CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS

MODULE 3/WEEK 3
MELCS: The learner…
Explain Filipino artist’ roles and identity and their contribution to
contemporary arts (CAR 11/12 CAP-0c-e6)
TOPIC: Filipino National Artist

INTRODUCTION
In this lesson, we will discuss the highest recognitions a Filipino artist
could receive in the Philippines namely: the Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng
Pilipinas (or the National Artist of the Philippines) and the Gawad sa
Manlilikha ng Bayan (or the National Living Treasures Award).

This lesson will encompass the other distinctions a Filipino artist could
receive such as The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award, The
Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Award, the Thirteen Artists Awards (TAA),
and the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining. In this time and age, the need to know
and preserve our heritage has become a must so we, too, can learn to
appreciate the works of our forefathers and hopefully, create something that
will keep our national identity alive.

I. The Order of National Artist (ONA)

Also called the Orden ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining, the ONA is the
highest
recognition given by the Republic of the Philippines to Filipinos who have made
significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts.

This award was created through the Presidential Proclamation No. 1001,
s. 1972 of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. to recognize:

1) Filipino artists who have made significant contributions to the cultural

heritage of the country;
2) Filipino artistic accomplishment at its highest level and to promote creative
expression as significant to the development of a national cultural identity; and
3) Filipino artists who have dedicated their lives to their works to forge new
paths and directions for future generations of Filipino artists.

In short, the ONA is given to individual citizens who exemplify the

country’s highest ideals in the field of humanities and aesthetic expression,
specifically in the following categories:
A. Architecture and allied arts (architecture, interior design, landscape
architecture and urban design),

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 B. Dance (choreography, direction, performance), design (industrial design
and fashion design),
C. Film and Broadcast arts (direction, writing, production design,
cinematography, editing, animation, performance and new media),
D. Literature (poetry, fiction, essay, literary/art criticism), music
(composition, direction, performance), theater (direction, performance,
production design, light and sound design and playwriting) and
E. Visual arts (painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, installation
art, mixed media works, illustration, graphic arts, performance art,
imaging).

The order is bestowed by the President of the Philippines upon the joint
recommendation of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

II. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION (Adapted from ncaa.gov.ph)

Upon the announcement of the National Artists Award Secretariat composed of
the NCCA and the CCP that the nominations for the said award have been
opened, the nominees should meet the following criteria:

1. Living artists who are Filipino citizens at the time of nomination and at the
awarding, as well as those who died after the establishment of the award in
1972 but were Filipino citizens at the time of their death.

2, Artists 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, thus,

earning distinction and making an impact on succeeding generations of artists.

4. Artists who have created a substantial and significant body of works and/or
consistently displayed excellence in the practice of their art form thus,
enriching artistic expression or style.

5. Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through:

a. Prestigious national and/or international recognition ,such as the Gawad

CCP para sa Sining, CCP Thirteen Artists Award, and NCCA Haraya Awards
(Alab and Dangal)

b. Critical acclaim and/or reviews of their works

c. Respect and esteem from peers

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 The screening and selection process will go through a set of deliberation
based on the guidelines set forth, where qualified nominees will be evaluated
and reviewed by the NCCA and CCP. The final list of nominees shall be
submitted to the President of the Republic of the Philippines for confirmation,
proclamation, and conferral in accordance to the Supreme Court Ruling G.R.
189028.

HONORS AND PRIVILEGES (Adapted from ncaa.gov.ph)

The following privileges are provided to those conferred with the Order of
National Artist:
1. The rank and title of National Artist, as proclaimed by the President of the
Philippines;

2. The National Artist gold-plated medallion minted by the Bangko Sentral ng

Pilipinas (BSP) and citation;

3. A lifetime emolument and material and physical benefits comparable in

value to those received by the highest officers of the land such as:
a) Living Awardees:
 A minimum cash award of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos
(PhP200,000.00), net of taxes.
 A minimum lifetime personal monthly stipend of Fifty Thousand
Pesos (PhP50,000.00);
 Medical and Hospitalization benefits not exceeding PhP750,000.00 per
year;
 Coverage by a life insurance policy by the Government Service
Insurance System (GSIS) and or/ private insurance companies from
date of conferment the award, in the event that the National Artist is
insurable, the premiums for which shall be paid by the National
Government or by donation from any governmental or private entities.
 A State Funeral, the arrangements for and the expenses of which
shall be borne by the Government, upon the death of the National
Artist;

b) Posthumous Awardees:
One-time minimum cash award of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos
(PhP150,000.00), net of taxes, payable to the legal heir/s.

INSIGNIA OF THE ORDER OF NATIONAL ARTISTS

The prestigious award for the Order of National Artists is composed of a
Grand Collar that features circular links portraying the arts, and eight-
pointed conventionalized sunburst suspended from a sampaguita wreath in
green and white enamel.

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 The central badge is a medallion, which is
Divided into three equal portions: red, white
and blue representing the Philippine flag,
with three stylized letter Ks — the “KKK”
stands for the CCP’s motto: “katotohanan,
kabutihan, at kagandahan” (“the true, the
good, and the beautiful”), as coined by then
first lady and CCP Founder Mrs. Imelda
Romualdez Marcos.

The composition of the Grand Collar is silver gilt

bronze. In place of a rosette and there is an
enameled pin in the form of the insignia of the order.

