Amorsolo
(Painting; 1972)  “Father of Cubism”
 Through his depictions of contemporary
 The country’s first National Artist & was Filipino life, Manansala addressed issues of
dubbed as the “Grand Old Man of Philippine intimacy, poverty, and culture.
Art”
 He developed the backlighting technique
Cesar Legaspi
(Visual Arts; 1990)
Guillermo Tolentino
(Sculpture; 1973)  A pioneer “Neo-Realist” of the country.
 Remembered for his singular achievement of
 “Father of Philippine Arts” refining cubism in the Philippine context.
 One of the 3 best guitar players in the
Philippines during his time
 The young Tolentino showed an early talent
Hernando Ocampo
in sculpting, having been able to mold
(Visual Arts; 1991)
figures of horses and dogs out of clay.
 A self-taught painter
 His works contributed significantly to the rise
Carlos Francisco of the nationalist spirit in the post-war era.
(Painting; 1973)  Also known for his Abstract works

 “The poet of Angono”

 revived the forgotten art of mural
Jerry Elizarde Navarro
 One of the “Three Modernists”
(Painting; 1999)

 He is a versatile artist, being both a proficient

Victorio Edades painter and sculptor.
(Painting; 1976)  His devotion to the visual arts spans 40
years of drawing, printmaking, graphic
 “Father of Modern Philippine Painting” designing, painting and sculpting.
 paints distorted human figures with bold and
bright colors
Arturo Luz
(Visual Arts; 1997)
Napoleon Abueva
(Sculpture; 1976)  A painter, sculptor, and designer for more
than 40 years
 was the youngest National Artist awardee at  A founding member of the Neo-realist school
age 46. in Philippine Arts
 considered as the “Father of Modern  Signature style: “playful geometric figures”
Philippine Sculpture”
Ang Kiukok Federico Alcuaz
(Visual Arts; 2001) (Visual Arts; 2009)

 Born to immigrant Chinese parents  He is known mainly for his gestural paintings
 Known for his expressive cubist-like works in acrylic and oil, as well as sketches in ink,
 He often chose dynamic or disturbing subject watercolor and pencil.
matter  Signed his works as “Aguilar Alcuaz”

Jose Joya Francisco Coching

(Visual Arts; 2003) (Visual Arts; 2014)

 A painter and multimedia artist who  “Dean of Filipino Illustrators”

distinguished himself by creating an  a master storyteller – in images and in print
authentic Filipino abstract idiom that  He was a part of the golden age of the
transcended foreign influences. Filipino comics in the 50’s and 60’s.

Abdulmari Asia Imao Lauro Alcala

(Visual Arts; 2006) (Visual Arts; 2018)

 A native of Sulu, he is a sculptor, painter,  He started his cartooning career in 1946

photographer, ceramist, documentary film while still attending school, his works
maker, cultural researcher, writer, and appeared in the Filipino weekly magazine
articulator of Philippine Muslim art and Liwayway
culture.

Benedicto Cabrera
(Visual Arts; 2006)

 Popularly known as “BenCab”

