National Artist of the Philippines

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use Philippine English Template:Infobox order The Order of National Artists of the Philippines (Tagalog: Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng Pilipinas) is an order bestowed by the President of the Philippines on Philippine nationals 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 an order in 2003.<ref>Executive Order No. 236, s. 2003 Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved October 24, 2018.</ref>

The order is administered by the Cultural Center of the Philippines by virtue of President Ferdinand Marcos's Proclamation No. 1001 of April 2, 1972, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. The first award was posthumously conferred on Filipino painter Fernando Amorsolo.

Definition

The order of the highest state honor is conferred on individuals deemed as having done much for their artistic field. Deserving individuals must have been recommended by both the Cultural Center and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts prior to receiving the award. Such people are then titled, by virtue of a Presidential Proclamation, as National Artist (Filipino: Gawad Pambansang Alagad ng Sining), and are inducted into the order. Due to the non-retroactive nature of Proclamation No. 1001, artists who have died before 1972 are currently unable to be honored in the National Artist roster. Some individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts that are unable to be bestowed with the title of "National Artist" include Jose Rizal, Leona Florentino, Juan Luna, and Félix Resurrección Hidalgo. The Congress of the Philippines or the President of the Philippines has yet to either enact a law or release a presidential proclamation that would allow Filipinos who died before 1972 to be declared as National Artists. Three Filipino artists were given "special exemption" from the non-retroactive rule (Amorsolo, Francisco, and Hernandez), as they died within the so-called "final years" of the Third Philippine Republic (1965–1972) and not before that time.

Categories

Categories under which National Artists can be recognized originally included:<ref name="NCCA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Music – singing, composition, direction, and/or performance;
• Dance – choreography, direction and/or performance;
• Theater – direction, performance and/or production design;
• Contemporary Arts – painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, installation art, mixed media works, illustration, graphic arts, performance art and/or imaging;
• Literature – poetry, fiction, essay, playwriting, journalism and/or literary criticism;
• Film and Broadcasting/Broadcast Arts – direction, writing, production design, cinematography, editing, camera work, and/or performance; and
• Architecture, Design and Allied Arts – architecture design, interior design, industrial arts design, landscape architecture and fashion design.

However, National Artists have since been honored under new categories. The NCCA created the category of National Artist for Fashion Design when it nominated Ramon Valera, but subsumed that category under "Architecture, Design and Allied Arts". President Fidel V. Ramos issued an executive order creating the category of National Artist for Historical Literature before conferring the honor to Carlos Quirino.

Criteria

Current logo for the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property

The National Artists of the Philippines is based on broad criteria, as set forth by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts:<ref name="NCCA"/>

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, Award 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.

Nominations are then submitted to the National Artist Secretariat which is created by the National Artist Award Committee; experts from different art fields then sit on a First Deliberation to prepare the short list of nominees. A Second Deliberation, which is a joint meeting of the Commissioners of the NCCA and the Board of Trustees of the CCP, decides on the final nominees. The list is then forwarded to the President of the Philippines, who, by Presidential Proclamation, proclaims the final nominees as members of the Order of National Artists.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Benefits

• The rank and title of National Artist, as proclaimed by the President of the Philippines;<ref name="GMA7">Template:Cite journal</ref>
• A grand collar of the Order of National Artist and a citation;
• A lifetime emolument and material and physical benefits comparable in value to those received by the highest officers of the land such as:

1. a cash Award of one hundred thousand pesos (₱100,000.00) net of taxes, for living awardees;
2. a cash Award of seventy-five thousand pesos (₱75,000.00) net of taxes, for posthumous awardees, payable to legal heir/s;
3. a monthly life pension, medical and hospitalization benefits;
4. life insurance coverage for Awardees who are still insurable;
5. a state funeral and burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani;
6. a place of honor, in line with protocolar precedence, at national state functions, and recognition at cultural events.

Roster of National Artists

^1{{#if:| }} In May 2006, under the Arroyo administration, the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) already conferred the award to Poe but the late actor's wife, Susan Roces refused to acknowledge it. President Aquino has approved and signed Proclamation 435 affirming the previous proclamation of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declaring the late movie icon Fernando Poe Jr. a National Artist, posthumously. The Poe family finally accepted the conferment on 16 August 2012. .<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

^2{{#if:| }} Aguilar Alcuaz, Francisco, and Conde were all proclaimed in 2009 but the conferment of the order was delayed due to a controversy. The order was finally bestowed in a ceremony at Malacañang Palace in November 2013.<ref name="finally"/>

