NATIONAL ARTISTS

OF THE PHILIPPINES
 is the highest recognition given to Filipino individuals
who have made significant contributions to the
development of Philippine Arts
 a person who receives this title gets the following
honors and privileges:
1. Rank and title of National Artist, as proclaimed by the
President.
2. Insignia of a National Artist and citation
3. Cash awards, monthly life pension, medical, and
hospitalization benefits, life insurance coverage,
state funeral and burial at “Libingan ng mga Bayani”
The National Commission for Culture and the
Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines
together administer this award.
• The President of the Philippines grants this
award to an artist after both institutions give
recommendations for this particular artist.
• In 1972, the Presidential Proclamation No.
1001, s.1972 was enacted in order to recognize
Filipinos contributions to Philippine arts and
letters.
The criteria for National Artists:
1. Living artists who are Filipino citizens at the time of
nomination.
2. Artist who, through the content and form of their
works, have contributed in building a Filipino
sense of nationhood
3. Artists who have pioneered in a mode of creative
expression or style, earning distinction and making
and impact on succeeding generations of artists
VISUAL ARTS
Fernando Amorsolo
(May 30, 1892 – April 24, 1972)
• Grand Old Man of Philippine Art
• The first National Artist awarded in the country.
• He was known for using the backlighting technique
in painting
• His creations are bright, optimistic and cheerful.
Major works:

Dalagang Bukid
Oil on Canvas
 El Ciego
“The Blind Man”
“Planting Rice”
Oil on Canvas
Carlos “Botong” Francisco
(November 4, 1912 – March 31, 1969)
• He revived the art of mural and was considered to
be the most distinguished mural painter for about
three decades.
• Known for using events as subject matter for his
murals.
“Blood Compact”
“First Mass in Limasawa”
Guillermo E. Tolentino
(July 24, 1890 – July 12, 1976)
• Honored as National Artist for Sculpture in 1973.
• He was also known for designing the seal of
Republic of the Philippines and the gold and bronze
medals for the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
Oblation
Bonifacio Monument
 Ang Kiukok
(March 1, 1931 – May 9, 2005)
• He was known for painting expressing nationalism and
sociological agenda during the 60’s through vivid cubistic
figures.
 Abdulmari Asia Imao
(January 14, 1936 – December 16, 2014)
• He was instrumental in popularizing the ukil,
sarimanok and naga motifs in the country as
Filipino creations.
• His sculptures and monuments of Muslim and
regional leaders and heroes, he has developing
trust and confidence among cultural groups, which
is needed in building a more humane community
and society.
ARCHITECTURE
 Pablo S. Antonio
(January 25, 1902 – June 14, 1975)
• Pioneer in modern Philippine architecture
• A prominent feature of his designs is the use of
natural light and cross ventilation

“Buildings should be planned with austerity in mind

and its stability forever as the aim of true architecture,
that buildings must be progressive, simple in design
but dignified, true to purpose without resorting to an
applied set of aesthetics and should eternally recreate
truth.” – Pablo S. Antonio
 Leandro V. Locsin
(August 15, 1928 – November 15, 1994)
• He is well-known for the designs of the palace of
Sultan of Brunei, Istana Nurul Iman and the 5
buildings of the Cultural Center of the Philippines
building.