THE NATIONAL ARTIST OF THE PHILIPPINES

A. NATIONAL ARTIST FOR PAINTING
1. Fernando Cueto Amorsolo (1892-1972; year awarded: 1972) is from Paco,
Manila and is the first to be recognized as a National Artist, four days after his
death. Known for his portraitures, his paintings of Filipino women rejected the
ideals of the West, basing the faces of his subjects on members of his family.

According to him: "[The women I paint should have] a rounded face, not of the
oval type often presented to us in newspapers and magazine illustrations. The
eyes should be exceptionally lively, not the dreamy, sleepy type that
characterizes the Mongolian. The nose should be of the blunt form but firm
and strongly marked. ... So, the ideal Filipina beauty should not necessarily be
white complexioned, nor of the dark brown color of the typical Malayan, but of
the clear skin or fresh colored type which we often witness when we met a
blushing girl.]"

Amorsolo is also best known for his rural landscapes which often represented
Filipino customs and traditions, Amorsolo was successful in the formation of
Filipino national identity. He is best known for his technique of using natural
light in his paintings and developed the backlighting technique, which later on
became his trademark and his greatest contribution to Philippine painting.
Among his famous works are: Maiden in a Stream(1921) - GSIS collection; El
Ciego (1928) - Central Bank of the Philippines collection; Dalagang Bukid

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(1936) – Club Filipino collection; The Mestiza (1943)–National Museum of
the Philippines collection; Planting Rice (1946)-UCPB collection; Sunday
Morning Going to Town (1958)-Ayala Museum Collection.

2. Carlos “Botong” Franciso (1912-1969; Awarded 1973). Dubbed as the

“Poet of Angono, Rizal,” he single-handedly brought back the art of mural
painting in Philippines. He was the second Filipino to receive the title of
National Artist in Painting. Botong was best known for his historical pieces. He
was one of the modernist artists together with Galo Ocampo and Victorio
Edades known as " The Triumvirate," who broke away from the romanticism
style of Amorsolo's Philippine Scenes. His major masterpiece is the mural for
Bulwagang Katipunan of the Manila City Hall. Among his major works
include: the Portrait of Purita, The Invasion of Limahong, Serenade,
Muslim etrothal, Blood Compact, First Mass at Limasawa, The
martyrdom of Rizal, Bayanihan, Magpupukot, Fiesta, Bayanihan sa
Bukid and Sandugo.

3. Victorio C. Edades (1895-1985; 1976) emerged as the “Father of Modern

Philippine Painting.” A native of Dagupan, Pangasinan, he is known for his
paintings of distorted human figures in rough, bold impasto strokes. He
believed in his own advocacy and practice of what he called “creative art.”
Unlike Amorsolo’s bright, sunny, cheerful hues, Edades’ colors were dark and
somber with subject matter or themes depicting laborers, factory workers or
the simple folk in all their dirt, sweat and grime.

In the 1930s, Edades taught at the University of Santos Tomas and became
dean of its Department of Architecture where he stayed for 30 years. It was
during this time that he introduced a liberal arts program that offers subjects
such as art history and foreign languages that will lead to a bachelor’s degree
in fine arts. This development brought about a first in Philippine education
since art schools then were vocational schools. When he retired from teaching
at age 70, the university conferred on Edades the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts,
honoris causa, for being an outstanding “visionary, teacher and artist.” Among
his works are The Sketch, The Artist and the Model, Portrait of the
Professor, Japanese Girl, Mother and Daughter, The Wrestlers, and
Poinsettia Girl.

4. A Pride of Macabebe, Pampanga, Vicente S. Manansala (1910-1981; 1981)

expressed his visions of reality through his paintings using concepts from the
rural and urban settings. His talent was revealed as a young boy when he
made copies of the Sagrada Familia and his mother’s portrait that he copied
from a photograph. He ran away from home after finishing Fine Arts from the
University of the Philippines and later found himself as an Illustrator at the
Philippines Herald. There he met Hernando R. Ocampo, Cesar Legaspi, and

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Carlos Botong Francisco, the latter being the first he admired most. A
UNESCO scholar, he was granted a scholarship to study for six months at
École des Beaux-Arts in Banff and Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1949 and in
1950, he received a nine-month scholarship from the French Government to
study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Best known as a cubist painter, he developed transparent cubism with
the use of delicate colors and tones, and patterns and shapes on top of
another. Manansala’s technique was founded on Cezanne and Picasso whom
he says have achieved a balance of skill and artistry. His works include: A
Cluster of Nipa Hut, San Francisco Del Monte, Banaklaot, I Believe in
God, Market Venders, Madonna of the Slums, Still Life with Green
Guitar, Via Crucis, Whirr, Nude. Manansala’s “transparent and
translucent” technique is imposed in his composition of Kalabaw
(Carabao) in 1979.

5. Jeremias Elizalde Navarro (1924-1999; 1999). A versatile artist from

Antique, being both a proficient painter and sculptor, J. Elizalde Navarro has
devoted 40 years of his life to the visual arts ranging from drawing,
printmaking, graphic designing, to painting and sculpting. His masks carved
in hardwood merge the human and the animal; his paintings consist of
abstracts and figures in oil and watercolor; and his assemblages fuse found
objects and metal parts. Inspired by the Balinese art and culture, his
figurative works showed his power as a master of colors.
A Navarro sampler includes a large four-panel work, The Seasons, whch
is part of the Prudential Bank Collection. Among his works include his ’50s
and ’60s fiction illustrations for This Week of the Manila Chronicle, and the
rotund, India-ink figurative drawings for Lydia Arguilla’s storybook, Juan
Tamad. Three of his major mixed media works are I’m Sorry Jesus, I Can’t
Attend Christmas This Year (1965), and his Homage to Dodjie Laurel
(1969: Ateneo Art Gallery collection), and A Flying Contraption for Mr.
Icarus (1984: Lopez Museum).

