Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng Pilipinas (Philippine National Artists)

Lesson 1

Key Terms

Pambansang Alagad ng Sining

ng Pilipinas

National Commission for Culture

and the Arts (NCCA)

Cultural Centerof the Philippines

(ССР)

Some artists are acclaimed for their exemplary and outstanding works. These artists are given awards as
recognition for their contribution and enrichment of Philippine culture and arts. Their bodies of work
have become a benchmark and have been influential to other artists in developing and honing their
craft.

This unit discusses the highest distinctions an artist can be given 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. Included as well are brief discussions on the
other distinctions a Filipino artist could receive such as The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award, the
Thirteen Artists Awards, etc. The list of recipients of the said awards as of writing are incorporated in the
topic.

These artists are some of the best visual and performing artists the country has to offer. It is hoped that
at the end of the lesson, young artists such as yourself, would be more aware of the men and women
who have shaped art in the Philippines and in the future be inspired to further enrich our art and
cultural heritage.

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL ARTISTS

What is the greatest accomplishment you have achieved so far? Chances are these accomplishments
were not attained overnight. You had to work hard to achieve it. And this is true with many of the
recognized artists in the Philippines, especially with the Philippine National Artists. They worked hard
and practiced their crafts diligently. Their passion for their art has resulted in works that are recognized
and acclaimed here and abroad. Their creations have inspired others and have resulted in a richer
Philippine culture.

Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng Pilipinas

The Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng Pilipinas or the National Artist of the Philippines is the highest
recognition the Philippine government can give to a person of the arts. The award was created through
Presidential Proclamation No. 1001, s. 1972 to give recognition and respect to the citizens who have
given outstanding contribution to Philippine arts.

The awardees of this prestigious award represent the Philippines' highest ideals in the field of
humanities and the arts. It covers the following categories: architecture and the allied arts, dance, film
and broadcast arts, literature, music, theater, and visual arts.

This award is supposed to be given every three years as mandated by the rules of the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). But there are some circumstances when an award is given
the following year or not at all. It is bestowed by the President of the Philippines upon the
recommendation of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of
the Philippines (CCP). As of writing, the most recent set of awardees were conferred in 2014.

Criteria

First, an announcement will be made by the NCCA and the CCP acting as the Order of the National
Artists Award Secretariat, for the opening of nominations for the said award. Nominees should have the
following qualifications:

1. The artist must be a Eilipino citizen or at least at the time of the nomination, An artist who has passed
on can still be nominated as long as he/she was a Filipino before death.

2. The artist should have contributed "in building a Filipino sense of nationhood" as seen in their works.

3. The artist should have led the way in a new and creative expression or style, separating themselves
from others and in turn influencing other generations of artists.-

4. The artist's work should be noteworthy and an embodiment of excellence, further enriching his/her
chosen field of creative expression.

5. The artist should be criticaly acclaimed and accepted by legitimate institutions and peers.

Once qualified, the nominations will be studied and reviewed by he NCCA and CCP. They would then
submit their recommendations to the President of the Philippines. The President would release a
proclamation granting respective rank and title to the nominees. The awardees would be conferred in a
ceremony arranged by the NCCA and CCP secretariat.

Other than the prestigious recognition, National Artists also receive other benefits such as:

1. Title and rank of a National Artist

2. Medal bearing the insignia of National Artist as well as a citațion

3. Cash gift of PHP100,000 to the living artist and PHP75,000 for those who were recognized after their
death, which will be given to the heir of the awardee

4. Monthly pension with medical and hospitalization benefits

5. Life insurance to those who are still qualified

6. State funeral and interment at the Libingan ng mga Bayani

7. Reserved place at state functions, awarding ceremonies, and

cultural events

Fernando C. Amorsolo

Birth and death: May 30, 1892-April 24, 1972

Year awarded: 1972

Category: Painting

Place of birth: Paco, Manila

Amorsolo was posthumously recognized as the Philippines' first National Artist on April 28. 1972, four
days after his death. He was given the title the "Grand Old Man of Philippine Art" for his influential style
and technique that has inspired generations of artists.

He is well-known for his genre paintings and landscapes and his idealized depiction of the dalagang
Filipina. His works often incorporate his trademark style of backlighting technique that makes the canvas
feel alive with the light.

Other than landscapes, his body of work includes portraitures, landscapes, sketches, historical paintings,
and advertising art.

Major works:

• Maiden in a Stream (1921)

• El Ciego (1928)

• Dalagang Bukid (1936)

• Planting Rice (1946)

• Sunday Morning Going to Town (1958)

Francisca Reyes-Aquino

Birth and death: March 9, 1899-November 21, 1983

Year awarded: 1973

Category: Dance

Place of birth: Bocaue, Bulacan

Francisca Reyes-Aquino is known as a dancer and researcher of Philippine folk dance. Her research titled
Philippine Folk Dances and Games documented local forms of celebrations and rituals that was
published in 1926. It has been utilized for instruction for schools both public and private. This research
made the Filipino youth more knowledgeable of their cultural heritage.

She received the Republic Award of Merit in 1954, and the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1962 before
being conferred to the Order of the National Artists in 1973.

Major works:

• Philippine Folk Dances and Games (1926)

• Philippine National Dance (1946)

• Gymnastics for Girls (1947)

• Philippine Folk Dances Vol. 1-6

Carlos "Botong" V. Francisco

Birth and death: November 4, 1912-March 31, 1969

Year awarded: 1973.

Category: Painting

Place of birth: Angono, Rizal

Botong Francisco was awarded the title of National Artist in 1973, four years after his death. He is known
for historically themed murals such as the Filipino Struggles through History, which is displayed in the
Manila City Hall.

He, along with Victor Edades and Galo Ocampo, is one of the pioneers of modernism in the country. His
art reflects the values and the colors of his town Angono that has been a trademark of his works and
style. He is also credited with the discovery of the Angono Petroglyphs, one of the earliest examples of
prehistoric art in the Philippines.

Major works:

• Blood Compact

• First Mass at Limasawa

• The Invasion of Limahong

• The Martyrdom of Rizal

Amado V. Hernandez

Birth and death: September 13, 1903-May 24, 1970

Year awarded: 1973-

Category: Literature

Place of birth: Hagonoy, Bulacan

Amado V. Hernandez was a writer and stalwart of the laborers. He believed that his art should act as a
conscience of society, correcting and calling attention to what is needed. As a writer, he was one of the
first who drew away from the flowery and ornate quality of the Tagalog language and instead wrote in
prose that is much closer to the everyday spoken language.

His first major work was his novel Mga Ibong Mandaragit, which was written while he was in prison. This
novel bared the problems of society, focusing on the land and farming problems during the 1950s.

He is also a critically acclaimed playwright and essayist. He was conferred the National Artist Award for
Literature posthumously in 1973.

Major works:

Novels

• Mga Ibong Mandaragit (1969)

• Luha ng Buwaya (1972)

Plays

• Muntinlupa (1957)

• Magkabilang Mukha ng Isang Bagol (1960)

Antonio J. Molina

Birth and death: December 26, 1894-January 29, 198O

Year awarded: 1973

Category: Music

Place of birth: Quiapo, Manila

Antonio J. Molina was a teacher, composer, and conductor. He is known for his impressionist style in
music and as part of the musical triumvirate of the Philippines that includes Nicanor Abelardo and
Francisco Santiago.

He is acknowledged as a visionary of Philippine music, bringing it to the modern times. His innovations
include the pentatonic scale, linear counterpoints, and lively ninth and eleventh cords, among others.

His talent in music can be seen at an early age, performing at the former Manila Grand Opera House as
an orchestra soloist. He wrote his first composition when he was 18 in 1912, It was titled Miniaturas Vol.
1.

He was a professor at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music, molding and influencing
musical icons such as Lucrecia Kasilag and Felipe de Leon.

Major works:

Orchestral music

• Ang Batingaw

• Kundiman-Kundangan

Chamber music

• Hating Gabi

• Kung sa lyong Gunita

Vocal music

• Awit ni Maria Clara

• Larawan Nitong Pilipinas

Juan F. Nakpil

Birth and death: May 26, 1899-May 7, 1986

Year awarded: 1973

Category: Architecture

Place of birth: Quiapo, Manila

Juan F. Nakpil was a man of many talents. He was an artist, engineer, civic leader, and teacher. But he is
best known for his innovations in the field of Philippine architecture. His designs are both beautiful and
functional. His design principles reflect his belief in Philippine architecture, tradition, and culture.

He was awarded the title of National Artist in 1973.

Major works:
• Administration Building and Library, University of the Philippines,

Diliman

• Reconstruction of the Rizal Shrine

• Manila Jockey Club

• Old Humanities Building, UP Los Baños

Guillermo E. Tolentino

Birth and death: July 24, 1890-July 12, 1976

Year awarded: 1973-

Category: Sculpture

Place of birth: Malolos City, Bulacan

Guillermo Tolentino was a premier sculptor and esteemed professor at the University of the Philippines,
Diliman. He specialized in commemorative sculptures of historical figures that are monumental and
grand.

He received his training from the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts and later at the Royal
Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. After returning, he became a professor at his alma mater and taught
many future stars of Philippine art.

While teaching, he also created some of his most famous works: the Bonifacio Monument (1933) in
Caloocan and the Oblation (1935) in the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

Major works:

• Bonifacio Monument, Caloocan

• Oblation, University of the Philippines, Diliman

• Ramon Magsaysay statue at the GSIS building

• Various bust sculptures of political and historical personalities

Jose Garcia Villa

Birth and death: August 5, 1908-February 7, 1997

Year awarded: 1973

Category: Literature

Place of birth: Singalong, Manila

Jose Garcia Villa, or more commonly known by his pen name Doveglion (derived from dove, eagle, lion),
is regarded as one of the best contemporary poets in the world. He is known for introducing the
reversed consonance rhylne scheme and using punctuation marks especially the comma in a novel and
lyrical way

His early international acclaim was in New York in 4942 for his work have Come, Am Here, and soon
after various recognitions, fellowships, and awards were given to him.

He was recognized as a National Artist for Literature in 1973. He died in New York in 1997.

Major works:

His works have been collected and published under the following titles:

• Footnote to Youth

• Many Voices

• Poems by Doveglion

• Poems 55: The Best Poems of Jose Garcia Villa as Chosen by Himself

• Poems in Praise of Love: The Best Love Poems of Jose Garcia Villa

• The Portable Villa

• The Essential Villa

• Mir-i-nisa

• Storymasters 3: Selected Stories from Footnote to Youth

Napoleon V. Abueva

Birth: January 26, 1930

Year awarded: 1976

Category: Sculpture

Place of birth: Tagbilaran City, Bohol

The citation on his award reads "his massive abstractions and constructions of incredible variety and
diversity, an unfailing inventiveness, a prodigious energy and inexhaustible inspiration firmly imprint his
signature on the art of our time."
At age 46, Abueva was the youngest recipient of the title National Artist He is given the distinction of
being the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture" for his nonrepresentational sculptural works.

As the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture," Abueva is adept in using a diverse range of media such
as adobe, metal, cement, marble, etc. But he still prefers Philippine hardwood such as narra, molave,
acacia, kamagong, etc.

His works have been exhibited in various museums in the Philippines and abroad. He was awarded as a
National Artist for Sculpture in 1976.

Major works:

• Kaganapan (1953)

• The Transfiguration (1979)

• University of the Philippines Gateway (1967)

• The Nine Muses (1994)

Lamberto V. Avellana

Birth and death: February 12, 1915-April 25, 1991

Year awarded: 1976

Category: Theater and film

Place of birth: Bontoc, Mountain Province

Known as the "Boy Wonder of Philippine Movies," Lamberto V. Avellana was not only a film director but
also an established theater director as well. He is credited to be the first to use the point-of-view camera
technique that transformed film narration.

He started his career as a theater artist forming the Barangay Theater Guild with his wife, Daisy
Hontiveros. He wWas later inspired by the works of Carlos P. Romulo to try his hand in film.

The product was his first film Sakay, which was critically acclaimed and won him best picture in 1939.
This set the tone for the rest of his film career, winning film awards here and abroad

Other notable achievements include the grand prize at the Asian Film Festival in 1956 for Anak Dalita
and Best Director of Asia nod in okyo for Badjao in 1957

Major works:

• Sakay (1939)

• Kalderong Pilak (1954)

• Anak Dalita (1956)

• Badjao (1957)

• The Evil Within (1970)

Leonor O. Goquingco

Birth and death: July 24, 1917-July 15, 2005

Year awarded: 1976

Category: Dance

Place of birth: Jolo, Sulu

Before she was named as National Artist for Dance in 1976, Leonor Orosa-Goquingcowas known by
many other names such as "Trailblazer," "Mother of Philippine Theater Dance," and "Dean of Filipino
Performing Arts Critics."

She incorporated ballet with folk and Asian dance and such has been able to create innovative and
original choreographies. Throughout her career, she has choreographed over 50 unique dances
narrating stories that she has penned.

Her most elaborate project was the Filipinescas: Philippine Life, Legend, and Lore. This performance
brought traditional folk dance and its evolution to the stage. This performance was toured around the
world from 1961 to 1970, introducing the world to Philippine dance.

Major works:

• TREND: Return to Native

• In a Javanese Garden

• Vinta!

• Filipinescas: Philippine Life, Legend, and Lore

• The Magic Garden

• Noli Dance Suite

Nick M. Joaquin

Birth and death: May 4, 1917-April 29, 2004

Year awarded: 1976

Category: Literature

Place of birth: Paco, Manila

Though Nick Joaquin uses the English language in his works, his heart is undeniably Filipino. He first
started his career as proofreader and journalist using the pen name Quijano de Manila. He eventually
ventured to poetry, stories, novels, and plays.

His style is defined as flowery and Spanish-influenced English, which is coined by critics as
"Joaquinesque," His works study the Filipino psyche in the changing social climate set during the Spanish
colonial period.

After he was named as. the National Artist for Literature in 1970, he used his influence to fight for
intellectual freedom and helped free imprisoned writer Jose F. Lacaba during the Marcos regime.