 Started his career in the mid-sixties as a
lyrical expressionist.
NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR FILM
Lamberto Avellana
(Film, Theatre; 1976)
 “The Boy Wonder of Philippine Movies”
 He was the first to use the motion picture
camera to establish a point-of-view, a move
that revolutionized the techniques of film
narration.
Gerardo De Leon
(Film; 1982)
 Though he finished medicine, his practice
did not last long because he found himself
“too compassionate” to be one, this aside
from the lure of the movies.
 His first directorial job was “Ama’t Anak”
Lino Brocka
(Film; 1997)
 espoused the term “freedom of expression”
in the Philippine Constitution
 Brocka took his social activist spirit to the
screen leaving behind 66 films which
breathed life and hope for the marginalized
sectors of society — slumdwellers,
prostitute, construction workers, etc.
Ishmael Bernal
(Film; 2001)
 Critics have hailed him as “The Genius of
Philippine cinema.”
 He is recognized as a director of films that
serve as social commentaries and bold
reflections on the existing realities of the
struggle of the Filipino.
Eddie Romero
(Film; 2003)
 is a screenwriter, film director and producer
 he is the quintessential Filipino film maker
whose life is devoted to the art and
commerce of cinema.
Fernando Poe Jr.
(Film; 2006)
 Born as Ronald Allan Kelley Poe
 “King of Philippine Movies”
 colloquially known as FPJ, Ronwaldo Reyes
and Da King
 a Filipino actor, director and politician
Manuel Conde
(Film; 2009)
 Notable for transforming age-old Filipino stories
to the silver screen during and after World War
II.
 Films he directed and produced include: Siete
Infantes de Lara, Ibong Adarna, and Prinsipe
Tenoso.
Kidlat Tahimik
(Film; 2018)
 Born as Eric Oteyza de Guia
 "Father of Philippine Independent Cinema"
NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR DANCE

Francisca R. Aquino
(Dance; 1973)
 Acknowledged as the “Folk Dance Pioneer”
 This Bulakeña began her research on folk dances in the 1920’s making trips to remote barrios in Central
and Northern Luzon.

Leonor O. Goquingco
(Dance; 1976)
 Dubbed the “Trailblazer”, “Mother of Philippine Theater Dance” and “Dean of Filipino Performing Arts Critics”
 pioneer Filipino choreographer in balletic folkloric and Asian styles

Lucrecia R. Urtula
(Dance; 1988)
 A choreographer, dance educator and researcher
 spent almost four decades in the discovery and study of Philippine folk and ethnic dances.

Ramon Obusan
(Dance; 2006)
 A dancer, choreographer, stage designer and artistic director.
 He achieved phenomenal success in Philippine dance and cultural work.

Alice Reyes
(Dance; 2014)
 As a dancer, choreographer, teacher and director, she has made a lasting impact on the development and
promotion of contemporary dance in the Philippines
NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR LITERATURE
Amado V. Hernandez
(Literature; 1973)
 Known as the “Manunulat ng Manggagawa”
for his works talked about the struggles of
Filipino laborers
 In his view, the function of a writer is to act
as the conscience of the human spirit in the
face of inequality and oppression.
Jose Garcia Villa
(Literature; 1973)
 is known to have introduced the "reversed
consonance rhyme scheme" in
writing poetry, as well as the extensive use
of punctuation marks—especially commas,
which made him known as the Comma Poet.
 He used the penname Doveglion (derived
from "Dove, Eagle, Lion"), based on the
characters he derived from himself.
Nick Joaquin
(Literature; 1976)
 The most distinguished Filipino Writer in
English Writing
 Developed a writing style dubbed by critics
as “Joaquinesque”
Carlos P. Romulo
(Literature; 1982)
 He was a reporter at 16, a newspaper editor
by the age of 20, and a publisher at 32.
 He was a co-founder of the Boy Scouts of
the Philippines, a general in the US Army
and the Philippine Army, university
president, and President of the UN General
Assembly.
Francisco Arcellana
(Literature; 1990)
 pioneered the development of the short story
as a lyrical prose-poetic form within Filipino
literature.
Rolando S. Tinio
(Literature, Theatre; 1997)
 revived traditional Filipino drama by re-
staging old theatre forms like sarswela
 was the sole inventor of “Taglish” in
Philippine poetry
N.V.M. Gonzales
(Literature; 1997)
 Fictionist, essayist, poet, and teacher who
articulated the Filipino Spirit in Rural, Urban
Landscapes.
Levi Celerio
(Literature, Music; 1997)
 was a prolific songwriter, with over 4,000
songs to his credit.
 He is perhaps best known for being a leaf-
player, a feat for which he was put into
the Guinness Book of World Records.
Edith L. Tiempo
(Literature; 1999)
 Her language has been marked as
"descriptive but unburdened by scrupulous
detailing.“
 founded (in 1962) and directed the Silliman
National Writers Workshop in Dumaguete
City
F. Sionil Jose
(Literature; 2001)
 His novels and short stories depict the social
underpinnings of class struggles
and colonialism in Filipino society.
  José's works have been translated into 28
languages.
Virgilio Almario
(Literature; 2003)
 currently serves as the chairman of
the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino
 his works reflected his often severe
examination of the self and the society
Alejandro Roces
(Literature; 2003)
 The country’s Best Writer of Comic Short
Stories
 He wrote innumerable newspaper columns
that focused on the neglected aspects of the
Filipino cultural heritage
Bienvenido Lumbera
(Literature; 2006)
 co-founded numerous Literary Organizations
and somehow led to the downfall of Marcos
 written and edited numerous books on
literary history, literary criticism, and film.
Lazaro Francisco
(Literature; 2009)
 Known as “Master of the Tagalog Novel”
 He championed the cause of the common
man, specifically the oppressed peasants.
His novels exposed the evils of the tenancy
system, the exploitation of farmers by
unscrupulous landlords, and foreign
domination.
Cirilo Bautista
(Literature; 2014)
 A co-founder and member of numerous
writing organizations in the Philippines.
 He has also received
Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards (for poetry,
fiction, and essay in English)
Ramon Muzones
(Literature; 2018)
 The first regional writer to become National
Artist
 His literary works of Muzones were written in
the native tongue, Hiligaynon
 was a lawyer by profession, a newspaper
man and was elected to public office as
councilor of Iloilo City from 1963 to 1971
Resil Mojares
(Literature; 2018)
 is a Filipino historian and critic of Philippine
literature best known as for his books on
Philippine history.
 He is acclaimed by various writers and critics
as the Visayan Titan of Letters, due to his
immense contribution to Visayan literature.

NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR MUSIC
Antonio Molina
(Music; 1973)
 A versatile musician, composer, music
educator
 was the last of the musical triumvirate (two of
whom were Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco
Santiago) who elevated music beyond the
realm of folk music.
Jovita Fuentes
(Music; 1976)
 lauded for her portrayal of Cio-cio san in
Giacomo Puccini’s Madame Butterfly at
Italy’s Teatro Municipale di Piacenza.
 was given the award of “Embahadora de
Filipinas a su Madre Patria” by Spain.
Honorata dela Rama
(Theatre, Music; 1987)
 was a singer and bodabil performer who
became the first Filipina film actress.
 fought for the dominance of the kundiman
and the sarsuela during the American period
Antonio Buenaventura
(Music; 1988)
 Joined Francisca Aquino to conduct
research on folksongs and dances
 He restored the Philippine Army Band to its
former prestige as one of the finest military
bands in the world
Lucresia R. Kasilag
(Music; 1989)
 She pioneered into discovering the Filipino
roots through ethnic music and fusing it with
Western influences.
Lucio San Pedro
(Music; 1991)
 His civic commitment and work with town
bands have significantly contributed to the
development of a civic culture among Filipino
communities and opened a creative outlet
for young Filipinos.
Felipe De Leon
(Music; 1997)
 A composer, conductor, and scholar
 He Filipinized western music forms, a feat
aspired for by Filipino composers who
preceded him
Jose M. Maceda
(Music; 1997)
 composer, musicologist, teacher and
performer
 his researches and fieldwork have resulted
in the collection of an immense number of
recorded music taken from the remotest
mountain villages and farthest island
communities.
Levi Celerio
(Music,Literature; 1997)
 was a prolific songwriter, with over 4,000
songs to his credit.
 He is perhaps best known for being a leaf-
player, a feat for which he was put into
the Guinness Book of World Records.
Andrea Veneracion
(Music; 1999)
 Choir master and choral arranger who
founded the Philippine Madrigal Singers
 She also spearheaded the development of
Philippine choral music.
 Ramon Santos
(Music; 2014)
Ernani Cuenco
(Music; 1999)  A composer, conductor and musicologist
 has contributed greatly to the quest for new
 is a seasoned musician born in May 10, directions in contemporary Philippine music
1936 in Malolos, Bulacan
 is a composer, film scorer, musical director
and music teacher.
Ryan Cayabyab
(Music; 2018)