6. Jose T. Joya (1931-1995; 2003). What sets Joya different from other
abstract artists is his ability to create an authentic Filipino abstract that has
transcended the influences of the West. Joya’s paintings were mirrors of the
Philippine landscapes that depicted green rice fields and golden fields of
harvest. A remarkable artist from Manila, he also introduced another technique
that has become a common characteristic of folk art - he used rice paper in
creating collages to show a transparent effect. He also advocated gestural
paintings where paint is applied naturally, in bold and heavy brush strokes, or
is directly squeezed from the tube and splashed across the canvas. Joya was
an inspiration for younger artists as well. By exploring the potentials of
multimedia, he also made art on ceramic vessels, plates, and tiles.
Indeed, his fineness in completing a large body of work has won the admiration
of artists, here and abroad. His major works include Granadean rabesque,

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Makiling Interlude, Beethoven Listening to the Blues, Space
Transfiguration, ills of Nikko, Abstraction, Dimension of Fear, Naid,
Torogan and Cityscape.

B. NATIONAL ARTIST FOR VISUAL ARTS

1. Cesar T. Legaspi (1917-1994; 1990). From Tondo, Manila, Legaspi is a
known pioneer of Neo-Realist in the country and is remembered for his
remarkable achievement of refining cubism in the Philippine context. With his
distinctive geometric fragmentation technique, merging social comment and
placing alongside the mythical and modern into his overlapping, interacting
forms by means of disturbing power and intensity, his daring themes
contributed significantly to the advent and eventual acceptance of modern art
in the Philippines. Among his major works are: are Gadgets I, Gadgets II,
Diggers, Idols of the Third Eye, Facade, Ovary, Flora and Fauna,
Triptych, Flight, Bayanihan, Struggle, Avenging Figure, Turning Point,
Peace, The Survivor, and The Ritual.

2. Hernando R. Ocampo (1911-1978; 1991). A self-taught painter from Sta.

Cruz Manila, Ocampo was a leading member of the pre-war Thirteen moderns,
the group that charted the course of modern art in the Philippines. His works
presented an awareness of the harsh social realities in the country immediately
after World War II and contributed significantly to the rise of nationalist spirit
in the post-war era. Through his abstract works, the Philippine modern art
became known as his canvases evoked the abundant Philippine landscape, its
flora and fauna, under the sun and rain in fierce and bold colors. He also
played a pivotal role in sustaining the country’s first Philippine Art Gallery.
Ocampo’s masterpiece called; “Genesis” served as the basis of the curtain
design of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater. His other major
works include Ina ng Balon, Calvary, Slum Dwellers, Nude with Candle
and Flower, Man and Carabao, Angel’s Kiss, Palayok at Kalan,
Ancestors, Isda at Mangga, The Resurrection, Fifty-three “Q”, Backdrop,
Fiesta.

3. Arturo R. Luz (1926; 1997). Celebrated as a painter, sculptor, and designer

for more than 40 years, Luz, coming from Manila, created masterpieces that
exemplify an ideal of sophisticated simplicity in expression and form, elevating
the Filipino aesthetic vision to new heights. pride Through the Luz Gallery that
he established, he has set a prestigious influence over generations of Filipino
artists, and inspired and developed a Filipino artistic community that nurtures
impeccable designs such as those with playful lines portraying a minimalist,
geometric abstract. This technique is what he referred to as true Asian
modernity that shows the modernist virtues of competence, order and elegance.

Among his other significant paintings are Bagong Taon, Vendador de

Flores, Skipping Rope, Candle Vendors, Procession, Self-Portrait, Night
Glows, Grand Finale, Cities of the Past, Imaginary Landscapes. His mural

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painting Black and White is displayed in the lobby of the CCP’s Bulwagang
Carlos V. Francisco (Little Theater). His sculpture of a stainless-steel cube is
located in front of the Benguet Mining Corporation Building in Pasig.

4. Ang Kiukok (1931-2005; 2001)Born to immigrant Chinese parents Vicente

Ang and Chin Lim, Ang Kiukok from Davao City is one of the most vital and
dynamic figures who emerged during the 60s. He initiated a formal and
iconographic path of his own through expressionistic works of high visual
impact and compelling meaning. He crystallized in vivid, cubistic figures the
terror and angst of the times. Shaped in the furnace of the political turmoil of
those times, Ang Kiukok pursued an expression imbued with nationalist fervor
and sociological agenda. Some of his works include Geometric Landscape
(1969); Pieta, which won for him the bronze medal in the 1st International
Art Exhibition held in Saigon (1962); and the Seated Figure (1979), auctioned
at Sotheby’s in Singapore. Reports say that his works can be found in many
major art collections, among them the Cultural Center of the Philippines,
National Historical Museum of Taipei, and the National Museum in Singapore.
5. Benedicto R. Cabrera (1942; 2006). Born in Malabon, Cabrera uses
“Bencab” as his signature in his works. Initially a lyrical expressionist in the
mid-60s decorative color in his art, he is best known for his solitary figures of
scavengers that aim to move the social conscience about poverty and
delinquency. His most popular figure, whom he named, “Sabel,” symbolizes
despair, inequality and isolation as evident in the Philippine society. Among
his selected works include Madonna with Objects, Studies of Sabel, People
Waiting, The Indifference, Waiting for the Monsoon.