Major works:

• The Woman Who Had Two Navels

• A 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

Jovita Fuentes

Birth and death: February 15, 1895-August 7, 1978

Year awarded: 1976

Category: Music

Place of birth: Roxas City, Capiz

Jovita Fuentes was an acclaimed theater actress, performing in various theater productions in Europe, a
feat that was unheard of back then, Fuentes' theater performances include the portrayal of Cio-Cio-san
in Madame Butterfly, Liu Yu in Turandot, and Mimi in La Bohème

She was recognized by Spain and given the title "La Embahadora de Filipinas a su Madre Patria," the first
and only of record Her success in Europe afforded her to produce operas in the Philippines, and she
became the chairperson of the Music Promotion Foundation of the Philippines. Her talent and stature
brought her all over the world to promote Philippine music.

Major performances:

• Cio-Cio-san in Giacomo Puccini's Madame Butterfly

• Liu Yu in Puccini's Turandot

• Mimi in Puccini's La Bohème

• Iris in Pietro Mascagni's Iris

• The title role of Salome

• Princess Yang Guifei in Li Tai Pe

Victorio C. Edades

Birth and death: December 23, 1895-March 7, 1985

Year awarded: 1976

Category: Painting

Place of birth: Dagupan City, Pangasinan

Victorio C. Edades is considered to be the "Father of Modern Philippine Painting." He ushered in the art
movement with his painting The Builders (1928). His style is described as raw and rough using bold
impasto strokes. His figures are distorted and flawed, which made the Filipinos reflect on their definition
of art. His modernist style served as the perfect counterbalance to Fernando Amorsolo's idealized and
academic paintings.

Edades was also an educator and became a dean for the College of Architecture at the University of
Santo Tomas in 1930. He introduced a liberal arts program that offered subjects that would enable
students to have a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. It was the first of its kind in the Philippines.

He became a National Artist for Painting in 1976.

Major works:

• The Builders (1928)

• The Sketch (1928)

• Market Scene (1920)

• The Wrestlers (1927)

• Interaction (1935) with Carlos V. Francisco and Galo B. Ocampo

Pablo S. Antonio

Birth and death: January 25, 1901-June 14, 1975

Year awarded: 1976

Category: Architecture

Place of birth: Binondo, Manila

He is considered to be the foremost Filipino modern architect. His design aesthetic is based on simplicity
and functionality. His designs consider the Philippine climate and maximize the use of natural
illumination and cross ventilation.

"Antonio believes that architecture 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 a
purpose without resorting to an applied set of aesthetics and should eternally recreate truth." (excerpt
from the Culture Profile of Pablo Antonio from the NCCA archives)

Pagio S. Antonio was posthumously declared as National Artist for Architecture in 1976.

Major works:

• Far Eastern University Administration and Science buildings

• Manila Polo Club

• Ideal Theater

• Ramon Roces Publications Building (now Guzman Institute of Electronics)

Vicente S. Manansala

Birth and death: January 22, 1910-August 22, 1981

Year awarded: 1981

Category: Painting

Place of birth: Macabebe, Pampanga

Vicente Manansala's acclaimed early works combined concepts from the rural and urban settings,
creating a reflective pause when one views his works. Some of these early masterpieces were the
Madonna of the Slums and Jeepneys.

He later experimented with other art styles and is considered a pioneer of cubism in the Philippines. He
developed his own style of cubism wherein objects are carefully commposed on top of another and
carefully rendered using light and delicate colors, making the objects appear translucent and
transparent.

Manansala also served as a guiding influence to other artists who made names for themselves such as
Angelito Antonio, Manuel Baldemor, Norma Belleza, and Mauro Malang"
He died in 1981 and was also posthumously conferred the title of National Artist for Painting that same
year.

Major works:

• Madonna of the Slums

• Jeepneys

• Kalabaw

• Stations of the Cross (mural)

• Bangkusay Seascape

• Pila sa Bigas (Left and Right)

• Planting of the First Cross

Carlos P. Romulo

Birth and death: January 14, 1899-December 15, 1985

Year awarded: 1982

Category: Literature

Place of birth: Camiling, Tarlac

We know Carlos P. Romulo as the first Asian president of the United Nations General Assembly. But few
know that he was also an accomplished teacher, soldier, journalist, and writer.

As a writer, Romulo has written and published over eighteen books. He also received a Pulitzer Award
for Journalism for a series of articles to foresee World War II. At that time, he was the only Asian to do
so.

Major works:

• The United (novel)

• Walked with Heroes (autobiography)

• Forty Years: A Third World Soldier at the UN

•| Saw the Fall of the Philippines, Mother America, I See the

• Philippines Rise (war-time memoirs)

Gerardo "Gerry" De Leon

Birth and death: September 12, 1913-July 25, 1981

Year awarded: 1982

Category: Film

Place of birth: Manila

As a kid, Gerardo De Leon was exposed early to the arts. His family was into the theater business, and he
provided piano accompaniment to silent movies. His passion later translated to films.

His directorial debut was the critically acclaimed Ama't Anak, and he continued on to direct other
movies that are now considered classics of Philippine cinema.

He was posthumously awarded the title National Artist for Film in 1982.

Major works:

Ama't Anak

• Ang Maestra

• Dyesebel

• Banaue

• Daigdig ng mga Api

Honorata "Atang" Dela Rama

Birth and death: January 11, 1902-July 11, 1991

Year awarded: 1987

Category: Theater and music

Place of birth: Tondo, Manila

The Queen of Kundiman, Honorata “Atang" Dela Rama began her acting career at a very young age. At
the age of 7, she starred in many Spanish zarzuelas or sarswelas.

At the age of 15, she starred in the sarswela Dalagang Bukid, which was later adapted into a film that
featured her as a female lead as well.

She believed that the Filipino soul can be best expressed through the kundiman and sarswela. She kept
the spirit of the kundiman and sarswela alive by performing these art forms for the Aetas or Negritos of
Zambales and the Sierra Madre, the Bagobos of Davao, and the Lumad
She was named as National Artist for Theater and Music in 1987

Major performances or works:

• Dalagang Bukid

• Ay, Ay Kalisud

• Kung libig Ka

• Madaling Araw

• Mutya ng Pasig

Original sarswelas:

• Anak ni Eba

• Aking Ina

• Puri at Buhay

Antonino R. Buenaventura

Birth and death: May 4, 1904-January 25, 1996

Year awarded: 1988

Category: Music

Place of birth: Baliuag, Bulacan

Antonino R. Buenaventura, with Francisca Reyes-Aquino, made ethnic tribe songs popular. Through
research and studies, he made compositions that were inspired by these ethnic songs for the orchestra,
symphony, and solo instruments.

He is credited with making the Philippine Army Band one of the best in the world, whose performances
under his tutelage sound like a symphony orchestra.

He became a National Artist for Music in 1988.

Major works:

• Triumphal March

• Echoes of the Past

• History Fantasy

• Second Symphony in E-flat

• Echoes from the Philippines

• Ode to Freedom

Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula

Birth and death: June 29, 1929-August 24, 1999

Year awarded: 1988

Category: Dance

Place of birth: lloilo City, lloilo

Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula was a choreographer, educator, and researcher. She spent almost 40 years
studying the various Philippine traditional and folk dances. Using her research, she did not only create
dances that preserved the traditional folk dances but also made it into a spectacle that enhanced
Philippine folk dances.

Throughout her career, she has made dances that showcase the different traditional dances and
festivals in the Philippines such as the mountain dances, Spanish dances, and Muslim dances. These
dances were performed by the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company throughout the world and
received critical praise.

She became a National Artist for Dance in 1988.

Major works:

• Singkil (inspired by a Maranao poem)

• Vinta (showcasing the Filipinos' maritime skills)

• Tagabili (tale of tribal conflict)

• Pagdiwata (based on a four-day harvest festival)

• Salidsid (mountain wedding dance ritual)

Lucrecia R. Kasilag

Birth and death: August 31, 1918-August 16, 2008

Year awarded: 1989

Category: Music

Place of birth: San Fernando City, La Union

Lucrecia R. Kasilag was the National Artist for Music in 1989. She graduated cum laude in 1936 with a
Bachelor of Arts in English at the Philippine Women's University. She later studied music at St.
Scholastica Manila and performed her musical compositions at her alma mater.

As a teacher and artist, she dedicated herself in developing and refining the Filipinos' taste in music. She
combined traditional tribal music with Western music. She used Filipino indigenous musical instruments
in orchestral performances. Her success led to many other composers to follow suit.

She worked and collaborated with other distinguished artists such as Isabel Santos, Jose Lardizabal, Dr.
Leticia P. de Guzman, and fellow National Artist Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula to mold the Bayanihan Philippine
Dance Company as one of the best performing groups in the country.

Major works:

Instrumental

• Toccata for Percussions and Winds

• Divertissement and Concertante

• Filiasiana

• Misang Pilipino

• De Profundis

Orchestral music

• Love Songs

• Legend of the Sarimanok

• Ang Pamana

Chamber music

• Awit ng mga Awit Psalms

• Fantaisie on a 4-Note Theme

• East Meets Jazz Ethnika

Francisco Arcellana

Birth and death: September 6, 1916-August 1, 2002

Year awarded: 1990

Category: Literature

Place of birth: Sta. Cruz, Manila

Francisco Arcellana received the distinction of becoming a member of the Order of the National Artists
in 1990 for his contribution to the field Arcellana was one of the pioneers of the lyrical prose-poetic
forms in Filipino short stories written in English. He has continued to explore new ways to express the
Filipino ideals and beliefs through new literary forms.

As a Philippine literary master, his works are widely used and studied in colleges allover the Philippines.

Major works or collection:

• Selected Stories

• Poetry and Politics: The State of Original Writing in English in the

• Philippines Today

• The Francisco Arcellana Sampler

• Frankie

• The Mats

Cesar T. Legaspi

Birth and death: April 2, 1917-April 7, 1994

Year awarded: 1990

Category: Painting

Place of birth: Tondo, Manila

Cesar Legaspi's contribution to the world of Philippine art is that through his cubist works, the country
was exposed and later on accepted the validity of modern art as a movement and style.

Legaspi was part of the Thirteen Moderns, a group of artists who promoted modern art in the
Philippines. He was also a neorealist whose style showed geometric distortions that express social
commentaries.

He was recognized as the National Artist for Visual Arts in 1990.

Major works:

• Gadgets I

• Gadgets II

• Façade

• Bayanihan

• Turning Point
• The Ritual

Leandro V. Locsin

Birth and death: August 15, 1928-November 15, 1994

Year awarded: 1990

Category: Architecture

Place of birth: Silay City, Negros Occidental

Leandro Locsin is a name that will be forever associated with Philippine architecture. His many works
carry his distinctive and unmistakable style of combining extremes (the east and the west the light and
the heavy) as evident in his use of concrete that seems to be floating. His talent is also seen in his
mastery of scale and space as his structures stand out and at the same time augment the environment.

Throughout his illustrious career, Locsin had designed and built almost 200 structures that range from
residences, churches, public institutions, hotels, and an airport. His largest work is the Istana Nurul Iman,
the palace of the Sultan of Brunei

Major works:

• Cultural Center of the Philippines

• Folk Arts Theater

• Philippine International Convention Center

• The Westin Hotel (now Sofitel Philippine Plaza)

• Istana Nurul Iman

Hernando R. Ocampo

Birth and death: April 28, 1911-December 28, 1978

Year awarded: 1991

Category: Painting

Place of birth: Santa Cruz, Manila

H.R. Ocampo was also part of the Thirteen Moderns. Although not a formally trained artist, his artworks
are no less thought-provoking and inspiring. The themes of his works told of the destruction and the
harshness of life after World War II. These artworks inspired and ignited the Filipinos' nationalistic spirit
and the strength to rebuild.
However, it was his abstract works that will be his defining masterpieces. His works echo the vibrant
Philippine flora and fauna, bathed in the strong and attention-grabbing colors. This is exemplified by his
masterpiece Genesis that serves as the inspiration behind the curtain design at the CCP Main Theater.

H.R. Ocampo was posthumously awarded the distinction of becoming the National Artist for Painting in
1991, thirteen years after his death.

Major works:

• Genesis

• Ina ng Balon

• Calvary

• Slum Dwellers

• Nude with Candle and Flower

• Man and Carabao

• Fiesta

Lucio D. San Pedro

Birth and death: February 11, 1913-March 31, 2002

Year awarded: 1991

Category: Music.

Place of birth: Angono, Rizal

Lucio San Pedro's body of work consists of a great variety of musical forms. His compositions include
band music, concertos for violin and orchestra, choral works, cantatas, chamber music, music for violin
ana piano, and songs for solo voice.

He was also a conductor of many respected bands of the time such as Peng Kong Grand Mason Concert
Band, the San Pedro Band of Angono, and the Banda Angono Numero Uno. His unwavering commitment
to the development of local bands in the Philippines created local interest and pride in the development
of regional band music as well as a way for the local youths to express and practice their talents.

Major works:

Orchestral music

• The Devil's Bridge

• Malakas at Maganda Overture

• Prelude and Fugue in D minor

• Hope and Ambition

Choral music

• Easter Cantata

• Sa Mahal Kong Bayan

• Rizal's Valedictory Poem

Vocal music

• Lulay

• Sa Ugoy ng Duyan

• In the Silence of the Night

Band music

• Dance of the Fairies

• Triumphal March

• Lahing Kayumanggi

• Angononian March

Lino Brocka

Birth and death: April 3, 1939-May 22, 1991

Year awarded: 1997

Category: Cinema

Place of birth: Pilar, Sorsogon

Catalino Ortiz Brocka, or more popularly known as Lino Brocka, was a film and theater director that liked
to push the boundaries and make people think. He had no qualms making audiences squirm with his
films that portray the less-than-glamorous part of society. His main characters represented the
marginalized and provided the masses characters that they can relate with dignity.