Francisco Feliciano  Born as Raymundo Cipriano Pujante

(Music; 2014) Cayabyab
 His works range from commissioned full-
 He brought out the unique sounds of our length ballets, theater musicals, choral
indigenous music in compositions that have pieces, a Mass set to unaccompanied
high technical demands equal to the chorus, and orchestral pieces, to commercial
compositions of masters in the western recordings of popular music, film scores and
world. television specials.
  was the sole inventor of “Taglish” in
Philippine poetry

NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR THEATRE

Lamberto Avellana Daisy Avellana

(Theatre, Film; 1976) (Theatre; 1999)

 “The Boy Wonder of Philippine Movies”
 He was the first to use the motion picture
camera to establish a point-of-view, a move
that revolutionized the techniques of film
narration.
Honorata dela Rama
(Theatre, Music; 1987)
 was a singer and bodabil performer who
became the first Filipina film actress.
 fought for the dominance of the kundiman
and the sarsuela during the American period
 was a Filipino stage actress and theater
director.
 co-founded the Barangay Theater Guild
(BTG) in 1939
 was one of the first graduates of the UST
Graduate School with Master of Arts (MA) in
English.
Severino Montano
(Theatre; 2001)
 was a playwright, director, actor and theater
organizer with an output of one novel, 150
poems and 50 plays in his 65-year lifetime.

Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero

(Theatre; 1997) Salvador F. Bernal
(Theatre, Design; 2003)
 was a Filipino playwright, director, teacher
and theater artist.  “Father of Philippine Stage Design,”
 he wrote well over 100 plays, 41 of which  Starting in 1969, Bernal designed more than
have been published. 300 productions for drama, musicals,
 His unpublished plays have either been operas and concerts.
broadcast over the radio or staged in various
parts of the Philippines.
Amelia Lapeña Bonifacio
(Theatre; 2018)
Rolando S. Tinio
(Theatre, Literature; 1997)  is a Filipino playwright, puppeteer, and
educator.
 revived traditional Filipino drama by re-  known as the "Grande Dame of Southeast
staging old theatre forms like sarswela Asian Children’s Theatre."
NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR ARCHITECTURE, I.P. Santos
DESIGN, & ALLIED ARTS (Architecture; 2006)

Juan Nakpil  Born as Ildefonso Paez Santos Jr.

(Architecture; 1973)  "Father of Philippine Landscape
Architecture“
 was a Filipino architect, teacher and a  he pioneered the profession of landscape
community leader architecture in the Philippines
 was regarded as the Dean of Filipino
Architects.
Ramon Valera
(Architecture, Fashion Design; 2006)
Pablo Antonio
(Architecture; 1976)  The country’s first National Artist for Fashion
 known as the Dean of Philippine Fashion for
 The Pioneer of Modern Philippine his “magical seminal innovations” on the
Architecture Philippine terno
 Designed several buildings in FEU with Art
Deco Style.

Leandro V. Locsin Jose Maria Zaragoza

(Architecture; 1990) (Architecture; 2014)

 was a Filipino architect, artist, and interior
designer
 He is known for his use of concrete, floating
volume and simplistic design in his various
projects.
 Altogether he designed 36 office buildings, 4
hotels, 2, hospitals, 5 low-cost and middle-
income housing projects, as well as more
than 270 residences.

Francisco Mañosa
Carlos Quirino (Architecture, Allied Arts; 2014)
(Historical Literature; 1997)
 pioneered the art of Philippine neo-
 is a nephew of Philippine president Elpidio vernacular architecture.
Quirino.  devoted his life's work to creating a Filipino
 He is best known for his early biography of identity in architecture, advocating design
Jose Rizal philosophies that harken “back to the bahay
kubo and the bahay na bato,” and other
traditional vernacular forms.