• Music
  • Levi Celério
  • Ernani Joson Cuenco
  • Felipe Padilla de León
  • Francisco Feliciano
  • Lucrecia R. Kasilag
  • José Maceda
  • Antonio J. Molina
  • Lucio D. San Pedro
  • Ramón Santos
  • Andrea O. Veneración
  • Antonino R. Buenaventura
  • Jovita Fuentes
  • Ryan Cayabyab
  • Fides Cuyugan-Asensio
• Dance
  • Francisca Reyes Aquino
  • Leonor Orosa-Goquingco
  • Ramón Obusan
  • Alice Reyes
  • Lucrecia Reyes Urtula
  • Agnes Locsin
• Theater
  • Daisy Avellana
  • Honorata "Atang" de la Rama
  • Rolando S. Tínio
  • Salvador F. Bernál (Set Design)
  • Lamberto V. Avellana
  • Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
  • Severino Montano
  • Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio
  • Tony Mabesa
• Architecture
  • Pablo Antonio (Architecture)
  • Juan Nakpíl (Architecture)
  • Leandro V. Locsín (Architecture)
  • Francisco Mañosa (Architecture)
  • I. P. Santos (Architecture)
  • José María Zaragoza (Architecture)
• Fashion Design
  • Ramón Valera (Fashion Design)
  • Salvacion Lim-Higgins (Fashion Design)
• Historical Literature
  • Carlos Quirino

• Visual Arts
  • Napoleón V. Abueva (Sculpture)
  • Larry Alcala (Comics)
  • Fernando C. Amorsolo (Painting)
  • Benedicto "BenCab" Reyes Cabrera (Painting)
  • Francisco Coching (Comics)
  • Victorio C. Edades (Painting)
  • Carlos "Botong" V. Francisco (Painting)
  • Abdulmari Asia Imao (Sculpture)
  • Jose T. Joya (Painting)
  • Ang Kiukok (Painting)
  • César Legaspi (Painting)
  • Arturo R. Luz (Painting)
  • Vicente S. Manansala (Painting)
  • J. Navarro Elizalde (Painting)
  • Hernándo R. Ocampo (Painting)
  • Guillermo E. Tolentino (Sculpture)
  • Federico Aguilar Alcuáz (Painting, Sculpture, and Mixed Media)
• Literature
  • Francisco Arcellana
  • Virgilio S. Almario
  • Cirilo F. Bautista
  • N. V. M. Gonzalez
  • Ramon Muzones
  • Amado V. Hernández
  • Nick Joaquín
  • F. Sioníl José
  • Bienvenido Lumbera
  • Resil Mojares
  • Alejándro R. Roces
  • Carlos P. Rómulo
  • Edith L. Tiempo
  • José García Villa
  • Lázaro Francisco
  • Gemino Abad
• Film and Broadcast Arts
  • Lino Brocka
  • Ishmael Bernál
  • Gerardo de León
  • Eddie S. Romero
  • Fernando Poe Jr.
  • Manuel Conde
  • Kidlat Tahimik
  • Nora Aunor
  • Marilou Diaz-Abaya
  • Ricky Lee

Nominations

Since the establishment in 1972 of the order for artists who have contributed largely in their respective fields, government and non-government cultural organizations and educational institutes have nominated candidates deemed eligible and worthy of such recognition.<ref name=ifacca>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Unfortunately, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts does not reveal their deliberations and list of candidates received.<ref name=ifacca/>

The following list features noted personalities nominated for their respective fields:<ref name=vera>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Music
  • George Canseco (1934–2004)
  • Yoyoy Villame (1932–2007)
  • Eduardo Hontiveros (1923–2008)
  • Francis Magalona (1964–2009)
  • Fred Panopio (1939–2010)
  • Rico J. Puno (1953–2018)
  • Heber Bartolome (1948–2021)
  • Sylvia La Torre (1933–2022)
  • Rudy Villanueva (1940–2024)
  • Pilita Corrales (1939–2025)
  • Max Surban (born 1939)
  • Jose Mari Chan (born 1945)
  • Eva Eugenio (born 1946)
  • Raul Sunico (born 1948)
  • Freddie Aguilar (1953–2025)
  • Joey Ayala (born 1956)
  • Imelda Papin (born 1956)
  • Cecile Licad (born 1961)
  • Grace Nono (born 1965)
  • Lea Salonga (born 1971)
  • Gerard Salonga (born 1973)
  • Asin (band formed in 1976)
• Dance
  • Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa (born 1943)
  • Lisa Macuja-Elizalde (born 1964)
  • Nonoy Froilan (born 1950)
  • Shirley Halili-Cruz (born 1959)
• Theater
  • Bienvenido Noriega Jr. (1952–1994)
  • Rene Villanueva (1954–2007)
  • Cecile Guidote-Alvarez (born 1943)
  • Celeste Legaspi (born 1950)
  • Rody Vera (born 1960)
  • Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (born 1963)
  • Lea Salonga (born 1971)
• Architecture
  • Fernando Ocampo (1897–1984)
  • Carlos A. Santos-Viola (1912–1994)
  • Cesar Concio (1907–2003)
  • Carlos Arguelles (1917–2008)
  • Felino Palafox (born 1950)
• Fashion Design
  • Joe B. Salazar (1944–2004)
  • Ben Farrales (1932–2021)
  • Aureo R. Alonzo (1928–2014)
  • Pitoy Moreno (1925–2018)
  • Michael Cinco (born 1971)