His legacy of more than 60 films have been studied and analyzed by generations of filmmakers. He is
regarded as one of the best Filipino directors and recognized by various award-giving bodies here and
abroad.
He was posthumously recognized as National Artist for Cinema in 1997

Major works:

• Santiago (1970)

• Wanted: Perfect Mother (1970)

• Tubog sa Ginto (1971)

• Stardoom (1971)

• Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (1974)

• Maynila: Sa Kuko ng Liwanag (1975)

• Insiang (1976)

• Jaguar (1979)

• Bona (1980)

• Orapronobis (1989)

• Makiusap Ka sa Diyos (1991)

Felipe Padilla de Leon

Birth and death: May 1, 1912-December 5, 1992

Year awarded: 1997

Category: Music

Place of birth: Peñaranda City, Nueva'Ecija

Felipe Padilla de Leon succeeded where his predecessors did not. He was able to Filipinize the different
Western musical forms.

De Leon as a composer and conductor was able to .create sonatas, marches, and concertos that reflect
the aspirations and ideals of the Filipinos. Through peaceful and tumultuous times, his works are
timeless and perfectly capture the nation's vein.

He was posthumously inducted to the Order of National Artists five years after his death.

Major works:

Orchestral music

• Mariang Makiling Overture

• Roca Encantada (symphonic legend)

• Maynila Overture

• Orchesterstuk

Choral music

• Payapang Daigdig

• Ako'y Pilipino

• Lupang Tinubuan

• Ama Namin

Vocal music

• Bulaklak

• Alitaptap

• Mutya ng Lahi

Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero

Birth and death: January 22, 1910-April 28, 1995

Year awarded: 1997

Category: Theater

Place of birth: Ermita, Manila

In his thirty-five-year career as a theater educator, Wilfrido Ma Guerrero molded and produced some of
the biggest names in theater Such as Joy Virata, Celia Diaz-Laurel, Behn Cervantes, and Joonee Gamboa,
among many others.

Throughout his career, Guerrero centered on bringing theater to the people. He established the UP
Mobile Theater and conceptualized the theater campus tour wherein the theater group would perform
at various schools. By bringing the theater more accessible to students and the people, he made the
theater more familiar and inviting. During his nineteen years as the director of UP Mobile Theater, he
oversaw around 2,500 performances.

Major works:

• Half an Hour in a Convent

• Three Rats
• Our Strange Ways

• The Forsaken House

• Frustrations

• Wanted: A Chaperon

Rolando S. Tinio

Birth and death: March 5, 1937-July 7, 1997

Year awarded: 1997

Category: Theater and literature

Place of birth: Tondo, Manila

Rolando S. Tinio was a prolific writer and playwright. As a stage director, he was responsible in bringing
plays and productions that revived the sarswela and modern Western dramas.

His productions were instrumental in making theater a recognized and acknowledged art form in the
Philippines.

Major works:

Poetry collections

• Sitsit sa Kuliglig

• Dunung-dunungan

• Kristal na Uniberso

• A Trick of Mirrors

Film scripts

• Now and Forever

• Gamitin Mo Ako

• Bayad Puri

• Milagros

Theater works

• Ang Mestisa
Levi Celerio

Birth and death: April 30, 1910-April 2, 2002

Year awarded: 1997

Category: Music and Literature

Place of birth: Tondo, Manila

Levi Celerio is one of the most prolific composers and lyricists n the history of Philippine music. having
authored more than 4.000 songs.

His natural talent earned him a scholarship at the Academy of Music in Manila, which made it possible
for him to be part of the Manila Symphony Orchestra, the youngest member at the time.

Many of his songs were used for local movies. The Film Academy of the Philippines awarded him a
Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the
only person in the world to make music by just using a leaf. He is credited with writing lyrics for
traditional folk melodies such as the "O Maliwanag Na Buwan" (Ilocano folk song), "Ako ay may
Singsing" (Kapampangan folk song), and "Alibangbang" (Visayan folk song).

Major works:

• "Pasko Na Naman"

• "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit"

• "Kahit Konting Pagtingin"

• "Dungawin Mo Hirang"

• "Tinig ng Bayan"

• "Basta't Mahal Kita"

Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez

Birth and death: September 8, 1915-November 28, 1999

Year awarded: 1997.

Category: Literature

Place of birth: Romblon, Romblon

Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez, better known as N.V.M. Gonzalez, was a writer who specialized in
fiction. His works depict the trials and avails of the Filipino in both rural and urban settings. He is also
recognized for his mastery of using the English language to reflect and
His works have touched the hearts of not just the Filipinos but other nationalities as well, with his works
being translated to numerous other languages such as English, Filipino, Chinese, German, Russian, and
express Filipino sensibilities.

He was conferred the title of National Artist for Literature in 1997.

Major works:

• 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

Arturo Luz

Birth: November 20, 1926

Year awarded: 1997

Category: Visual arts

Place of birth: Manila

Arturo Luz is an artist who expresses himself in many different visual art forms such as painting,
sculptures, prints, etc.

His works showcase a neorealist take and are described as sublime and austere in expression. His pieces
often make use of simple collections of lines and shapes masterfully composed to create abstract
masterpieces that reveal sophistication and simplicity.

He also established the Luz Gallery that paved the way for the professionalization of the gallery system
in the country. This move has changed and influenced the Filipino artistic community and generations of
artists after into a more qualified and specialized association.

Major works:
•Bagong Taon

• Skipping Rope

• Candle Vendors

• Night Glows

• Cities of the Past

• Imaginary Landscapes

• Black and White (mural)

• Jarlets No. 5

Jose Maceda

Birth and death: January 31, 1917-May 5, 2004

Year awarded: 1997

Category: Music

Place of birth: Manila

Though an accomplished composer, performer, and teacher, Jose Maceda's greatest contribution to the
Philippine music is his passion to understand and study the various forms and examples of traditional
music found all over the archipelago.

Throughout his career. Maceda traveled all over the country and conducted research and recorded
samples of traditional Filipino music.

This endeavor resulted in an invaluable resource and collection of traditional music. His written studies
are an authoritative resource used by many scholars here and abroad to study Filipino ethnic music.

The product of his lifelong work has resulted in a better understanding and popularization of Filipino
music that was not just a product of Western influence.

Major works:

• Ugma-ugma

• Pagsamba

• Udlot-udlot

• Agungan
• Kubing

• Ugnayan

• Ading

Carlos L. Quirino

Birth and death: January 14, 1910-May 20, 1999

Year awarded: 1997

Category: Historical literature

Place of birth: Vigan City, lloCOs Sur

Carlos Lozada Quirino was a historian and biographer. He is recognized for having written one of the
earliest biographies of the hero Jose Rizal entitled The Great Malayan (1935). He has also penned other
books pertaining to the culture and history of the Philippines.

The subjects of his works are varied and expansive, including the trial of Andres Bonifacio, the biography
of Emilio Aguinaldo, the maps of the Philippines, the culinary legacy of the country, as well as the

biography of well-known personalities such as the Philippine presidents

He is also the first recipient.of National Artist for Historical Literature a new category established by then
Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos in 1997 to honor his invaluable contribution to the preservation
Philippine history.

Major works:

• Maps and Views of Old Manila

• 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

J. Elizalde Navarro

Birth and death: May 22, 1924-June 10, 1999

Year awarded: 1999

Category: Painting

Place of birth: San Jose, Antique

J. (Jeremias) Elizalde Navarro was a visual artist who specialized in paintings and sculptures. Throughout
his career, he experimented with various media. His sculptural hardwood masks combine animals and
humans; his paintings are often made of abstract figures; and his assemblages are compositions of found
objects and metal.

He is also known for his incision painting technique in which he 'would cut out patterns on a stone
surface and apply a layer of paint on plaster on top.

He was posthumously awarded the title National Artist for Painting 1999, the same year he passed away.

Major works:

• The Seasons (1992)

• Morning Mist Over Ubud, Bali (1992)

• I'm Sorry Jesus, I Can't Attend Christmas This Year (1965)

• Homage to Dodjie Laurel (1969)

• A Flying Contraption for Mr. Icarus (1984)

Andrea Veneracion

Birth and death: July 11, 1928-July 9, 2013

Year awarded: 1999

Category: Music

Place of birth: Manila

Andrea Ofilada Veneracion was an accomplished choirmaster and arranger, but her invaluable
contributions to Philippine music were the establishment of the world-renowned Philippine Madrigal
Singers and the leading of the advancement of Philippine choral music.
She was also passionate in bringing music education closer to the people by organizing and
spearheading cultural outreach programs to numerous provinces in the country.

Major awards:

• The numerous awards the Philippine Madrigal Singers received while she was their choirmaster

• TOFIL (The Outstanding Filipino) Award in 1997 National Artist for Music in 1999

• Distinguished Alumni Service Award from the Indiana University in 2001

Edith L. Tiempo

Birth and death: April 22, 1919-August 21, 2011

Year awarded: 1999

Category: Literature

Place of birth: Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

Edith L. Tiempo is recognized as one of the best Filipino writers in English. Her mastery of the art is
showcased in her works that are described as a union of substance, style, and insight.

Her poems were printed versions of important experiences written descriptively but unhindered by
unnecessary details. Her talent makes her one of the most studied and emulated writers of Philippine
literature in English.

Major works:

Novel

• A Blade of Fern (1978)

• The Native Coast (1979)

• The Alien Corn (1992)

Poetry collections

• The Tracks of Babylon and Other Poems (1966)

• The Charmer's Box and Other Poems (1993)

Short story collection

• Abide, Joshua, and Other Stories (1964)

Daisy H. Avellana

Birth and death: January 26, 1917-May 12, 2013

Year awarded: 1999

Category: Theater

Place of birth: Roxas City, Capiz

Daisy H. Avellana was a Filipina theater actress and director. She is recognized for bringing legitimacy to
theater as an art form through quality and outstanding productions of both foreign and classic local
plays.

She also established performance groups, such as the one she cofounded with her husband and felow
National Artist Lamberto Avellana, the Barangay Theater Guild. This made theater art popular and closer
to the people, using radio and television to propagate it.

Major works or performances:

• Othello (1953)

• Macbeth in Black (1959)

• Casa de Bernarda Alba (1967)

• Tatarin

• Portrait of the Artist as Filipino

Directorial credits

• Diego Silang (1968)

• Walang Sugat (1971)

Screenplays

• Sakay (1939)

• A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (1955)

F. Sionil José

Birth: December 3, 1924

Year awarded: 2001

Category: Literature

Place of birth: Rosales, Pangasinan

F.Sionil José is one of the most prolific contemporary Filipino writers. His works are some of the best of
Philippine literature in English. He writes about nationalism and social justice, which reflect the
aspirations of the Filipinos. His works have been translated to many different languages.

José is not just a writer but also a publisher, lecturer, and founder of the Philippine chapter of the
international writing organization PEN.

Major works:

• Five-part saga

• The Pretenders

• Tree

• My Brother, My Executioner

• Mass

• Po-on

Ang Kiukok

Birth and death: March 1, 1931-May 9, 2005

Year awarded: 2001

Category: Visual arts

Place of birth: Davao City, Davao del Sur

A Filipino of Chinese descent, Ang Kiukok is one of the most refreshing and revolutionary artists of the
1960s. His works are expressionist eye-catching, and rich in symbolism.

His art is oftentimes violent and angst-ridden, reflecting the social and political instability of the time.

He was conferred the title of National Artist for Visual Arts in 2001.

Major works:

• Geometric Landscape (1969)

• Pieta (1962)

• Seated Figure (1979)

Ishmael Bernal

Birth and death: September 30, 1938-June 2, 1996

Year awarded: 2001

Category: Film.

Place of birth: Manila

Ishmael Bernal is considered to be one of the geniuses of Philippine cinema. He is known for his
melodramas that dealt with women empowerment and morality. His films show the struggles and social
injustices the Filipinos face, making the audience reflect while at the same time keeping them
entertained.

He has also directed a number of films that are considered classics and are prerequisites for any budding
Filipino filmmaker such as Nunal sa Tubig (1976), Himala (1982), and City After Dark (1980).

Throughout his career, he has garnered numerous awards for his films both here and abroad. Some of
his recognitions include four Best Director nods at the Urian Awards, Most Outstanding Filmmaker of
the Decade (1971-1980) from the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, Directol of the Decade from the
Catholic Mass Media Awards, the Bronze Hugo Award at the Chicago International Film Festival in 1983
for Himala, and the ASEAN OCultural Award at Communication Arts in 1993,

He was posthumously awarded the title of National Artist for Film In 2001.

Major works:

• Pahiram ng Isang Umaga (1989)

• Broken Marriage (1983)

• Himala (1982)

• City After Dark (1980)

• Nunal sa Tubig (1976)

• Pinulot Ka Lang Sa Lupa (1987)

Severino Montano

Birth and death: January 3, 1915-December 12, 1980

Year awarded: 2001

Category: Theater

Place of birth: Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

Severino Montano is one of the heavyweights of Philippine theater. He has played various roles in
theater production; he was as an actor, director, playwright, and theater organizer.

He established Arena Theater and paved the way for legitimacy of theater in the Philippines. Through
the Arena Theater, he made the art of drama more accessible to the mass, and with his guidance and
mentorship, he was able to produce and inspire future greats in Philippine theater such as Rolando S.
Tinio, Emmanuel Borlaza, Joonee Gamboa, and Behn Cervantes.

He also organized playwriting competitions through the Arena Theater and uncovered the talents of
Wilfrido Nolledo, Jesus T. Peralta, and Estrella Alfon.

His contributions to Philippine theater were forever cemented when he was posthumously conferred
with the National Artist Award for Theater in 2001.

Major awards:

• Patnubay ng Kalinangan Award from the City of Manila (1968)

• Presidential Award for Merit in Drama and Theater (1961)

• Citizen's Committee for Mass Media Award (1967 and 1968)

•Rockefeller Foundation Grant to travel to 98 cities abroad (1950, 1952, 1962, and 1963)

Posthumously given

• Pamulinawen Award (1981)

• National Artists Award (2001)

Jose Joya

Birth and death: June 3, 1931-May 11, 1995

Year awarded: 2003

Category: Painting

Place of birth: Manila

Jose Joya differentiated himself from other abstract artists by creating a visual expression that went
beyond Western influences and. as a result, created an authentic Filipino abstract.