• His designs usually features themes of floating

volume and a mix both eastern and western
aesthetics.
Cultural Center of the Philippines
Folk Arts Theater
Philippine International Convention Center
Sofitel Philippine Plaza
The Transfiguration Monastery
Istana Nurul Iman
 Ildefonso P. Santos
(September 5, 1929 – January 29, 2014)
• Pioneered landscape architecture in the Philippines
• His works in the Makati Commercial Center
incorporated fountains, sculptures and landscapes
to a shopping area.
Tagaytay Highland Resort
Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club
Lipa, Batangas
Orchard Golf and Country Club
Imus, Cavite
LITERATURE
 Carlos Quirino
(November 4, 1910 – May 20, 1999)
• The only National Artist for Historical Literature.
• He wrote many articles and books covering Philippine
history and culture such as “Maps and Views of Old
Manila”, “Magsaysay of the Philippines,” “Lives of the
Philippine Presidents,” and “Filipino Heritage: The making
of a Nation”.
• Also known for writing “The Great Malayan” which is
considered to be one of the earliest biographies of Jose
Rizal.
Jose Garcia Villa
(August 5, 1908 – July 7, 1997)
• Recognized as one of the best contemporary poets.
• Best known for introducing the reverse consonance
rhyme scheme and his use of punctuation,
especially commas.
• His pen name “Doveglion” (Dove, Eagle, Lion)
Amado V. Hernandez
(September 13, 1903 – May 24, 1970)
• Known for his contribution in the development of the
Tagalog prose through the use of colloquial style.
• His works are “Bayang Malaya”, “Isang Dipang
Langit”, “Mga Ibong Mandaragit” which is the first
Filipino socio-political novel that tacked agrarian
issues in the 50’s.
 Lazaro Francisco
(February 22, 1898 – June 17, 1980)
• The prominent writers in the Tagalog language,
• He established the Kapatiran ng mga Alagad ng
Wikang Pilipino (KAWIKA) in 1958 to support
Tagalog as national language.
 Carlos P. Romulo
(January 14, 1899 – December 15, 1985)
• Noted as the diplomat and an awarded journalist.
• He is the 1st Asian president of the United Nations
General Assembly, and the only Asian to win the
Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for his articles of the
World War II.
CINEMA/FILM
 Lino Brocka
(April 3, 1939 – May 22, 1991)
• Catalino “Lino” Ortiz Brocka is recognized for his
films which explores the lives of people in the
marginalized sectors.
• He garnered recognition around the world
• Brocka also directed for Theater Association
(PETA) and the Concerned Artists of the Philippines
(CAP).
 Ishmael Bernal
(September 30, 1938 – June 2, 1996)
• “The Genius of Philippine Cinema” is known for
directing films that projects the realities of the
Filipino
• His works are social commentaries that reflect the
struggles of the people and the aim to address the
issues.
• He was hailed as Director of the Decade of the
1970’s by the Catholic Mass Media Awards and
Best Director by the Urian Awards and given the
ASEAN Cultural Award in Communication Arts in
1993.
 Gerardo de Leon
(September 12, 1913 – July 25, 1981
• Is a prominent film make in the 50’s and 60’s
producing classics.
 Ronald Alan K. Poe
(August 20, 1939 – December 14, 2004)
• Known as Fernando Poe Jr.
• Icon of the film industry working as an actor,
director, writer and producer.
Eddie S. Romero
(July 7, 1924 – May 28, 2013)
• A screenwriter, film director and producer who is
behind the Filipino classics such as “Ganito Kami
Noon …. Paano Kayo Ngayon?
DANCE
Francisca Reyes Aquino
(March 9, 1899 – November 21, 1983)
• She was best known for her research on Philippine
folk dances, which later resulted to a thesis entitled
“Philippine Folk Dances and Games”
• This work was arranged and distributed to public
and private to be used by teachers and playground
instructors.
• She also became the supervisor of Physical
Education at the Bureau of Education during the
1940’s.
Leonor Orosa Goquingco
(July 24, 1917 – July 15, 2005)
• Mother of Philippine Theater Dance
• She blended folkloric and Asian styles in ballet
choreography.
• A founding member of the Philippine Ballet Theater
and the Honorary Chair of the Association of Ballet
Academies of the Philippines
 Ramon Obusan
(June 16, 1938 – December 21, 2006)
Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group
• A dancer, choreographer, artistic director,
researcher and documentary film maker.
• He utilized the art of dance for a deeper
understanding of the Filipino culture
• He was able to promote Filipino culture in the other
countries using the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group.
Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula
(June 29, 1929 – August 24, 1999)
• She was the dance director of Bayanihan Philippine
Dance Company, for which she choreographed
different Folk and ethnic dances, pageants and
festivals
• Two dances she had staged were Singkil, which is
considered to be a signature work of the Bayanihan
Dance Company and Vinta, a dance honoring the
prowess of the Filipino in sailing
Alice Reyes
(October 14, 1942)
• She is known for her blending styles and
movements from Philippine indigenous dance,
classical ballet, and modern dance in expressing
Filipino subject matters
MUSIC
Antonino Buenaventura
(May 4, 1904 – January 25, 1996)
• He was known for his marches including the
“Triumphal March”, “History Fantasy”, ”Echoes from
the Philippines” and “Ode to Freedom”
• He also wrote compositions for solo instruments,
and symphonic and orchestral works, which are
based in Philippine Folksongs
• He is also the conductor of the Philippine Army
Band.
 Ernani Cuenco
(May 10, 1936 – June 11, 1988)
• He was known for the “Bato sa Buhangin”, “Gaano
Kita Kamahal”, “Inang Bayan”, “Isang Dalangin”,
“Kalesa” and “Pilipinas”
• His worlks brought contemporary Filipino music to a
higher level.
 Francisco Feliciano
(February 19, 1941 – September 19, 2014)
• He was known for the use of modal scales in his
operas and orchestral works
• He was also able to fuse indigenous music in his
compositions.
• Some of the best choirs in the country, including the
Philippine Madrigal Singers and UST singers sang
some of his choral compositions.
 Levi Celerio
(April 30 1910 – April 2, 2002)
• Celerio is most known for his recognition as the
only man who could play music with a leaf in the
Guinness Book of World Records.
• He also received Lifetime Achievement Award of
the Film Academy of the Philippines for writing
songs for local movies.
• He was also known as the dean of Filipino lyricists.
Andrea Veneracion
(July 11, 1928 – July 9, 2013)
• She was the founder of the Philippine Madrigal
Singers, the 1st choir in the world to win the
European Grand for Choral Singing twice.
• She also recognized as an important authority in
the development of Philippine choral music.
• She also established musical education and
exposure programs to reach out some to some
provinces.
Philippine Madrigal Singers