6. Abdulmari Asia Imao (1936-2014; 2006). A native of Siasi, Sulu, Imao is

the first Filipino Muslim to receive the title of National Artist. A native of Sulu
who is primarily known as a sculptor, Imao is also painter, photographer,
ceramist, documentary film maker, cultural researcher, writer, and articulator
of Philippine Muslim art and culture. By adapting the indigenous motifs and
subjects of the South, he was able to popularize the ukkil (sinuous relief
woodcarving tradition found in houses and boats), sarimanok (mythical bird
with fish) and naga (sea serpent), infusing in the Filipino consciousness what is
considered to be an original and unique Filipino concept.

Imao’s monumental sculptures of Muslim and regional heroes and

leaders paved the way for him to inculcate faith and confidence among cultural
groups for a more just and humane society. His major works include Industry
Brass Mural (Philippine National Bank, San Fernando, La Union), Mural
Relief on Filmmaking (Manila City Hall), Industrial Mural (Central Bank of
the Philippines, San Fernando, La Union), Sulu Warriors (status of Panglima
Unaid and Captain Abdurahim Imao, Sulu Provincial Capitol).

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7. Federico A. Alcuaz (1932-2011;2009). Another renowned artist from Sta.
Cruz, Manila, Alcuaz is fond of signing his works using Aguilar Alcuaz. Known
mainly for his gestural paintings in acrylic and oil, he also sketches in ink,
atercolor and pencil. Aside from rendering abstract and figurative works in
ceramics and tapestries, he is also known for his relief sculptures made of
paper and other materials which he called “Alcuazaics”.

Alcuaz was taking up Fine Arts at UP Diliman and at the same time,
taking up his pre-law course at San Beda College. Because art was really his
passion, he would join and win art competitions and even put-up several solo
exhibits after graduating from San Beda. To give-in to his father’s wish, he
obtained his law degree at the Ateneo de Manila but after applauded in an
exhibit at the Philippine Art Gallery, he was acknowledged by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in Spain
and received a fellowship to study at the Academia de Bellas Artes de San
Fernando in Madrid. He furthered his stay in Europe to train himself with the
art and culture of Europe and eventually had exhibits in Madrid and
Barcelona, where he met his future wife Ute Schmidt.

His works are recognized for being refined and with European flair,
coupled with the ease and pleasure carried by his choice of light, color and
composition. Among his major works are Reveries of Love, Still Life with
Landscape, Abstract in Blue and Black, Tap Room, Tres Marias, and Manila
1968.

8. Francisco V. Coching (1919-1998; 2014). Our next National Artist hailed

from Buting, Pasig. Aside from being a comic book writer, Coching was also an
illustrator. In fact, he was distinguished in the field of Filipino comics, earning
the name, “The King of Komiks” and the “Dean of Filipino Illustrators.” For
four decades, he was able to combine his love of storytelling and expertise in
illustration in his popular art form of comics, fascinating both the reading
public and his fellow artists, cartoonists, and writers.

Founded on the Philippine culture of the 19th century up to the 1960s,

his works tackled heroism and expose the racial and class conflict as seen in
the country’s colonial society, a theme that was also manifested in Philippine
cinema. In his comics, he depicted Filipino men in the image of the indigenous
and strong physique of Lapu-Lapu and portrayed women as beautiful and
gentle, but strong and warrior-like as in Marabini (Marahas na Binibini). Even
when he featured fantastical characters like vampires and witches, Coching’s
illustrations and stories appeared realistic. Among his works are Sagisag ng
Lahing Pilipino, Haring Ulopong, Movie Fan, Pusakal, Dimasalang, El
Vibora, Talipandas, Gigolo, Maldita. Indeed, his comics paved the way for
the practice of popular art and has posed a lasting influence on younger
cartoonists.

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C. NATIONAL ARTIST FOR SCULPTURE
1. Guillermo A. Tolentino (1890-1976; 1973). A product of Malolos, Bulacan,
Tolentino is a prominent sculptor of historical figures that are grand and
monumental after returning from Europe where he studied at the Royal
Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, he became known as a respected professor at
the UP School of Fine Arts, where he got the idea of creating a monument for
national heroes. Among Tolentino’s famous works are the UP Oblation, which
serves as the symbol of freedom at the campus, and the Bonifacio Monument
in Caloocan, as a an enduring symbol of the Filipinos’ cry for freedom. His
other works include the bronze figures of the late President Quezon at
Quezon Memorial, life-size statues of Jose Rizal at UP and UE, marble
statue of the late President Ramon Magsaysay in GSIS Building, the gold
and bronze medals for the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the seal of the
Republic of the Philippines, and the statues of heroic and political
personalities, including those that represent education, medicine, forestry,
veterinary, science, fine arts and music at UP.

2. Napoleon V. Abueva (1930; 1976). This native of Bohol was the youngest
recipient of the National Artist Award. Coined as the “Father of Modern
Philippine Sculpture”, Abueva is recognized for his non-representational
sculptures showing modern abstract and using a variety of media raning from
hard wood (molave, acacia, langka wood, ipil, kamagong, palm wood and
bamboo) to adobe, metal, stainless steel, cement, marble, bronze, iron,
alabaster, coral and brass).