Joya's, works were influenced by the landscapes of the Philippines They were reflective of rural scenes
such as rice harvest, rice fields, and tropical colors. They were also reminiscent of folk art with their
colors layering, and curvilinear expressions.
He practiced gestural paintings similar to that of abstract expressionist painters, which resulted in works
that are described as vigorous, bold, and heavy.

He was also instrumental for future artists to explore various media as he also designed and rendered
art on various materials such as ceramics, tiles, plates, etc.

He was recognized as a National Artist for Painting in 2003, eight years after his death.

Major works:

• Granadean Arabesque

• Makiling Interlude

•Beethoven Listening to the Blues

• Space Transfiguration

• Hills of Nikko

• Abstraction

• Dimension of Fear

• Naiad

• Torogan

• Cityscape

Virgilio S. Almario

Birth: March 9, 1944

Year awarded: 2003

Category: Literature

Place of birth: San Miguel, Bulacan

Virgilio S. Almarlo js a contemporary Filipino literary artist who has brought back to life the Filipino
traditional poetic forms and at the same time practiced modernist styles. He has produced twelve
volumes of poetry and ten books of criticism and anthology under his pen name Rio Alma. His works
varied in forms such as lyrical, satirical, dramatic, epic, and even incantatory forms. In his works, he
often examined society and oneself, exposing and standing up to injustices, hypocrisles, and lles.
He has established different literary workshop venues such as Galian sa Arte at Tula and the Linangan sa
Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo.

Through these workshops, he has guided and mentored many budding Filipino literalists.

He has also dabbled into children's literature through his Aklat Adarna series that specializes on books
and publications for children, exposing early on Filipino children to literature.

He was elected chairperson of the NCCA in danuary 2017.

Major works:

• Makinasyon

• Peregrinasyon

• Doktrinang Anakpawis

• Mga Retrato at Rekwerdo

• Muli, Sa Kandungan ng Lupa

• Ang Makata sa Panahon

• Balagtasismo versus Modernismo

• Walong Dekada ng Makabagong Tulang Pilipino

• Mutyang Dilim

• Barlaan at Josaphat

Alejandro Reyes Roces

Birth and death: July 13, 1924-May 23, 2011

Year awarded: 2003

Category: Literature

Place of birth: Manila

Alejandro Reyes Roces was a writer, essayist, and dramatist. He Is regarded as one of the best writers of
comic short stories of the Philippines. He is mostly remembered for his widely anthologized "My
Brother's Peculiar Chicken."

In his newspaper articles, he always championed Filipino heritage. He would call attention to the often
ignored aspects of our culture. He brought attention to the beauty of the numerous Philippine fiestas,
such as the Moriones and the Ati-atihan, popularizing them throughout the country. He is also credited
as one of the proponents of the transfer of the date. of Independence Day from July 4th to June 12th.
He is the catalyst for changing many of the country's document from English to Filipino as seen in the
country's stamps, currency, and passports. He was also instrumental in the recovery of the Rizal
manuscripts when they were taken from the National Archives.

He personified a true Filipino's love for his country as he fought as a guerilla fighter during World War II
and fought the tyranny of Martial Law, heading the opposition party during the dictatorship.

His contributions to the enrichment of Philippine culture and the defense of its democracy have earned
him various local and foreign recognition, the highest of which was him receiving the title of National
Artist for Literature in 2003.

Major works:

Literary works

• We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers

• My Brother's Peculiar Chicken

• Of Cocks and Kites and Other Short Stories (1959)

• Fiesta (1980)

• Something to Crow About Short Stories (2005)

Eddie S. Romero

Birth and death: July 7, 1924-May 28, 2013

Year awarded: 2003

Category: Cinema

Place of birth: Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental

Eddie Romero, whose filmmaking career spanned over 30 years, was an influential Filipino filmmaker.
Throughout those years, he had been a director, producer, and screenwriter. His films were ambitioUS
and practical at the same time and are described in his National Artist citation as "delivered in an utterly
simple style-minimalist, but never empty, always calculated, precise and functional, but never
predictable.

He was awarded the title of National Artist for Cinema in 2003.

Major works:

• Ganito Kami Noon...Paano Kayo Ngayon?

• Aguila

• Kamakalawa

• Banta ng Kahapon
• 13-part series of Noli Me Tangere

Salvador F. Bernal

Birth and death: January 7, 1945-October 26, 2011

Year awarded: 2003

Category: Theater design

Place of birth: Dagupan City, Pangasinan

Salvador F. Bernal is regarded as the "Father of Philippine Stage Design." He was responsible for over
300 production stage designs throughout his career. These stage designs include concerts, plays, operas,
etc. All his works were sure to be original and make use of indigenous materials such as abaca, bamboo,
hemp, cacha, rattan, etc. He is preferred by many productions not only for the quality of his work but
also for his ability to stay within the constraints of the budget.

Other than stage designs, Salvador Bernal, or Badong to those who are close to him, also dabbled in set
designs and costume designs for film and television.

He is also a generous artist, sharing his know-how and experiences to a number of future stage
designers through his workshops and classes at the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila
University, and the programs of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

He was given the National Artist Award in 2003.

Major works:

• Dalagang Bukid

• Lope K. Santos's Banaag at Sikat

• Oro, Plata, Mata (costume design)

• Gumising Ka, Maruja (costume design)

• Rajah Sulayman

• Abaniko

• La Traviata

• Tomaneg at Aniway

• Pagkahaba-haba man ng Prusisyon sa Simbahan din ang Tuloy

Benedicto R. Cabrera

Birth: April 10, 1942

Year awarded: 2006

Category: Painting

Place of birth: Manila

Benedicto R. Cabrera, o BenCab as he is more popularly known, is one of the most successful Filipino
contemporary artists. His career started in the 1960s, shortly after he graduated from the University of
the Philippines with a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts.

He is a painter and a printmaker; his works have been displayed all over the Philippines, as well as in
Asia, Europe, and the United States.

He is most popular for his series of works that feature a solitary figure of a scavenger whom he named
Sabel. BenCab used the image of Sabel as a symbolism of despair, desolation, and inequality of the social
classes in the Philippines.

He was conferred with the National Artist Award for Visual Arts in 2006 by then President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo.

He is, as of writing, now based in Baguio where he has set up a museum of his works and other Filipino
artists.

Major works:

• Madonna with Objects (1991)

• Studies of Sabel (1991)

• People Waiting (1989)

• The Indifference (1988)

• Waiting for the Monsoon (1986)

Abdulmari Asia Imao

Birth and death: January 14, 1936-December 16, 2014

Year awarded: 2006

Category: Sculpture
Place of birth: Siasi, Sulu

Abdulmari Asia Imao a Tausug, is the first Filipino Muslim to receive the title of National Artist. Though
he is primarily known as a sculptor, he is also a painter, photographer, ceramist, documentary
filmmaker, cultural researcher, and curator and collector of Philippine Muslim art.

He is known for adapting Southern subjects and motifs in his works such as the ukkil (sinuous relief
woodcarving tradition found in houses and boats), sarimanok (mythical bird with fish), and naga (sea
serpent). His artworks are instrumental in popularizing and bringing to consciousness these motifs as
unique to the Filipino culture.

Using his training and art education from the University of the Philippines and the University of Kansas,
he created monumental Sculptures of local heroes to instill trust and camaraderie among the different
cultural groups to create a better society.

Major works:

• Industry Brass Mural, Philippine National Bank, San Fernando,

• Mural Relief on Filmmaking, Manila City Hall

• Industrial Mural, Central Bank of the Philippines, San Fernando,

• Sulu Warriors (statues of Panglima Unaid and Captain Abdurahim Imao), Sulu Provincial Capitol

Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera

Birth: April 11, 1932

Year awarded: 2006.

Category: Literature

Place of Birth: Lipa City, Batangas

Bienvenido Lumbera is a multi-awarded poet, writer, librettist, critic, and dramatist. He is recognized as
one of the literary giants of Philippine literature, cultural studies, and film.

He is credited with introducing Bagay poetry that changed the vernacular tendency in poetic tradition.
As an accomplished librettist, he combined fine arts and popular imagination.

Lumbera has also founded several literary organizations like the Philippine Comparative Literature
Association (1969), _Pamana no Panitikan ng Pilipinas (1970), Kalipunan para sa mga Literatura ng
Pilipinas (1975), Philippine Studies Association of the Philippines (1984) and Manunuring Pelikulang
Pilipino (1976). These literary groups were instrumental in bringing back democracy after Martial Law
since they made the Filipinos aware of the abuses of the Marcos regime.
He was awarded the title National Artist for Literature in 2006.

Major works:

Poetry

• Likhang Dila, Likhang Diwa (poems in Filipino and English)

• Balaybay: Mga Tulang Lunot at Manibalang

Musical dramas

• Tales of the Manuvu

• Rama Hari

• Nasa Puso ang Amerika

• Noli Me Tangere: The Musical

• Sa Sariling Bayan: Apat na Dulang May Musika

Ramon Arevalo Obusan

Birth and death: June 16, 1938–December 21, 2006

Year awarded: 2006

Category: Dance

Place of birth: Camarines Norte, Bicol

Bamon Obusan was an accomplished stage designer, artistic director, choreographer, and most of all a
dancer. He is recognized as a promoter of Philippine traditional dance through his performances and
cultural research.

Using his time and talent, Obusan developed and widened the Filipinos' understanding of their own
culture and expressions. He did this through his research and documentaries that explore Filipino
traditional dance. He also founded the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group in 1970.

This group was acclaimed for its authentic and faithful recreation and performance of Filipino folk
dance, With his troupe, he helped deepen the people's appreciation of their cultural traditions and
heritage of dance.

Ramon Obusan received various awards for his work, some of which were the Grand Prix award in
France in 1982 for his documentary entitled Sayaw, the Patnubay ng Kalinangan award given by the City
of Manila in 1992, and the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining Para sa Sayaw a after for his research on Philippine
folk dance and other art forms.
He was granted the National Artist Award for Dance in May 2006, just a few months before his death.

Major works:

• Vamos a Belen! series (1998–2004), Philippine pastores tradition

• Noon Po sa Amin, tableaux of Philippine history in song, drama, and dance

• Obra Maestra, collection of Ramon Obusan's dance masterpieces

• Water, Fire, and Life, Philippine Dances and Music-A Celebration

of Life

• Glimpses of ASEAN, dance and music of the ASEAN member countries

• Saplot (Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group) Philippine costumes in dance

Documentary and books

• Sayaw (documentary)

• Dance of the Philippines (book)

Ronald Allan K. Poe

Birth and death: August 20, 1939-December 14, 2004

Year awarded: 2006

Category: Cinema

Place of birth: Manila

Ronald Allan K. Poe was an actor who is more popularly known as Fernando Poe Jr. or FPJ for short. He is
dubbed as the "King of Philippine Movies," having starred, produced, and directed more than 200 films.

FPJ's popularity stems from his relatability to the Filipino audiences, often portraying the underdog who
would later rise and take revenge on those who abused and looked down upon him. Through his movies,
he championed the masses and provided inspiration to people who had ran out of hope.

He also enforced changes in film productions; he implemented a more humane working environment in
hiS Own production that was soon followed by the industry, such as providing food for everybody in the
set including the crew and talents.

He was posthumously awarded the National Artist Award for Cinema in 2006.

Major works:

• Apollo Robles (1961)

• Batang Maynila (1962)

• Mga Alabok sa Lupa (1967)

• Ako ang Katarungan (1974)

• Tatak ng Alipin (1975)

• Asedillo (1981)

• Partida (1985)

• Ang Probinsyano (1996)

• Ang Alamat (1972)

• Ang Pagbabalik ng Lawin (1975)

• Ang Panday series (1980, 1981, 1982, and 1984)

Ildefonso P. Santos Jr.

Birth and death: September 5, 1929-January 29, 2014

Year awarded: 2006

Category: Landscape architecture

Place of birth: Malabon, Rizal

Udefonso Paez Santos Jr. is the "Father of Philippine Landscape Architecture." He was the pioneer in
practicing and legitimizing landscape design as an allied field of architecture.

Throughout his career that spans more than four decades, he has handled and designed hundreds of
projects, such as parks, plazas. gardens, and other outdoor spaces that have improved and beautified
the contemporary Filipino's life.

His talent for landscape architecture was first solidified with the Makati Commercial Center where he
presented a new outdoor shopping concept: the artificial structures and nature were harmoniously
unified through landscaping, waterworks, and sculptural accents.

Major works:

• Cultural Center of the Philippines

• Manila Hotel

• Paco Park

• Rizal Park
• San Miguel Corporation Building

• Asian Institute of Management

• Tagaytay Highland Resort

• Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club

• Orchard Golf and Country Club

Ramon Valera

Birth and death: August 31, 1912-May 25, 1972

Year awarded: 2006

Category: Fashion design

Place of Birth: Abra, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

Ramon Valera was the first recipient of the National Artist Award for Fashion Design, which was given in
2006. Though he did not have any formal training in fashion design, his works are emulated by fashion
design students for their intricate sewing, embroidery, and handiwork. He considered himself an artist
and is known to discard a finished garment if it did not live up to his high expectations.

The "High Priest of Local Fashion," as some have dubbed him, is the creator of the one-piece terno with
its trademark butterfly sleeves that has become the country's iconic traditional formal dress. Through his
careful manipulation, he transformed the baro't saya to adapt to the more contemporary taste of the
Filipina. Even today his works can still stand head-to-head with the current trends, a testament to
Valera's talents.

When he was still alive, his dresses were considered works of art, and any woman considered it an
honor to wear a Ramon Valera dress.

He was conferred with the National Artist Award for Fashion Desian as a subcategory of Architecture
and the Allied Arts in 2006, more than three decades after his death.

Manuel Conde

Birth and death: October 9, 1915-August 11, 1985

Year awarded: 2009

Category: Cinema
Place of birth: Daet, Camarines Norte

Manuel Condewas a pioneering Filipino filmmaker. When most of his contermporaries were producing
movies that were American replicas.