• Visual Arts – Painting and Sculpture
  • Martino Abellana (1914–1988)
  • Onib Olmedo (1937–1996)
  • Tony Velasquez (1910–1997)
  • Nonoy Marcelo (1939–2002)
  • Paco Gorospe (1939–2002)
  • Pacita Abad (1946–2004)
  • Romeo Tabuena (1921–2015)
  • Eduardo Castrillo (1942–2016)
  • Nestor Leynes (1922–2016)
  • Malang Santos (1928–2017)
  • Ben Hur Villanueva (1938–2018)
  • Rey Paz Contreras (1950–2021)
  • Araceli Limcaco-Dans (1929–2024)
  • Carlo J. Caparas (1958–2024)
  • Nemesio Miranda (born 1949)
  • Rene Robles (born 1950)
  • Kublai Millan (born 1974)
• Literature
  • Teodoro Agoncillo (1912–1985)
  • Gregorio F. Zaide (1907–1985)
  • Angela Manalang-Gloria (1907–1995)
  • Edilberto K. Tiempo (1913–1996)
  • Liwayway Arceo (1924–1999)
  • Adrian Cristobal (1932–2007)
  • Loreto Paras-Sulit (1908–2008)
  • Kerima Polotan Tuvera (1925–2011)
  • Emerita Quito (1926–2017)
  • Carmen Guerrero Nakpil (1922–2018)
  • Domingo G. Landicho (1939–2021)
  • Lualhati Bautista (1945–2023)
  • Rudy Villanueva (1940–2024)
  • Zeus A. Salazar (born 1934)
  • Merlie Alunan (born 1943)
  • Isagani R. Cruz (born 1945)
  • Marjorie Evasco (born 1953)
  • Jose Dalisay Jr. (born 1954)
  • Ambeth Ocampo (born 1961)
  • Gina Apostol (born 1963)
• Film and Broadcast Arts
  • Nida Blanca (1936–2001)
  • Paquito Diaz (1937–2011)
  • Mario O'Hara (1946–2012)
  • Dolphy Quizon (1928–2012)
  • Bella Flores (1929–2013)
  • Eddie Garcia (1929–2019)
  • Peque Gallaga (1943–2020)
  • Anita Linda (1924–2020)
  • Ramon Revilla Sr. (1927–2020)
  • Susan Roces (1941–2022)
  • Gloria Sevilla (1932–2022)
  • Rosa Rosal (born 1928)
  • Gloria Romero (1933–2025)
  • Vilma Santos (born 1953)
  • Chito S. Roño (born 1954)
  • Lav Diaz (born 1958)
  • Brillante Mendoza (born 1960)

2009 National Artist of the Philippines controversy

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In August 2009, the conferment of the Order of National Artists on seven individuals by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo<ref name="announcement">Template:Cite journal</ref> became controversial when it was revealed that musician Ramon Santos had been dropped from the list of nominees short-listed in May that year by the selection committee, and that four other individuals had been nominated via "President's prerogative": Cecile Guidote-Alvarez (Theater), Carlo J. Caparas (Visual Arts and Film), Francisco Mañosa (Architecture), and Pitoy Moreno (Fashion Design).<ref name="GMA7"/><ref name="firstreaction">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Members of the Philippine art community–including a number of living members of the Order–protested that the proclamation politicised the title of National Artist, and made it "a way for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to accommodate her allies." Specific protests were raised regarding the nomination of Guidote-Alvarez, who was also executive director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, because it was purportedly a breach of protocol and delicadeza (propriety), and of Caparas, on the grounds that he was unqualified for nomination under both the Visual Arts and the Film categories.<ref name="firstreaction"/><ref name="Alanguilan">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On July 16, 2013, the controversy finally ended after the Supreme Court of the Philippines voted 12-1-2 that voided the four proclamations.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

On June 20, 2014, five years after he was originally shortlisted in 2009, Ramon Santos was finally conferred National Artist for Music by President Benigno S. Aquino III.<ref name="2014-national-artists" />

See also

• Art of the Philippines
• Culture of the Philippines
• National Living Treasures Award (Philippines)
• Tourism in the Philippines

External links

• Template:Commons category-inline
• List of National Artists (NCCA). From the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) website.
• National Artists Guidelines (NCCA)
• The Order of National Artists – from the Official Gazette of the Philippines (Office of the President)
• National Artists in Waiting: Six in a Fix