With his introduction of the “buoyant sculpture” (a sculpture that is

meant to be appreciated from the surface of a placid pool) in 1951, he has
shaped the local sculpture scene to what it is now. His works have been
installed in different museums here and abroad and one of which is The
Sculpture at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. His major
works include Kaganapan, Kiss of Judas, Thirty Pieces of Silver, The
Transfiguration, the Eternal Garden Memorial Park, UP Gateway, Nine
Muses, UP Faculty Center, Sunburst in Peninsula Manila Hotel, the bronze
figure of Teodoro M. Kalaw in front of the National Library, and the marble
murals at the National Heroes Shrine in Mt. Samat, Bataan.

D. NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR DANCE

1. Francisca R. Aquino (1899-1983; 1973). Aquino is a celebrated Folk Dance

Pioneer from Bocaue, Bulacan. Through her efforts in doing research on folk
dances that started in the 1920s, visiting the remote areas of Central and
Northern Luzon, she was able to complete a thesis entitled, “Philippine Folk
Dances and Games” in 1926. This paper narrated the unrecorded forms of
local celebration, rituals, and sports. - the content of which was used by

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teachers and playground instructors in both private and public schools in the
1940s. Later, she became the Supervisor of Physical Education at the Bureau
of Education, embedding the teaching of folk dancing as a means to raise
awareness about the Filipino cultural tradition. Then in 1954, she was granted
the Republic Award of Merit by the late President Magsaysay for her
“outstanding contribution toward the advancement of Filipino culture.” Her
works include books on: Philippine National Dances, Gymnastics for Girls,
Fundamental Dance Steps and Music, Foreign Folk Dances, Dances for
all Occasion, Playground Demonstration, and Philippine Folk Dances
(Volumes I to VI).
2. Leonor O. Goquinco (1917-2005; 1976)Born in Jolo, Sulu, Goquingco was
named the “Trailblazer”, “Mother of Philippine Theater Dance” and the “Dean of
Filipino Performing Arts Critics.” She was the Honorary Chair of the
Association of Ballet Academies of the Philippines (ABAP), and was a founding
member of the Philippine Ballet Theater.
Goquingco is a premier choreographer who combined ballet with folk and
Asian dance, having made first-of-a-kind choreographies — all original and
mostly narrating stories that she wrote on her own. Among these include
“TREND: Return to Native,” “In a Javanese Garden,” “Sports,” “VINTA!,” “In a
Concentration Camp,” “The Magic Garden,” “The Clowns,” “Firebird,” “Noli
Dance Suite,” “The Flagellant,” and “The Creation”. Considered as her most
ambitious work is the dance epic entitled, “Filipinescas: Philippine Life, Legend
and Lore,” which became the foundation of native folk dance, reflecting the
evolution of the Philippine culture from pagan to modern times, up to it highest
stage of development. This performance has traveled around the world from
1961 to 1970, introducing Philippine dance to the globe.
3. Lucrecia R. Urtula (1929-1999;1988). A local of Iloilo, Urtula was a
choreographer, dance educator and researcher. She spent almost four decades
studying Philippine folk and ethnic dances. Through her findings, she was able
to preserve and develop the ethnic dance culture, making way for new
choreographies such as the mountain dances, Spanish-influenced dances, and
Muslim pageants and festivals. These regional variations and dances were
performed by the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company, earning praises and
significant reviews around the world. Among her critically acclaimed dances
were: Singkil, a Bayanihan signature number based on a Maranao epic poem;
Vinta, a dance honoring Filipino sailing prowess; Tagabili, a tale of tribal
conflict; Pagdiwata, a four-day harvest festival condensed into a six-minute
breath-taking spectacle; Salidsid, a mountain wedding dance; Idaw, Banga and
Aires de Verbena.

4. Ramon A. Obusan (1938-2006; 2006). Obusan is Camarines Norte’s pride

in terms of being a dancer, choreographer, stage designer and artistic director.
Through his efforts in doing cultural research, he was able to develop and
deepen the Filipino understanding of traditional dance. He also established the

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Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group who performed authentic Filipino folk dance
that brought about cultural appreciation of the art of dance.

Among his choreographies are: Vamos a Belen! Series (Philippine Dances

Tradition), Noon Po sa Amin (tableaux of Philippine History in song, drama
and dance), Obra Maestra (a collection of Ramon Obusan’s dance
masterpieces), Unpublished Dances of the Philippines, (Series 1 to 4), Water,
Fire and Life, Philippine Dances and Music (A Celebration of Life Saludo sa
Sentenyal), Glimpses of ASEAN (Dances and Music of the ASEAN-Member
Countries), Saplot (Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group); Philippines Costumes in
Dance.

5. Alice G. Reyes (1942-;2014). Another pride of Manila has become a

significant contributor of the development and promotion of Philippine dance.
Reyes is a dancer, choreographer, teacher and director, who has made a
lifelong influence on contemporary dance in the country, leaving a legacy
among various dance companies, teachers, choreographers and even the
Filipino modern dance repertoire of today.

Her passion for classical ballet and successful training in folk dance
under the Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company, coupled with her
education in modern and jazz dance in the United States led her to establish
Ballet Philippines. Since then, she has produced a contemporary dance that is
uniquely Filipino, because of combining her state-of-the-art and creative
movements and styles with indigenous dance, modern dance and classical
ballet. Her masterpiece includes Amada, Itim-Asu, and Bayanihan
Remembered, which she utilized to promote the distinctive aspects of
Philippine arts, culture and heritage. Subsequently, she initiated the
popularization of modern dance in the country. By promoting outreach tours,
performances, programs, trainings, and workshops, she was able to strengthen
the foundation for Ballet Philippines and modern dance in the country.

F. NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE

1. Amado V. Hernandez (1903-1970; 1973). A renowned poet, playwright, and

novelist from Hagonoy, Bulacan, Hernandez believed that his art should act as
the conscience of society, raising awareness about inequality and oppression,
in order to act accordingly when faced with inequality and oppression, and to
amend what is needed. His writing style, which uses the colloquial language
instead of the flowery lingo, paved the way for the development of Tagalog
prose. While in prison, he wrote Mga Ibong Mandaragit, the first Filipino
socio-political novel that exposes the ills of the society in relation to the
agrarian problems of the 1950s. His other works include Bayang Malaya,
Isang Dipang Langit, Luha ng Buwaya, Muntinlupa and Makabayan
Mukha ng Isang Bagol.

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2. Jose Garcia Villa (1908-1997; 1973). An acclaimed contemporary poet from
Singalong, Manila is Jose Garcia Villa, most commonly known as Doveglion
(Dove, Eagle, Lion). He used this as his penname because these are the very
characters that he attributed to himself—the very same ones that e.e.
cummings used in his poem for Villa (Doveglion Adventures in Value). He is
recognized as the first to introduce reversed consonance rhyme scheme and the
use of punctuation marks, especially the comma, in his poems.

His poem entitled, “Have Come, Am Here,” was highly praised in New
York in 1942 and from then on, more recognitions, honors and fellowships
were awarded to him. His works have been collected and published in the
following books: Footnote to Youth, Many Voices, Poems by Doveglion,
Poems 55, Poems in Praise of Love: The Best Love Poems of Jose Garcia
Villa as Chosen By Himself, Selected Stories, The Portable Villa, The
Essential Villa, Mir-i-nisa, Storymasters 3: Selected Stories from
Footnote to Youth, 55 Poems: Selected and Translated into Tagalog by Hilario
S. Francia.
3. Nicomedes M. Joaquin (1917-2004;1976). Born in Paco, Manila, this
distinguished writer has enriched t e English language with his baroque
Spanish-flavored English writing. As critics put it, Nic Joaquin’s reinvented
English based on Filipinisms is named “Joaquinesque.” His works depict the
Filipino consciousness under the Spanish regime that brought about social
changes in the society, as demonstrated in his stories such as Doña
Jeronima, Candido’s Apocalypse and The Order of Melchizedek. From
essays, novels, poems Portrait of the Artist as Filipino; Manila, My
Manila: A History for the Young; The Ballad of the Five Battles; Rizal in
Saga; Almanac for Manileños; and Cave and Shadows.
4. Carlos P. Romulo (1899-1985;1982). Camiling, Tarlac is our next National
Artist for Literature. Although he is known to be the first Asian President of
the
United Nations General Assembly, then Philippine Ambasador to Washington,
D.C., and later Minister of Foreign Affairs, he also served the public as an
educator, diplomat, journalist, soldier, and a university president. In essence,
Romula was also a writer. In fact, he was the only Asian to receive a Pulitzer
Prize in Journalism for his forecast about the second World War. Aside from
publishing 18 books, he also wrote literary works that include: The United
(novel), I Walked with Heroes (autobiography), I Saw the Fall of the
Philippines, Mother America, I see the Philippines Rise (war -time
memoirs). Meanwhile, his associations with the United Nations led him into
writing his memoirs entitled, “Forty Years: A Third World Soldier at the
UN”, and “The Philippine Presidents”, his oral history of his experiences
serving all the Philippine presidents.

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5. Nestor Vicenta M. Gonzales (1915-1999; 1997). Born in Sta. Cruz, Manila,
Arcellana is a critic, essayist, journalist, poet, teacher, and writer. He is
recognized as one of the originators of modern Filipino short stories written in
English, pioneering new literary forms such as the lyrical-prose poetic form in
his expression of the Filipino ideals. His excellent works are widely part of the
college syllabi in the country and among his published books are Selected
Stories, Poetry and Politics: The State of Original Writing in English in the
Philippines Today, and The Francisco Arcellana Sampler. Some of his short
stories include Frankie, The Man Who Would Be Poe, Death in a Factory, Lina,
A Clown Remembers, Divided by Two, The Mats, and his poems being The
Other Woman, This Being the Third Poem This Poem is for Mathilda, and To
Touch You and I Touched Her.

Better known as N.V.M. Gonzalez, he was a writer who specialized in

fiction, depicting the Filipino character in rural and urban settings. He was a
multi-awarded literary artist from Romblon and was much-admired for using
the English language in his works to reflect and shape the Philippine culture
and Philippine sensibility. His major works include: The Winds of April, Seven
Hills Away, Children of the Ash-Covered Loam and Other Stories, The Bamboo
Dancers, Look Stranger, on this Island Now, Mindoro and Beyond: Twenty-
One Stories, The Bread of Salt and Other Stories, Work on the Mountain, The
Novel of Justice: Selected Essays 1968-1994, A Grammar of Dreams and Other
Stories.

6. Carlos L. Quirino (1910-1999;1997), who is a native of Vigan, Ilocos Sur,

was the first recipient of the National Artist Award for Historical Literature, a
new category in the National Artist Awards created by former President Fidel V.
Ramos in 1997. Acknowledged as a biographer, he has written one of the
earliest biographies of our National Hero, Jose Rizal. entitled The Great
Malayan. Moreover, he has also written books and articles about Philippine
culture and history ranging from Bonifacio’s trial to Aguinaldo’s biography,
from Philippine cartography to culinary arts, from cash crops to tycoons and
president’s lives, among several other themes. Notable among his
accomplishments was when he became the very first Filipino correspondent for
the United Press Institute. His best book is titled, Maps and Views of Old
Manila while his other books include: Quezon, Man of Destiny, Magsaysay
of the Philippines, Lives of the Philippine Presidents, Philippine
Cartography, The History of Philippine Sugar Industry, Filipino
Heritage: The Making of a Nation, Filipinos at War: The Fight for
Freedom from Mactan to EDSA.