Manuel Conde made movies from Filipino oral tradition. He used the stories that were passed from
generation to generation as a basis and inspiration for his films. Examples of which were Siete Infantes
de Lara, Ibong Adarna, and Prinsipe Teñoso.

He is also credited with the growth of local cinema by bringing to life the issues the people had at the
time. He also presented new stories and emploved new techniques in his movies, transforming and
updating the film genres. His film innovations were taken notice of by other countries, which opened the
local film industry to the world.

He was also a film visionary. He created and conceptualized films so grand in scale that other producers
would sure have balked at. Conde made films of historical figures like Genghis Khan and Sigfredo, which
were far from the usual and predictable stories the moviegoers were used to. It brought the audience to
far-off places and to the realm of the fantastic.

He was posthumously awarded the title National Artist for Film in 2009.

Major works:

• Ibong Adarna (1941)

• Si Juan Tamad (1947)

• Siete Infantes de Lara (1950)

• Genghis Khan (1950)

• Ikaw Kasi! (1955)

• Juan Tamad Goes To Congress (1959)

Lazaro A. Francisco

Birth and death: February 22, 1898-June 17, 1980

Year awarded: 2009

Category: Literature

Place of Birth: Orani, Bataan

Lazaro A. Francisco is the "Master of the Tagalog Novels." He Is acknowledged by his fellow writers as
one of the finest novelists of the early twentieth century. He is credited to have written twelve novels
that were serialized in the weekly Tagalog magazine Liwayway.

His works exemplify the writer's commitment to nationalism. In his novels he tackled romance, plight of
the poor and oppressed tenants against the deceitful landlords, and foreign tyranny, He also wrote of
the worth of the Filipinos, emphasizing their dignity and positive values.

His skill in bringing to life his characters with his mastery of the Tagalog language makes the readers feel
proud to be a Filipino.

He received the Republic Cultural Heritage Award for Literature in 1970 and was posthumously awarded
as National Artist for Literature in 2009.

Major works:

• Singsing na Pangkasal

• Bayang Nagpatiwakal

• Sa Paanan ng Krus

• flaw sa Hilaga

• Binhi at Bunga

• Sugat ng Alaala

• Maganda Pa Ang Daigdig

• Daluyong

Federico Aguilar Alcuaz

Birth and death: June 6, 1932-February 2, 2011

Year awarded: 2009

Category: Painting, Sculpture, and Mixed Media

Place of birth: Santa Cruz, Manila

Federico A. Aguilan or Aguilar Alcuaz as he liked to sign his work, was one of the most prolific
contemporary Filipino artists. He worked with a myriad of media from ceramics, tapestry, illustrations,
and paintings while using acrylic, oil, ink, and watercolor. He is also known

Tor his relief sculptures made of paper and other materials that he called “Alcuazaics"
Art was really his passion, taking up Fine Arts at UP Diliman while also taking prelaw courses at San Beda
College. During his college years, Alcuaz would join and win art competitions as well as display his work
in several solo exhibits.

He finished his law degree at his father's request, but after a critically acclaimed exhibit at the Philippine
Art Gallery, he was granted fellowshin from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Spain and studied and
trained the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid. He extended his stay in Europe,
further immersing himself in its art and culture.

His works, in whichever medium, are characterized as fluid, light easy, and refined.

He was conferred with the title of National Artist for Visual Arts in 2009

Major works:

• Reveries of Love

• Still Life with Landscape

• Abstract in Blue and Black

• Tap Room

• Tres Marias

• Manila 1968

Alice Reyes

Birth: October 18, 1942

Year awarded: 2014

Category: Dance

Place of birth: Manila

Alice Reyes is the founder of Ballet Philippines. She is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and director.
Her name has become synonymous to Philippine dance as she is credited with its developmentand
promotion. Alice Reyes started dancing quite young, studying classical ballet, She then studied folk
dance under the Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company. She went to the United States and
trained in modern dance and jazz.

Her performance of a modern dance.concert at the CCP Main Theater in the 970s was the first of its
kind. This show featured a collection of contemporary dances and ushered the acceptance and
popularization of the art form in the country. She further strengthened the status and legitimacy of
modern dance through a series of workshops, trainings cultural outreach programs, television
performances, etc.
Her contribution to Philippine dance is the development of a distinctive modern Filipino dance
expression. Her subject matters are using combinations of indigenous dance, modern dance, and ballet
performed.

This juxtaposition of styles has resulted in a dance that is uniquely Filipino. Her innovations can still be
seen in performances of today's dance companies and instructions of teachers and choreographers.

Major works:

• Amada (1969).

• At a Maranaw Gathering (1970)

• Itim-Asu (1971)

• Tales of the Manuvu (1977)

• Rama Hari (1980)

• Bayanihan Remembered (1987)

Francisco V. Coching

Birth and death: January 29, 1919-September 1, 1998

Year awarded: 2014

Category: Visual arts

Place of birth: Buting, Pasig

Erancisco V. Coching, throughout his career, has distinguished himself in the field of Filipino comics, and
as such he has earned many monikers such as the "King of Komiks" and the "Dean of Filipino
Illustrators."

He was a comic book writer and illustrator whose panels are evident of his skill in drawing and
storytelling. He entertained and informed his readers for almost four decades, making him one of the
pillars that made comics a popular and accessible form of art to the people. He was an inspiration to
artists. and generations of cartoonists and writers such as Larry Alcala, Ben Infante, and Nestor
Redondo.

Using folk and popular culture as inspirations for his works, he brought relevance and relatability to his
work. He depicted heroism and nationalism in his works, a reflection of the racial, social, and colonial
conflict of his time. He depicted the Filipinos in their ideal forms with the impressive physique of the
men and the gentle but strong women.
Even when he tackled subjects of fantastical nature such as vampires, witches, and monsters, his
depictions still showed believability, The country finally recognized his work and his contribution to
Philippine arts in 2014, by posthumously recognizing him as a National Artist for Visual Arts.

Major works:

• Lapu-lapu

• Sagisag ng Lahing Pilipino

• Marabini (Marahas na Binibini)

• Haring Ulopong

• Movie Fan

• Pusakal

• Dimasalang

• El Vibora

Cirilo F. Bautista

Birth: July 9, 1941

Year awarded: 2014

Category: Literature

Cirilo F. Bautista is regarded as the foremost Filipino writer of his generation. He is a distinguished poet,
fiction writer, and essayist, producing works that span more than 40 years.

Other than his literary works, Bautista's lasting legacy will be that of bringing literature closer to the
people. He regularly holds workshops and trainings all over the country, updating students on
techniques and trends in the discipline of literature.

This passion of his to teach the youth came from his realization of the importance of training writers
while they are still young. And with this in mind, he has pioneered several writing groups in the country
such as the Bienvenido Santos Creative Writing Center, the Philippine Literary Arts Council, the lligan
National Writers Workshop, and the Baguio Writers Group.

He was conferred with the title of National Artist for Literature in 2014.

Major works:

Poetry

• Summer Suns (1963)

• The Trilogy of Saint Lazarus (2001)

• Believe and Betray: New and Collected Poems (2006)

Fiction

• Stories (1990)

• Galaw ng Asoge (2004)

Literary theory and cultural studies

• Breaking Signs: Lectures on Literature and Semiotics (1990)

• Words and Battlefields: A Theoria on the Poem (1998)

Francisco Feliciano

Birth and death: February 19, 1941-September 19, 2014

Year awarded: 2014

Category: Music

Place of birth: Morong, Rizal

Francisco Feliciano was a musician composer, conductor, and educator. He has proven to people all over
the world the richness and the guality of Asian culture, especially that of the ethnic traditions of the
Philippines. His composition elevates indigenous music comparable to the masterpieces of the Western
world through its high technical requirements.

His works have been sung and have won the greatest choirs of the country, like that of the UP Madrigal
Singers, UST Singers, and the Novo Concertante Manila, with multiple awards. His works can only be
given justice by the best performers due to the complete mastery of the skills required.

He received the National Artist Award for Music in 2014.

Major works:

• Pokpok Alimpako (1981)

• La Loba Negra (1983)

• Yerma (1982)

• Sikhay sa Kabila ng Paalam (1993)

• Ashen Wings (1995)

• Pamugun (1995)
Dr. Ramon Pagayon Santos

Birth: February 25, 1941

Year awarded: 2014

Category: Music

Place of birth: Pasig, Metro Manila

For Ramon Pagayon Santos, music can be described as avant- garde. He is one of the foremost figures in
contemporary music in the Philippines, experimenting with compositions that are inspired by Philippine
and Southeast Asian music.

Santos studied at the UP College of Music and took further studies under a Fulbright Scholarship at
Indiaha University, New Music in Darmstadt, Germany and in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

His experiences here and abroad developed his avant-garde approach to contemporary music. He
experimented with different styles and forms suchasserialism, electronic and
contemporary,indeterminacy, and new vocal and improvisational techniques. He combined these In
compositions that have open-ended structures of time and space, nonconventional works, and
nontraditional musical languages. This resulted in music that demanded reflective understanding and
keen awareness of Asian musical aesthetics.

He was conferred with the title of National Artist for Music in 2014.

Major works:

• Ding Ding Nga Diwaya

• Nabasag ang Banga at Iba't Iba Pang Pinag-ugpong-ugpong na

• Pananalita para sa Labing-anim na Tinig

• Ang Hardin ni Ligaya (lyrics by the composer) (1965)

• Ang Puting Waling-Waling (lyrics by the composer) (1972)

• Images (1975)

José María V. Zaragoza

Birth and death: December 6, 1912-1994

Year awarded: 2014

Category: Architecture
Place of birth: Manila

Architect Jese María V. Zaragoza's talent for architectural design can be seen in his religious and secular
building designs. His liturgical. structures reflect a modern take on church design while his secular
buildings show sensitivity to their environment and functionality in design.

His style, while modern, shows influences of colonial architecture as well as the international style of
prevailing trend at the time. This style can be seen in his impressive body of secular works that include
36 office buildings, four hotels, two hospitals, five housing projects, and over 270 residences.

His expertise and his claim to fame were his ecclesiastical designs, which are backed by his studies at
different institutions here and abroad, such as UST, International Institute of Liturgical Art in Rome, and
Hilversum Technical Research Center in the Netherlands. With such credentials, he was entrusted to
design 45 different religious structures and institutions all over the country.

José María V. Zaragoza was posthumously conferred the title of National Artist for Architecture in 2014.

Major works:

• Santo Domingo Church

• Our Lady of Rosary in Tala

• Don Bosco Church

• Pink Sisters Convent

• San Beda Convent

• Quiapo Church

• Meralco Building (Pasig City)

• Metropolitan Cathedral of Cebu City

• Villa San Miguel, Mandaluyoung

Lesson 2

Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (National Living Treasures Award)

Key Terms

 National Living Treasures

 Manlilikha ng Bayan
 National Commission for Culture and the Arts
 National Commission on Indigenous Peoples

It is unfortunate to say that many Philippine traditional arts and crafts are disappearing. Even in this fast-
paced world, knowing and preserving Filipino heritage is crucial. By knowing the arts and culture of their
ancestors, Filipinos in turn learn more about themselves and each other. Some artists are recognized for
being vessels of cultural

knowledge. They are credited for keeping alive the rich cultural traditions

of the Philippines.

One such way of keeping traditions ablaze is by honoring those artists who keep the tradition alive by
practicing and teaching the younger generation about indigenous arts.

NATIONAL LIVING TREASURES

In April 1992, the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or the National Living Treasures Award was
institutionalized through Republic Act No. 7355. Tasked with the administration and implementation of
the award is the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the highest policy-making and
coordinating body for culture and arts of the State. The NCCA, through the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan Committee and an ad hoc panel of experts, conducts the search for the finest traditional artists of
the land, adopts a program that will ensure the transfer of their skills to others, undertakes measures to
promote a genuine appreciation of the arts, and instills pride among our people

about the genius of the Manlilikha ng Bayan.

The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or the National Living Treasures Award is conferred on Filipinos who
are at the forefront of the practice preservation, and promotion of the nation's traditional folk arts.

The State's recognition of such sociocultural contributions wasformalized in 1992 through Republic Act
No. 7355, the Manlilikha ng Bayan Act. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts oversees its
implementation.

The main objective of the award is to honor and support traditional folk artists and see to it that that
their skills and crafts are preserved. The award is tied with a program that ensures the transfer of their
skills to the next generation and the promotion of the craft both locally and internationally. In 2014, the
Senate of the Philippines adopted Senate Resolution No. (SRN) 765 aimed at recognizing the
accomplishments of the country's living treasures.
Emblem

The award logo is a representation of the human form used in traditional cloth. Below the logo is the
phrase "Manlilikha .ng Bayan" written in Baybayin, an ancient Filipino script used in the Philippines in
the sixteenth century

Criteria

a. Should be a Filipino citizen'or group of citizens belonging to anbindigenous or traditional cultural

community anywhere in the Philippines, engaged in Filipino traditional art in the following categories:
folk architecture, maritime transport, weaving, carving, performing arts, literature, graphic and plastic
arts, ornament, textile or fiber art, pottery, and other artistic expressions of traditional culture.

b. Should have been engaged in the tradition and craft for a significant period of time with at least 50
years of existence and documentation

C. Should have produced and performed of artistic, distinctive, and superior quality

d. Should possess mastery of the tools and materials that are needed for the art and must have a
reputation for being an art master and craft maker in the community where he/she belongs

e. Should have passed on and/or will pass on the traditional crafts and skills to other members of the
community by virtue of teaching

In case when a Manlilikha ng Bayan candidate is incapable of teaching further his/her craft and skill due
to age or infirmity:

a. He/she should have created a significant body of work and has contributed to the development of the
tradition and craft.

b. He/she should have played a role in the preservation and revitalization of the artistic tradition in the
community.

C. He/she has been recognized as a master of his/her craft and admired for his/her character and
integrity in his/her community.

Process

1. The Panel

The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan is administered by a committee, which is assisted by an ad hoc panel
of experts. The panel is composed of a representative from each of the committees of the
Subcommissionvon Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts, such as the Office of the Muslim Affairs
(OMA), the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and other appropriate institutions. The
ad hoc panel of reviewers is composed of five members of the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Committee
and four individuals identified by the Committee among scholars, practitioners, and experts in the
traditional art.

