NATIONAL

ARTIST FOR
THEATER
Contemporary of Philippine Arts from the Region
INTRODUCTION
According to theater and culture scholar Doreen Fernandez, the Philippine dramatic
tradition has its roots in the rituals and ceremonies of pre-colonial Filipinos. The
way they performed offerings to their gods and held communal celebrations were
already dramatic performances.
During the Spanish colonization, many forms of drama and theater appeared: from
the religious-themed cenaculo, and moro-moro, to the zarzuela, a traditional Spanish
one-act comic opera. During the American period, the vaudeville, a stage
performance that consists of various play acts. Throughout the years, from the
English plays of scholastic theater groups, to the street theater during the Martial
Law years, Filipino dramatic and theatrical practitioners continue to promote and
preserve theater arts in the country.
NATIONAL ARTIST
FOR THEATER

Daisy Avellana
January 26, 1917 - May 12, 2013
She is the country’s top post-war stage
actress and theater director. She was
the pride of Roxas City, Capiz, and
together with her husband, Lamberto
Avellana, they were known as the
Vivien Leigh and and Laurence Oliver
of the Philippines.
Known as “The First Lady of Philippine
Theatre”.
She was honored as a National Artist of the
Philippines for Theater and Film in 1999.
She starred in plays like Othello (1953), Macbeth
in Black (1959), Casa de Bernarda Alba (1967),
Tatarin. She is best remembered for her portrayal
of Candida Marasigan in the stage and film
versions of Nick Joaquin’s Portrait of the Artist
as Filipino. Her directorial credits include Diego
Silang (1968), and Walang Sugat (1971). Among
her screenplays were Sakay (1939) and Portrait
of the Artist as Filipino (1955).
 The pride of Tondo, Manila and the Philippines’
Honorata De La Rama “queen of zarzuela and vaudeville”, her Dalagang
1905 - 1991
Bukid is the epitome of all Filipino zarzuelas
. As a singer, she popularized native folk songs and
kundimans.
By the age of 7, she was already starring in Spanish
zarzuelas such as Mascota, Sueño de un Vals, and Marina. At
the age of 15, she starred in the sarsuela Dalagang Bukid,
where she became known for singing the song "Nabasag na
Banga".
During the American occupation of the Philippines, Atang de
la Rama fought for the dominance of the kundiman, an
important Philippine folk song, and the sarsuela, which is a
awarded as National Artist for Theater musical play that focused on contemporary Filipino issues
such as usury, cockfighting, and colonial mentality.
and Music in 1987.
Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
1911 - 1995

He is the pride of Ermita, Manilaand the Ateneo

community whopublished and produced 41 plays asa
playwright, a teacher, an actor, anda director. His
plays were knownfor their humor, love,
moraldilemmas and the use of localidioms and
colloquialisms ―
Wanted: A Chaperon, Half an Hour in a Convent,
Three Rats , and Basketball Fight! were just some of
them

President Fidel V. Ramos declares Wilfrido Ma.

Guerrero as the National Artist for 1997
 Lamberto V. Avellana
1915 - 1991

A native of Bontoc, MountainProvince, he was a

post-war stage andfilm director. His 1939 film Sakay
wasthe first Filipino hero movie. In1956, his movie
Anak Dalita was adjudged Best Film in the Asia
Pacific Film Festival. A year after in 1957, hismotion
picture Badjao
became atimeless classic for its depiction of
theculture of the Badjao ethnic tribe

In 1976, Avellana was named by President Ferdinand

Marcos as the first National Artist of the Philippines
for Film.
 Rolando S. Tinio
1937 - 1997

He was a poet, essayist, critic,actor, dramatist, and

teacher who hailed from Tondo ,Manila. Considered
to be the “father
of Taglish poetry” , he also translated into Tagalog
the drama plays of Shakespeare, Sophocles, Chekhov,
and Ibsen.

recognized as the National Artist for 1997 in the

Philippines.
 Severino Montano
1937 - 1997

This playwright, actor, anddirector from Laoag,

Ilocos Norte made 50 plays in hislifetime such as
The Love of Leonor Rivera, Gabriela Silang, and
The Merry Wives of Manila. In 1953, he founded the
Arena Theater, officially the Philippines’
first formal venue for theatrical performances.

He was awarded the title National Artist of the

Philippines for theatre posthumously in 2001.
 Salvador F. Bernal
1945 - 2011

A native of Dagupan , Pangasinan, he is unparalleled

as the Philippines’ “father
of theatrical stage and set design”
.In his more than 300productions, he was known
forhis use of local and indigenous materials like the
abaca, bamboo, rattan, etc.
Image Credit:

earned him the award of National Artist for Theater

and Design in 2003.