7. Rolando S. Tinio (1937-1997;1997). was National Artist for Teater and

Literature. His career as a prolific writer and playwright. He was a critic, a
poet, translator, and a thespian gave way to creative artistic plays and
productions that revived the sarswela and modern Western Dramas. His
productions as a

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stage directors were instrumental in making theater a recognized art form in
the Philippines. His poetry collections include: Sitsit sa Kuliglig, Dunung-
Dunungan, Kristal na Uniberso, A Trick of Mirrors. Among his films
were: Now and Forever, Gamitin Mo Ako, Bayad Puri, Milagros; and his
major theater Larawan.

8. Levi Celerio (1910-2002;1997). A National Artist for Literature and Music

from Tondo, Celerio was a scholar at the Academy of Music in Manila which
enabled him to join and become the youngest member of the Manila Symphony
Orchestra. He was a prolific lyricist and composer for decades, having
authored more than 4,000 songs. He was also recognized by the Guinness
Book of World Records as the only person to make music by just using a leaf.
Many of his songs were used for local movies that is why the Film Academy of
the Philippines awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award. He is credited
for writing the lyrics of traditional folk melodies namely O Maliwanag Na
Buwan (Ilocano folk song), Ako ay may Singsing (Kapampangan folk song), and
Alibangbang (Visayan folk song) among others. His major works include: Pasko
Na Naman, Ang Pasko ay Sumapit, Kahit Konting Pagtingin, Dungawin mo
Hirang, Tinig ng Bayan, Basta’t Mahal Kita.
9. Edith L. Tiempo (1919-2011; 1999). An esteemed English writer of
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, Tiempo is distinguished for her remarkable
blending of perception, style, and substance in her works. As a poet, her
writing technique is described as complex with verbal metamorphoses; as a
fictionist, she is known to be morally profound and meticulous in the use of
language and details. Her influence on Philippine literature in English is
remarkable. She even founded, together with her late husband, Edilberto K.
Tiempo, the Silliman National Writers Workshop in Dumaguete City which has
shaped some of the best writers in the country. Her novels include: A Blade of
Fern, The Native Coast, The Alien Corn; among her poetry collections are: The
Tracks of Babylon and Other Poems, The Charmer’s Box and Other Poems;
and her short story collection is: Abide, Joshua, and Other Stories.

10. Francisco Sionil Jose (1924; 2001). Well-known as F. Sionil Jose, this
lecturer, publisher and writer from Rosales, Pangasinan is recognized for his
works that were described as “epic.” by many critics. His consistent promotion
of the Filipino hope for national sovereignty and social justice is a certification
that his works are of high value - as in the case of his Rosales saga comprising
of 1) The Pretenders, 2) Tree, 3) My Brother, My Executioner, 4) Mass, and 5)
Po-on. This five-novel masterpiece does not only reflect Philippine history but
the social struggles of the Filipino nation as well. As a result, this and his
many other short stories have been published in different languages.

11. Virgilio S. Almario (1944; 2003). A poet, literary historian and critic from
San Miguel, Bulacan, Almario is known to have revived the traditional Filipino
poetic forms and practiced the modernist styles as well. His diverse works
under his pen name Rio Alma range from lyrical to satirical to epic, from

15
dramatic to incantatory — often examining oneself and the society, exposing
hypocrisies, injustices and untruths, among others.

Aside from his 12 books of poetry and 10 books of criticisms and

anthologies, which were all published, he also founded literary workshops such
as the Galian sa Arte at Tula (GAT) and the Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at
Anyo (LIRA) to mentor Filipino literalists. To add to these contributions, he
likewise had a go with children’s literature through the Aklat Adarna series,
exposing children to literature at an early age.

Among his famous works are: Makinasyon, Peregrinasyon,

Doktrinang Anakpawis, Mga Retrato at Rekwerdo, Muli, Sa Kandungan
ng Lupa, Ang Makata sa Panahon ng Makina, Balagtasismo versus
Modernismo, Walong Dekada ng Makabagong Tula Pilipino, Mutyang
Dilim and Barlaan at Josaphat.

12. Alejandro R. Roces (1924-2011;2003). Born in Manila, Roces is a

dramatist, an essayist, and a short story writer, and is regarded as the
country’s best writer of comic short stories. He is mostly recalled for his widely
anthologized “My Brother’s Peculiar Chicken.” He reveals the abandoned
aspects of the Filipino culture in his newspaper columns, bringing back to
popularity the beautiful local fiestas of the Philippines such as the Ati-Atihan
and the Moriones. He was one of the advocates of the campaign to change the
country’s Independence Day from July 4 to June 12. He also initiated to
change the language of some of the country’s documents from English to
Filipino as in the case of the country’ s stamps, currency and passports, and
was a catalyst in the recovery of Jose Rizal’s manuscripts when they were
stolen from the National Archives.

His unwavering love for his country piloted him to become a guerilla
during World War II and to defy martial law under the opposition against
dictatorship. Among his major works are: We Filipinos are Mild Drinkers, Of
Cocks and Kites and Other Short Stories, Fiesta, and Something to Crow About
Short Stories. His contributions to the development of the Philippine culture
and the defense of its democracy have earned him various national and
international awards, including several decorations from various governments.

13. Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera (1932; 2006). Hailing from Lipa City in
Batangas, Lumbera is a multi-awarded poet, librettist, and a scholar. He is
acknowledge for introducing Bagay poetry to Tagalog literature, which
imprinted an aesthetic tendency to change the vernacular poetic tradition. His
works include Likhang Dila, Likhang Diwa (which are poems in English and
Filipino), Balaybay, Mga Tulang Lunot at Manibalang, Sa Sariling Bayan,
Apat na Dulang May Musika, Agunyas sa Hacienda Luisita, and
Pakikiramay.

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 As a librettist, he was credited for his creative fusion of fine arts and
popular imagination. As a scholar, his major books include: Tagalog Poetry,
Tradition and Influences in its Development, Philippine Literature: A History
and Anthology, Revaluation: Essays on Philippine Literature, and Writing the
Nation/Pag-akda ng Bansa. Notable among his contributions is the
establishment of quite a few literary organizations such as the Philippine
Comparative Literature Association, Pamana ng Panitikan ng Pilipinas,
Kalipunan para sa mga Literatura ng Pilipinas, Philippine Studies Association
of the Philippines, and Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. These groups were
influential in bringing back democracy after Martial Law.

14. Lazaro A. Francisco (1898-1980;2009). An award-winning writer from

Orani, Bataan, Francisco’s works embody his commitment to nationalism,
tackling issues about oppression among tenants, exploitation of deceitful
landlords and foreign tyranny. He ranked among the finest novelists of the
country in the early 20th century and gained fame not only as a writer for social
conscience but also for his “masterful handling of the Tagalog language”,
making him the
“Master of the Tagalog Novel.” He has written 12 novels published in episodes
in the weekly Tagalog magazine called “Liwayway.” His literary outputs in
Tagalog were instrumental in the enrichment of the Filipino language and as
an advocate of the national language, he established the Kapatiran ng mga
Alagad ng Wikang Pilipino (KAWIKA) in 1958. Among his reputable novels are:
Ama, Bayang Nagpatiwakal, Maganda Pa Ang Daigdig, and Daluyong.
These works have put him in an eminent place in Philippine Literature where
he was cited as the “foremost Filipino novelist of his generation” and
“champion of the Filipino writer’s struggle for national identity.”

15. Cirilo F. Bautista (1941; 2014). Regarded as the foremost Filipino writer of
his generation, Bautista is a poet, fictionist, and essayist. Other than his
literary works, his legacy will be his acts of brining literature closer to the
people by holding workshops and trainings all over the country, teaching
updated techniques and trends in literature to the youth. He believed in the
importance of training writers at an early age that is why he pioneered several
writing groups in the Philippines such as the Philippine Literary Arts
Council in 1981, the Iligan National Writers Workshop in 1993, and the
Baguio Writers Group. Among his major works include: Summer Suns, The
Trilogy of Saint Lazarus, Believe and Betray: New and Collected Poems,
Stories, Galaw ng Asoge , Breaking Signs: Lectures on Literature and
Semiotics, and Words and Battlefields: A Theoria on the Poem.

F. NATIONAL ARTIST FOR ARCHITTECTURE

1. Pablo S. Antonio (1902-1975; 1976)
2. Leandro S. Locsin (1928-1994; 1990)
3. Idelfonso P. Santos (1929-2014; 2006)

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4. Jose Maria Zaragoza (1912-1994; 2014)
5. Francisco T. Manosa (1931-2018)

G. NATIONAL ARTIST FOR CINEMA

1. Lamberto V. Avellana (1915-1991; 1976)
2. Gerardo De Leon (1913-1981; 1982)
3. Catalino O. Brocka (1939-1991; 1997)
4. Ishmael Bernal (1938-1996; 2001)
5. Eddie S. Romero (1924-2013; 2003)
6. Ronald Allan K. Poe (1939-2004; 2006)
7. Manuel Conde (1915-1985; 2009)
8. Eric Oteyza De Guia (194; 2018)

H. NATIONAL ARTIST FOR MUSIC

1.Antonio J. Molina (1894-1980; 1973)
2. Jovita Fuentes (1895-1978; 1976)
3. Honorata Dela Rama (1902-1991; 1987)
4. Lucrecia R. Kasilag (1918-2008; 1989)
5. Antonio Buenaventura (1904-1996; 1988)
6. Lucio San Pedro (1913-2002; 1991)
7. Jose Maceda (1917-2004; 1997)
8. Felipe De Leon (1912-1992; 1997)
9. Andrea Veneracion (1928-2013;1999)
10. Ernani J. Cuenco (1936-1988; 1999)
11. Ramon P. Santos (1941; 2014)
12. Francisco Feliciano (1941-2014; 2014)
13. Ryan Cayabyab (1954; 2018)

ACTIVITY: KNOW YOUR ONA

Directions: Complete the table below. Choose one (1) National Artist from each
art form and write down his/her contribution to Philippine arts. On the third
column, write down a title of his/her famous artwork/masterpiece. Provide an
image or sample of their arts.

ART FORM NATIONAL ARTIST FAMOUS ARTWORK

PAINTING
VISUAL ARTS
SCULPTURE
DANCE
LITERATURE
ARCHITECTURE
CINEMA
MUSIC

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SOURCE: Eugene B. Cruz and Ma. Theresa M. Cruz. (2021). Contemporary
Philippine arts from the regions. 1st ed. Paranaque City: JTCA Publishing.

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