2. The Nominations

Nominations can come from the members of the ad hoc panel of arts, government and private
institutions, universities, and other experts, the subcommissions on cultural communities and traditional
persons knowledgeable of any of the categories: folk architecture. maritime transport, weaving, carving,
performing arts, literature, graphic and plastic arts, ornament, textile and fiber art, pottery, and other
artistic expressions of traditional culture.

3. The Screening

The ad hoc search committees are deployed to various priority areas in the country to conduct searches
and document the candidates' art or craft. The ad hoc panel of reviewers reevaluates the qualifications
of the candidates and submits recommendations to the NCCA Board of Commissioners. Once selected,
the President of the Philippines confers the awardees in a public ceremony in Malacañan Palace.

Awards and Incentives

The awardee receives a specially designed medallion or plaque, with a duplicate set that should be
donated to and displayed in a provincial museum or the largest cultural center in the awardee's
community.

The awardee is given an initial grant of Php100,000 and a Php14,000 lifetime stipend per month. The
awardee is granted a maximum cumulative amount of Php750,000 medical and hospitalization benefits
as well as funeral assistance similar to those received by the National Artists.

Awardees

First awarded in 1993 to three outstanding artists in music and poetry. the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan has its roots in the 1988 National Folk Artists Award organized by the Rotary Club of Makati-
Ayala. As a group, these folk and traditional artists reflect the diverse heritage and cultural traditions
that transcend their beginnings to become part our national character. As Filipinos, they bring age-old
customs, cratts. and ways of living to the attention and appreciation of Filipino life. They provide us with
a vision of ourselves and of our nation, a vision we might be able to realize someday, once we are given
the opportunity to be true to ourselves as these artists have remained truthful to their art..

As envisioned under R.A. 7355, "Manlilikha ng Bayan" shall mean a citizen engaged in any traditional art
uniquely Filipino whose distinctive skills have reached such a high level of technical and artistic
excellence and have been passed on to and widely practiced by the present generation in his/her
community with the same degree of technical and artistic competence.
Categories

The award shall be given in each, but not limited to the followingcategories of traditional folk arts,
namely, folk architecture, maritime transport, weaving, carving, performing arts, literature, graphic and
plastic arts, ornament, textile or fiber art, pottery, and other artistic expressions of traditional culture.
Consideration shall be given to geographical distribution and balance of artistic categories.

Ad Hoc Panel of Experts

To ensure a fair selection of the potential awardees, the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Committee shall
be assisted by an ad hoc panel of experts consisting of experts in the traditional folk arts categories
previously mentioned. The names of those selected to become members of the ad hoc panel of experts
shall be submitted to the NCCA Board of Commissioners for proper designation. The ad hoc panel of
experts may be composed of the members of the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Committee, one
representative from each of the committees of the Subcommission on Cultural Communities and
Traditional Arts, representatives from the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA), National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and representatives from other government and nongovernment
instrumentalities or other appropriate institutions whose representation shall be instituted by the NCCA
Board from time to time. The term of the members shall expire upon completion of the search and
selection process.

The ad hoc panel of experts shall constitute from among themselves ad hoc search committees that
shall be deployed to the various parts of the country after determining the priority areas to conduct a
thorough search and documentation of candidates for the awards in the traditional folk arts category
respectively assigned to them.

In the process of their search, the ad hoc search committees may identify additional nominees.

In conducting the search, the ad hoc search committees shall be quided by and shall faithfully adhere to
the criteria and qualifications for becoming a Manlilikha ng Bayan as set forth in the law and these rules
and regulations.

The duration of the nomination process ends upon submission of the final list of nominees of the ad hoc
search committees to the ad hoc panel of experts.

Ad Hoc Panel of Reviewers

The ad hoc panel of experts shall then constitute an ad hoC screening committee that shall recommend
nominees for the award to an ad hoc panel of reviewers.
The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Committee and ad hoc panel of experts shall constitute from among
scholars, practitioners, and experts in the field of traditional arts an ad hoc panel of reviewers that shall
review the recommendations of the ad hoc screening committee and evaluate the qualifications of the
nominees. The documentation previously undertaken by the ad hoc search committees shall be a key
factor in the evaluation process.

The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Committee shall submit to the NCCA the recommendations of the ad
hoc panel of reviewers for appropriate action.

The names of the awardees approved by the NCCA Board shall be submitted to the President of the
Philippines for proclamation.

AWARDEES OF THE GAWAD SA MANLILIKHA NG BAYAN

Ginaw Bilog

Birth and death: January 3, 1953-June 3, 2003

Category: Artist and Poet (Ambahan)

Place of birth: Panaytayan, Oriental MMindoro

Ambahan by Ginaw Bilog

Ginaw Bilog was a promoter of the ambahan, which was an oral tradition of poetic verses of the
Mangyan. The ambahan is composed of seven-syllable lines that use metaphors to send a point or
message. The ambahan covers a variety of topics such as wisdom, courtship, farewells, etc.

The existence and the preservation of the ambahan are mainly due to Ginaw Bilog who recorded the
poetry in bamboo tubes and notebooks. His collections include those he received from his father and
grandfather. Until his death, he continued to promote and share with his community their poetic
traditions,

This endeavor offered an unmistakable yet intangible perspective of the Mangyan beliefs and culture.
Through his work, the traditional art form continues to inspire others,

Masino Intaray

Birth and death: April 10, 1943-November 30, 2013

Category: Musician (basal or gong) and epic chanter (kulilal and bagit)

Place of birth: Brooke's Point, Palawan

Kudyapi used by Masino Intaray

Masino Intaray was a storyteller, epic chanter, and master musician. He was skilled with the traditional
Palawan instrumentation and accompaniments like the kulilal (lyrical love poem), aroding (mouth harp),
babarak (ring flute), bagit (instrumental music mimicking the movements of nature), and most especially
basal (ensemble of gongs).

As a storyteller, his creative narrative skills as well as chanting skills were evident in tultul (epics),
sudsungit (narratives), and tuturan (myths) that he performed for successive nights.

His musical talent was heard when he used the basal as accompaniment to the Palawan tribe's various
rituals such as the tambilaw (offering ritual to their rice god) and tinapay (rice wine drinking ritual). His
masterful use of the basal gongs entertained the audience and invigorated the festivities with music.

The basal ensemble is composed of the following instruments: the gimbal (tubular drum that provides
the basic rhythm), the sanang (palr of undersized gongs with boss and narrow rims), and the agungs
(gongs that have wide turned in rims and a prominent boss usualy numbered from one to three). Added
to the ensemble are the stamping of the feet of the tribe's young women on the bamboo floor, creating
a percussion dance called tarak.

The basal ensemble is a perfect metaphor of the unity and cooperation of the indigenous Palawan tribe.

Samaon Sulaiman

Birth and death: March 3, 1953-May 21, 2011

Category: Musician (kudyapi)

Place of birth: Mamasapano, Maguindanao

Samaon Sulaiman was the acclaimed master and teacher of the kudyapi. Kudyapi is a popular solo
instrument of the Maguindanaon, one of the largest Islamic groups in the Philippines. It is a two-stringed
plucked lute that comes in variety of shapes and forms and has different names depending on which
cultural tribe you belong to.

The Maguindanaon kudyapi is said to be one of the most difficult traditional Filipino instruments to
master. One string provides the rhythmic drone while the other string gives the melody depending on
the position of the movable frets. This instrument provides a wide range of timbre and sound and is
open to creative rhythmic invention.

Samaon Sulaiman is considered a master of this technically difficult instrument. He was a teacher among
teachers, serving as an influential factor to the other kudyapi masters in the region. For his dedication to
keep the kudyapi alive when other communities have but abandoned this unique traditional Filipino
instrument, he was awarded the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan in 1993.

Lang Dulay

Birth and death: August 3, 1924-April 30, 2015

Category: Textile weaver (t'nalak)

Place of birth: Lake Sebu, South Cotabato

T'nalak made by Lang Dulay

Lang Dulay was a traditional weaver from the T'boli tribe. She is considered a master of the art for her
quality craftsmanship because of the "fine even quality of the yarn, the close interweaving of the warp
and weft, the traditional forms and patterns, the chromatic integrity of the dye, and the consistency of
the finish," as described by NCCA.

She is said to have single-handedly saved the t'nalak tradition from extinction. T'nalak weaving is a
complicated process. It begins with the stripping of the stem of an abaca plant to get the fibers for the
textile.

The thread is then dried and tied strand by stand by hand, The thread is then mounted on a frame from
which the threads are decided as to which would be tied together to resist the dye. These tied bundles
of abaca fibers would later on dictate the design of the cloth. The t'nalak is woven using a backstrap
loom which can be a strain on the weaver's back and eyes.

Lang Dulay had mastered hundreds of designs, and each one is relevant to the meaning and story it
reveals. Her t'nalak is not just a cloth but a reflection of the knowledge and aspirations of the T'boli.

She had then used the grant and monthly allowance she received from her National Living Treasures
Award to put up a school for the women of her tribe to master their crafts. Unfortunately, since she has
women died, the funding from the government has stopped and has put the school's existence in
danger.

Salinta Monon

Birth and death: December 12, 1920-June 4, 2009

Category: Weaver (abaca ikat or inabel)

Place of birth: Bansalan, Davao del Sur

Habal by Salinta Monon

Salinta Monon had started weaving since she was 12 years old, under the tutelage of her mother. At a
young age, she had already exhibited skill and talent in inabel weaving, which is a form of ikat weaving.
Her dedication to her craft may be attributed to her aspiration to learn the art of her ancestors. She had
continuously woven throughout her life, and her skills were so well-refined that she can recognize a
design and its weaver with just one look.

Her works are known for their intricate designs and quality. Her works are priced high not only for their
quality but also the time it takes to create a piece of garment. A typical Bogobo tubular skirt that
measures 3.5 meters by 0.42 meters takes about three to four months to finish.

At the time of her award, she and her sister were the only Bogobo weavers left in their community. She
hoped that regardless of the distractions and pressures of the modern world, other women would take
up this traditional craft to preserve and continue their ethnic community's cultural heritage.

Alonzo Saclag

Birth: August 4, 1942

Category: Musician, dancer, and preservationist

Place of birth: Lubugan, Kalinga Province

Alonzo Saclag was the genius of Kalinga dance and performing arts. He dedicated himself to the
promotion and preservation of the Kalinga culture for the benefit of his tribe and others.

Through careful observation and practice, he was able to master the Kalinga musical instruments and
ritualistic dance movements. He readily passed on his knowledge to the young in hopes that they too
may learn and appreciate their cultural heritage.

Some of his preservation efforts include the revival of the gangsaor the Kalinga gong, which was on the
brink of disappearing. He successfully petitioned that the capitol building be turned into a museum
where their cultural artifacts can be exhibited and preserved, hence the creation of the Lubuagan
branch of the National Museum. He campaigns in schools to teach children the folk songs their
grandparents used to sing. He lobbies at local radio stations to also promote and play the traditional
songs of the Kalinga. He has also established the Kalinga Budong Dance Troupe that showcases the rich
performing arts of the region.

He dreams that someday he would be able to create a showcase Kalinga village where the rich culture
and artistry of his people can be shown, This village will also serve as an ecological safe haven where
visitors can walk around and hear and feel nature. He believes this village would create and sow a deep
sense of pride among his people and in turn help preserve their Kalinga heritage.

Federico Caballero

Birth: December 25, 1938

Category: Epic chanter (sugidanon)

Place of birth: Calinog, lloilo

Stories and traditional folklore are important and powerful. They can change lives and mold beliefs. It is
because of this that Federico Caballero, a Panay-Bukidnon, was awarded the GAMABA. Using the lessons
he has learned from these stories, Federico Caballero, or more fondly known as Nong Pedring, is a
respected arbiter in his community, dispensing advice to those who seek it.

Federico has dedicated himself in the documentation and preservation of his ethnic community's oral
traditions that include his people's epics which without him would have surely been lost.

Federico's love for his people's epics began when he was a child. His mother would chant these tales
while swaying the crib, and sometimeshis great grandmother would chant these epics with his other
siblings.

The heroes of these tales would strike his imagination and with it his interest in his community's rich and
colorful folktales grew. His interest in the tales soon drove him to learn these chants for himself, often
asking him to be taught a chant in exchange for his chores. He quickly learned the ten epics of his
community along with other oral literature. He has since then collaborated with researchers and
scholars in documenting the epics known as the Humadapnon and Labaw Donggon.

His passion and pride for his Panay-Bukidnon heritage has brought him to many barangays, trying to
convince the elderly to learn to readand write, which in turn they can use to write down their
communities' indigenous beliefs, traditions, and stories.

His influence has gone far beyond just his community. He has opened the eyes of many academics and
artists to the beauty of the Panay-Bukidnon oral traditions.

Uwang Ahadas

Birth: February 15, 1945

Category: Musician (Yakan specifically kulintang, kwitangan kayu, gabbang, agung, and tuntungan)

Place of birth: Lamitan, Basilan

Uwang Ahadas became blind when he was about 5 years old. With the sense of hearing becoming a
primary sense, music became an integral part of his life. Ahadas is a Yakan, an ethnic dommunity that
has a rich musical heritage. Music for the Yakans is part and parcel of their community life.

Coming from a community whose life is ingrained in music, it was not a surprise that Uwang Ahadas
grew up with an affinity for music. He was especially lucky than most, having a family that has strong
musical background. He first learned through observation, eventually trying and learning the different
Yakan musical instruments.

Through his determination and skill, he was able to master a number of musical instruments such
gabbang (bamboo xylophone) and agung (traditionally male musical instrument). He was also able to
break tradition by learning a traditionally female instrument, the kwintangan. He was not satisfied with
just learning how to play these instruments; he dreams that others will also learn to play these
traditional musical instruments too.

He has traveled all over Basilan to teach other people his art, and he is proud to say that some of his
students have become masters as well and are respected by the Yakan community.

His brother has shared his passion, documenting Uwang's method of instruction and creating a notation
system to make instruction easier. Although his age has advanced and his health has deteriorated, he
has continued his vocation to spread the music of the Yakan.

Darhata Sawabi

Death: March 12, 2005

Category: Weaver (pis syabit)

Place of birth: Parang, Sulu

Pis syabit is a woven traditional headgear of the Tausug in Jolo. It is traditionally made by the women of
the community, which is passed on from generation to generation.

One of the most renowned pis syabit weavers is Darhata Sawabi. Weaving offers additional income to
the Yakan women. Her skill in making these handwoven garments has made her self-sufficient, often
making her product sell more than normal market price.

Her dedication to the quality of her work is recognized by her community. Her works have been
preserved so that others who would take up the craft could have works for study and reference.
Through the she has taken on several apprentices who could continue her work after she has passed.
Eduardo Mutuc

Birth: October 12, 1949

Category: Metalsmith or metal sculptor (bronze and silver)

Place of birth: Apalit, Pampanga

Pukpok Pilak by Eduardo Mutuc

Eduardo Mutuc is recognized for his religious and secular art that uses silver, bronze, and Wood, His
works are often seen in intricately carved retablos, altars, and carrosas or parade floats. Many of his
works are in the collections of churches and other private collectors.

He learned quite the art of metal plating in his early thirties while he was a furniture maker, A colleague
of his taught him silver plating, a technique that copied gold and silver leaf decorations found in many
religious artworks. One of his early works was a tabernacle commissioned by Monsignor Fidelis
Limcauco. The quality of his workBcaught the eye of other patrons, and his business has grown from
therebon.

His religious and secular pieces often incorporate Spanish colonialbdesigns. Careful planning is needed
with each piece since any mistakebcan be quite costly. He teaches his students to learn the basics
includingbthe proper handling of tools to master one's craft.

Haja Amina Appi

Birth and death: June 25, 1925-April 2, 2013

Category: Weaver (mat)

Place of birth: Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi

Tepo by Haja Amina Appi

In the ethnic community of Sama of Ungos Matata, Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi, the mat weaving tradition is
passed from mother to daughter. One of the masters of this craft is Haja Amina Appi. Her creations are
noted for their complex and precise geometric motifs that showcase her inherent eye for color, design,
proportion, and symmetry. Each of her creations require patience and stamina since a single mat can
take as long as three months to make.

The weaving process starts with the harvest and selection of pandan leaves. These leaves are stripped of
their sharp and thorny exterior and then sun-dried and pressed. The leaves are then dyed and woven.
As an uncompromising artist, Haja is not content with the dull commercial dyes available but has instead
developed her own tint to create her bright and vibrant mats. Her designs can contain up to eight colors.

Haja Amina has earned great esteem from her community due to her unique and anmazing work. She is
not selfish with her work but instead feels great pride when people learn and copy her designs. She is
eager to share and teach her knowledge with other practitioners of the craft.

Teofilo Garcia

Birth: March 27, 1941

Category: Casque maker (tabungaw)

Place of birth: San Quintin, Abra

Tabungaw used by Teofilo Garcia

The tabungaw is a traditional casque or headpiece used to shield one from the elements. It is
traditionally found in the Northern Region of the Philippines. One of the most notable and respected
makers of the tabungaw is Teofilo Garcia of San Quintin, Abra.

His casques are made of hollowed and polished native gourd (upo).bThe inside is lined with fine woven
rattan while the exterior is varnished with an orange sheen and the brim decorated with a bamboo
weave.

His works are both artistic and functional and has resulted in Teofilo receiving hundreds of orders for his
tabungaw. His works are so well-made that a tabungaw can last for generations. Unfortunately, he is the
only one who has mastered this craft as there has been little interest from other artisans to create the
headgear, and as of writing, none of his students have mastered the crafts with the same level of skill as
him.

Even with these setbacks, he has not stopped experimenting and improving his craft. He admits that to
this day he is still perfecting his craft, continuously experimenting with different types of gourds and
materials. Every year he showcases his new designs in trade fairs.

Magdalena Gamayo

Birth: August 13, 1924

Category: Master weaver (inabel)

Place of birth: Pinili, llocos Norte

Magdalena Gamayo is the master weaver of llocos Norte. She is one of the stalwarts of abel (blanket)
weaving tradition in llocos Norte. As a master weaver, her experience has taught her how to procure
qualitybmaterials for her abels. Her blankets are a cut above others, exhibitingbhigh thread count and
intricate and colorful designs.

Magdalena is self-taught in the creation of the traditional patterns of her designs, which include the
inuritan (geometric designs), kusikos (spiral patterns like that of oranges), and the most difficult one
which is sinan-sabong (flowers). Since she does not have samples, she recreates her designs from
memory. These designs she has taught and passed on to her many students throughout the years.

Her years of weaving experience has given her an instinctive feel of not just the quality of threads but as
well as the correct tension to use to ensure a sturdy and smooth finished product. Her skill and
experience are evident with the clear and evenly spaced patterns and durability of her cloth, Her work is
described as intricate and precise while delicate- characteristics that can never be replicated by
machine-woven fabrics.

REVIEW

• Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) is an award given to the best traditional artists of the
Philippines.

• Republic Act No. 7355 is the law that created the National Living Treasures Award in 1992.

• Manlilikha ng Bayan is the term used to refer to a person who has received the GAMABA.

• National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) is the government agency in charge of the
preservation and development of the culture, traditions, institutions, and well-being of Muslim Filipinos
in conformity with the country's laws and in consonance with national unity and development.

• National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) is the government agency given charge of
protecting the rights of the indigenous people of the Philippines.

Lesson 3

Other Recognitions Given to Filipino Visual and Performing Artists

Кey Terms

 The Outstanding Young Men (ΤΟΥM)

 The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL)
  Thirteen Artists Awards (TAA)
 Gawad CCP Para sa Sining

The Order of the National Artists Award and the National Living Treasures are the highest recognitions
an artist could receive as a Filipino. But there are many other awards an artist could strive for. In fact,
most of the National Artists were recognized by these award- giving bodies before they were awarded
the country's highest artistic recognition.

On the next page are some of the most notable and respected award-giving bodies for the visual and
performing arts.

The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM)

The Outstanding Young Men or TOYM is given to men and women between ages of 18-40 who have
shown selfless dedication to their profession, resulting in outstanding their individual fields and the well-
being of their fellows.

The TOYM Awards was started by the Manila chapter of the Jaycees in April 6, 1959. The Jaycees stand
for the Junior Chamber International, which is a multinational civic organization. The awards was later
adopted into a nationwide project of the organization October later that year.

A foundation was put up in 1990 with the help of the Jaycee National Officers and the former TOYM
Awardees to support the annual search. In 1996, the award was changed to TOYF or The Outstanding
Young Filipinos to give equal opportunity for women even if women have been recipients of the awards
since 1984. In 1999, the name was changed back to TOYM to respect the original name of the award and
to emphasize that "men" in the name of the award refers to both genders.

Throughout its conception, the award has become a respected and coveted award. It has maintained its
reputation for its quality awardees.

TOYM Visual and Performing Arts Awardees (1959-2016)

1959

Napoleon Abueva - Sculpture

Aurelio Estanislao - Music

Leandro Locsin – Architecture

1960

Cirio Santiago - Film

Oscar Yatco – Music

1961

Jose Joya Jr. - Visual arts

Gilopez Kabayao – Music

1962

Benjamin Tupas - Music

1963

Mauro Malang Santos - Visual arts

1964

Rodolfo Ragodon - Visual arts

1966

Reynaldo Reyes - Music

1967

Rolando Tinio – Theater

1968

Abdulmari Imao - Arts and culture

1971

Eduardo Castrillo – Sculpture

1972

Manuel Duldulao - Visual arts

1974

Jose Mari Chan – Music

1975

Lino Brocka – Film

1978

Ryan Cayabyab – Music

1979

Raul Isidro - Visual arts

1984

Pacita Abad - Visual arts

1986

Raul Sunico - Music

1987

Cecile Licad – Music

1988

Josephine Carmen Barredo - Theater and dance

1989

José Iñigo Homer Ayala – Music

1989

Rene Villanueva - Theater

1990

Lea Salonga - Music and theater

1991

Cesare Augusto Syjuco - Visual arts

1992

Nicolas Armada Deocampo – Film

1994

Grace Nono Aves – Music

1995

Lisa Elizalde - Dance

Carlos Siguion-Reyna – Film

1996

Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz - Music

1997

Josefino Toledo – Music

1999

Manuel Simplicio "Fr. Manoling" Francisco - Music

2000

Alfonso "Coke" Bolipata – Music

2001

Juan Sajid Imao - Sculpture

Edgardo Jose Martin "Gary" Valenciano – Music

2002

Eduardo Calma - Architecture

Antonio "Tony" Maigue - Music

Rafé Totengco - Fashion design

2003

Kenneth Cobonpue - Industrial design

2004

Gerard Rey Lico - Architecture

Sharon Cuneta Pangilinan - Film

2005

Beethoven "Michael V." Bunagan - Broadcast arts

2006

Michael Allen Cacnio – Sculpture

2009

Raymund Joseph "Rajo" Teves Laurel - Fashion design

2010
Maria Rachelle Gerodias - Music

Beatrice "Bea" Valdes - Fashion design

2011

Gerard Salonga – Music

2012

Allan Lindo “Apl.de.ap" Pineda Jr. – Music

2015

Sofronio Fortich Jr. – Music

2016

Saturnino Tiamson - Arts and music

2016

Jhett Tolentino - Theater arts

The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL)

A counterpart of the TOYM is The Outstanding Filipino or TOFIL

Award. The following is the set of qualifications to be nominated for the

award:

 Filipino citizen (natural-born, naturalized citizen, or bearing dual citizenship)

 At least 41 years old
 Has good moral character
 Has made noteworthy contributions to his/her profession or to the development of the nation
TOFIL Visual and Performing Arts Awardees (1989-2012)

1989

Lucrecia Kasilag – Music

1990

Zenaida M. Amador – Theater

1992

Jose T. Joya - Visual arts

1994

Dionisio S. Salazar - Literature or theater

1995

Alfredo S. Buenaventura - Music

1996

Onofre R. Pagsanghan - Theater or education

1997

Andrea Veneracion - Music

2004

Francisco Manosa – Architecture

2005

Ben Farrales - Fashion design

2006

Ramon Orlina – Sculpture

2008

Rustica Carpio - Film or theater

2008

Mary Placid Lorna C. Abejo, O.S.B. - Music

2010

Shirley Halili-Cruz – Dance

2012

Jose F. Datuin - Sculpture

Thirteen Artists Awards (TAA)

Started in 1970 by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Thirteen Artists Awards was created to
motivate upcoming generations of visual artists. The name of the awards was coined by CCP Director
Roberto Chabet who likened the initial set of awardees to the Thirteen Moderns who pioneered the
modernist movement in the Philippines.

The recipients of the awards are varied and offer no standard template, like that of the constantly
changing and evolving face of art in the Philippines. Awardees were often avant-garde in their concept
and experimental with their work that their collections are often expressed in varying forms and media.
Initially, the awards were given every two years but later changed to every three years in 2009. This
change was made to better see the progression of art styles and trends and how artists tackle and
answer artistic challenges.

The selection process has also changed. At first, the selection of artists was made by the CCP visual
director, but as of 1988 the selection is processed through nominations of different art councils and
organizations in the Philippines. This has made the set of awardees a better representation of the
different contemporary art forms present in the country.

Awardees have their works displayed in the Bulwagang Juan Luna, which is the CCP Main Gallery, and
receive cash prizes and a trophy.
The following are the qualifications for an artist to be nominated for

the Thirteen Artists Awards:

• Filipino citizenship
 Less than 40 years old in the year of conferment.
 Has artworks relevant to the present situations
 Has work presented in a form of contemporary art

• Has work evident of integrity, uniqueness, and thought-provoking ideas

• Has been continuously producing artworks as documented through solo and group exhibitions

• Nominated by one of the following people or organizations:

a. art councils

b. art groups

C. heads or deans of art schools

d. museum or gallery curators

e. art critics

f. former TAA awardees

TAA Visual and Performing Arts Awardees (1970-2015)

1970

Noel Manalo

Ray Albano

Virgilio Aviado

Angelito Antonio

Ben Maramag

Eduardo Castrillo

Benedicto Cabrera

Restituto Embuscado

Manuel Rodriguez Jr.

Marciano Galang

LambertovHechanova

Jaime de Guzman

Antonio Austria

1972

Joe Bautista

Danilo Dalena

Paul Dumol

Rodolfo Gan

Alredo Liongoren

Johnny Manahan

Sofronio Mendoza

Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi

Justin Nuyda

Romulo Olazo

Mario Parial

Ibarra dela Rosa

Alan Rivera

1974

Dindo Angeles

Yolanda Perez-Johnson.

Felix Padilla Jr.

Manuel Soriano

Glenn Bautista

Efren Lopez

Tony Perez

Boldy Tapales
Ely Gajo

Fernando Modesto

Rodolfo Samonte

Nestor Vinluan

Nap Jamir II

1976

Huge Bartolome

Amable Aguiluz VI

lleana lee

Judy Freya Sibayan

Litz Nievera Benipayo

Herminigildo Tecson

Gus Albor

Impy Pilapil

Genera Banzon

Santiago Bose

Eva Toledo Rivera

Lao Lianben

Susan Dela Rosa-Aragon

1978

Mercy Acosta

Benjie Cabangis

Ginny Dandan

Lani Maestro

Mariano Del Rosario

Jacinto Sotto
Phyllis Zaballero

1980

Luis "Junyee" Yee

Nelfa Querubin

Ces Avanceña

Roderico Jose Daroy

1988

Roberto Feleo

Agnes Arellano

Peter de Guzman

Pardo De Leon

Dan Raralio

Popo San Pascual

Jose Tence Ruiz

Gerardo Tan

1990

Norberto Carating

Leonilo Doloricon

Renato Habulan

Pablo Baen Santos

Jean Marie Syjuco

Charlie Co

Imelda Calipe-Endaya

Sid Gomez Hildawa

Julie Lluch Dalena

Antipas Delotavo
R.M. De Leon

Roy Veneracion

Edgar Talusan Fernandez

1992

Paz Abad Santos

Fil Delacruz

Willy Magtibay

Lazaro Soriano

Nunelucio Alvarado

Brenda Fajardo

Onib Olmedo

Cesare Syjuco

Tommy Hafalla

Soler Santos

Sandra Torrijos

Manuel Baldemor

Roberto Villanueva

1994

Elmer Borlongan

Antonio Leaño

Alwin Reamillo

Edwin Wilwayco

Noel Cuizon

Mark Justiniani

Arlene Villayer

Jonathan Olazo

Francesca Enriquez
Ferdinand Montemayor

2000

Ronald Achacoso

Emmanuel Garibay

Katti Sta. Ana

Bernardo Pacquing Jr.

Jose John Santos III

Neil Manalo

Karen Ocampo Flores

Juan Alcazaren

Sari Raissa Lluch Dalena

John Frank Sabado

Leo Gerardo Leonardo

Alfredo Esquillo Jr.

Claro Ramirez Jr.

2003

Leonardo Aguinaldo

Kiko Escora

Geraldine Javier

Ronald Ventura

Andres Barrioquinto

Nona Garcia

Ronaldo Ruiz

Reg Yuson

Ringo Bunoan
Dennis Gonzales

Wire Tuazon

Eric Zamuco

Mideo Cruz

2006

Poklong Anading

Eugene Jarque

Yasmin Sison-Ching

Daniel Coquilla

Jeho Bitancor

Louie Cordero

Jayson Oliveria

Mac Valdezco

Mariano Ching

Lyra Garcellano

Gary Ross Pastrana

Jevijoe Vitug

Lena Cobangbang

2009

Buen Calubayan

Kawayah De Guia

Raya Martin

Jaypee Samson

Winner Jumalon

Iggy Rodriguez

Pamela Yan-Santos

Christina Dy
Raquel De Loyola

Don Djerassi Dalmacio

Don Salubayba MM Yu

Patricia Eustaquio

2013

Joey Cobcobo

Robert Langenegger

Leeroy New

Mark Salvatus

Michael Muñoz

Kaloy Olavides

Rodel Tapaya

Marina Cruz

Kiri Lluch Dalena

Riel Hilario

Wawi Navarroza

Renan Ortiz

Constantino Zicarelli

2015

Buen Abrigo

Vermont Coronel

Nikki Luna

Mark Valenzuela

Martha Atienza

Dexter Fernandez

Hanna Pettyjohn
Alvin Zafra

Zean Bajar Cabangis

Mervy Pueblo

Mark Andy Garcia

Jeona Zoleta

Ernest Concepcion

The Gawad CCP Para sa Sining is the highest award the Cultural Center of the Philippines can give to
artists or groups of artists whose body of work has constantly shown high quality and has contributed to
the development of their chosen art form. It was first given posthumously in 1977 to Hubertus Kuhne
for cultural administration. It was then given annually until 1994. After 1994 the awards have been given
every three

The award recognizes artists of the following art forms: visual arts. music, dance, theater, film,
literature, broadcast arts, technical theater and production design, and it has four categories.

Cațegory A is given to artists or groups of artists that have continuously produced high quality work. This
category also includes artists who have created or developed a unique style that contributes to the
growth of their art. Artists who have won distinctions from respected national and international
competitions are also included in this category.

Category B is for artists or groups of artists that have made great contributions to the development of
their art and craft in their region, whether of birth or residence. years.

Category C recognizes people and cultural workers who have contributed to the cultural development of
art in the country through research, curatorship, and administration.

Category D acknowledges artists or groups of artists that have significantly developed and promoted
arts and culture as well as support for local cultural activities.

Also given during the awarding ceremony is the Tanging Parangal ng CCP, which is given to a person or a
group for their contribution and efforts that have made important and positive change to Philippine art.

Many of the past awardees of the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining would later become recognized as
Philippine National Artists, such as Arturo Luz, Cesar Legaspi, Jose Joya, Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero, Daisy
Hontiveros Avellana, F. Sionil Jose, N.V.M. Gonzalez, Andrea Veneracion, Jose Maceda, Levi Celerio,
Ishmael Bernal, Lino Brocka, and Eddie Romero.
Gawad CCP Para sa Sining

Visual and Performing Arts Awardees (1977-2015)

1977

Hubertus Kuhne – Cultural administration

1978

Aurelio S. Estanislao - Music

1979

Hernando R. Ocampo - Visual arts

1982

Luis C. Valencia - Music

1983

Rosario Picazo - Music

1984

Conchita Gaston Holmes - Music

1986

Miguel Velarde Jr. - Music

1989

Category A

Alice Reyes - Dance

Jose Maceda - Music

Wilfredo Ma. Guerrero - Theater

F. Sionil Jose - Literature

Arturo Luz - Visual arts

Lino Brocka – Film

Category B

Ramon Muzones - Literature

Category C

E. Arsenio Manuel - Cultural research

1990

Paz Cielo Belmonte - Dance

Category A

Andrea Veneracion - Music

Daisy Hontiveros Avellana - Theater

N.V.M. Gonzalez - Literature

Cesar Legaspi - Visual arts

Ishmael Bernal - Film

Category B

Abdulmari Asia Imao- Visual arts

Category C

Francisco Demetrio, SJ - Cultural research

Alejandro Roces - Tanging Parangal

1991
Category A

Levi Celerio -Music

Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) - Theater

Jose Joya - Visual arts

Eddie Romero – Film

Category B

Juan S.P. Hidalgo Jr – Literature (regional)

Category C

Sinala Subli Goup - Dance

Amal Lumuntod - Folk music

Category D

Bienvenido Lumbera - Cultural research

Purita Kalaw-Ledesma - Tanging Parangal

1992

Category A

Maniya Barredo - Dance

Onofre Pagsanghan - Theater

Genoveva Edroza-Matute - Literature

Ramon Tapales - Literature

Ben Cabrera - Visual arts

Category C

Elena Gardoce Folk music and literature

Category D
Damiana Eugenio Cultural research

Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature - Tanging Parangal

1993

Category A

Ramon A. Obusan - Dance

Dalisay J. Aldaba - Music

Rolando S. Tinio - Theater

Liwayway A. Arceo - Literature

Antonio "Tony" S. Velasquez - Visual arts

Mary Walter – Film

Category B

Gardeopatra G. Quijano - Regional literature

Category C

Samahang Nazareno - Folk theater

Category D

Cebuano Studies Center - Cultural research

1994

Category A

Rosalia Merino Santos - Dance

Cecil Licad - Music

Natividad Crame-Rogers - Theater

Gregorio Brillantes - Literature

Mauro Malang Santos - Visual arts

Anita Linda - Film

Category B

Teresita Pil - Regional dance

Category D

Gilda Cordero-Fernando - Publishing or literature

Movie Workers Welfare Foundation Inc. (MOWELFUND) - Tanging Parangal

1997

Category A

Nena Del Rosario - Dance

Corazon Iñigo - Music

Amelia Lapeña Bonifacio - Theater

Teodoro L. Hidalgo - Technical theater

Category B

Sining Kambayoka

Category C

Nicanor G. Tiongson

National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) - Tanging Parangal

Eddie Elejar - Dance

2004

Category A

Ryan Cayabyab - Music

Cecile Guidote-Alvarez - Theater

Peque Gallaga - Film

Cheche Lazaro - Broadcast arts

Santiago P. Bose - Visual arts

Rene O. Villanueva - Literature

Francisco Mañosa – Architecture

Category B

Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation Inc. (BKFI)

Category C

Doreen G. Fernandez

Mindulani Inc.

Antonio O. Cojuanco - Tanging Parangal

2008

Category A

Felicitas L. Radaic - Dance

Gilopez and Corazon Kabayao - Music

Felix Monino S. Duque - Theater

Malou L. Jacob - Literature

Francisco V. Coching - Visual arts

Manuel Conde - Film

Jose R. Moreno Jr. - Fashion design

Category B

Rev. Fr. Rodrigo D. Perez III - Philippine Folk Dance Society

Dom Bernardo Ma, Perez, OSB. - Tanging Parangal

2012
Category A

Ramon P. Santos - Dance

Agnes D. Locsin - Music

Zenaida A. Amador - Theater

Cirilo F. Bautista - Literature

Brenda V. Fajardo - Visual arts

Rodolfo "Dolphy" V. Quizon - Film and broadcast arts

Category B

Florentino H. Hornedo

Silliman University National Writers ers Workshop - Tanging Parangal

2015

Denisa Reyes - Dance

Fides Cuyugan Asensio - Music

Antonio Mabesa - Theater

Roberto Chabet - Visual arts

Ricardo Lee - Literature

Nora Villamor a.k.a. Nora Aunor - Film and broadcast arts

Paulo Alcazaren - Architecture

Ben Farrales - Design

The Missionary Society of St. Columban - Tanging Parangal

Leoncio Deriada - Literature

Talaandig School of Living Traditions - Culture

Armida Siguion-Reyna - Musical theater and film

Basilio Esteban Villaruz - Dance and cultural research

Page 1

oadcast arts

• Music

Provide appropriate reasons and evidences for your choices.

Activity

5- Research

Research on other organizations that honor and recognize people

who excel in the fields of the visual and performíng arts. Provide their

history and requirements, and list down some of their most notable

awardees.

REVIEW

• TOYM or The Outstanding Young Men Awards is the recognition

given by the Jaycees to young men and women between the ages

of 18-40 who have shown selfless dedication to their profession,

resulting in outstanding contributions to their individual fields

and to the well-being of their fellows.

• TOFIL stands for The Outstanding Filipino. This award is also

given by the Jaycees. It was first given in 1988 in partnership

with Insular Life honor to Filipino men and women ages 41 and

above who have served as models in their individual fields. .

TAA or Thirteen Artists Awards is given by the CCP to up-and-

coming visual artists who represent the changing and evolving

face of Philippine art. It is given every three years.

• The Gawad CCP Para sa Sining is the highest award the Cultural

Center of the Philippines can give to artists or groups of artists

whose body of work has constantly shown high quality and has

contributed to the development of their chosen art form.

UNIT 3

Contemporary Artists Who Use Indigenous Materials or Inspirations for Their Art

Lesson 1

Кey Terms

• Rodel Tapaya
• Dexter Sy
• Ronald Riel Jaramillo Hilaro
• Clifford Espinosa
• John Paul Antido
• Ricky Ambagan
• Aze Ong
• Alma Quinto
• Mariano Amar Catague
• Peter James Fantinalgo
• Rameer Tawasil
• Moreen Austria
• Nunelucio Alvarado
• Saudi Ahmad
• Manuel Pañares
• Bert Monterona
• Martino Abellana
• Abdulmari Imao

In the contemporary times, more and more artists are trying to find new and innovative ways to express
themselves. Many contemporary Filipino artists turn to their cultural heritage and indigenous materials
for inspiration. The results are often exciting and surprising. These artworks are certainly avant-garde
yet rooted in Filipino culture.

The following lessons tackle the different contemporary artists from the different areas of the
Philippines and their body of work that is inspired by their heritage. The first lesson in this unit deals
with a selection of visual artist from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao their talents but also the innovative
ways they use indigenous materials to create artworks that are uniquely Filipino. The second lesson in
this unit It is hoped that by the end of the unit you will be inspired to find your focuses on the different
performing artists and groups in the archipelago and their creative performances that are inspired by
the traditional and indigenous culture own way to express yourself through art and will be proud of our
rich Filipino culture.
CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ARTISTS

Artists can be inspired by many factors. Their work is dictated by the combination of these elements that
most of the time, even if the subject is the same, the output varies from one another.

One of the strongest factors that influence the work of artists is their environment. The way they were
raised and the experiences they had with the society they grew up in would be a rich source of subjects
and inspirations they could draw their work from.

There are some artists who do not only use their environment as inspiration but also their culture and
heritage. These artists use familiar materials and media and connect to them and their country. Their
works result in arts that are both a representation of them and of their country.

This lesson will showcase contemporary Filipino artists from the different parts of the archipelago who
have shown innovation in their crafts, resulting in arts that promote and enhance Philippine
contemporary art.

It must be noted that like all things, artists' styles will change. What may be their inspiration now may
not be the same one in a few years. The content of their art goes through changes, and many will
experiment as they progress in the development of their arts.

The artists and examples set here are some of the innovations the artists have done at one point or
another in their careers that showcase elements of their cultural heritage. Their current works might not
have the same flavor and style, but this does not mean they have abandoned their cultural roots.
Rather, they have grown and flourished in other means of their expression. It does not signify that it is
not good, rathei it is just different.

In hopes of showcasing the broad spectrum of the contemporary artists in the Philippines, this lesson is
divided to showcase the different contemporary artists of the country's three main island groups.

Luzon

Rodel Tapaya

Rodel Tapaya hails from Bulacan. He is a multi-awarded Filipino artist winning art contests here and
abroad. He got his break when he won the top prize in the Nokia Art Award, dominating other artists
from the Asia-Pacific region. He was given the opportunity to study and train in New York and Finland,
and eventually graduated at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts.

Though Tapaya's medium is traditional, his paintings are not. He innovatively uses subjects inspired by
the culture and history of the Philippines. He also uses folk subjects and myths from Filipino folktales
such as manananggals, tikbalangs, and Bernardo Carpio to add symbolic meaning and relevance to his
viewers. These mythical elements are used as a commentary on the ills of society today. This direction of
his work was first seen in his solo exhibit abroad entitled Rodel Tapaya: Folkgotten (2008).
He used similar elements in his installation piece entitled Modern Manananggals (2013) wherein he
used the half-bodied monsters as an allegory to the pitfalls of a global society, where people seem to
lose touch with oneself.

One of Tapaya's notable works is Cane of Kabunian, Numbered but Cannot Be Counted, which was
inspired by folk stories and Philippine precolonial history. This won him the prestigious Signature Art
Prize in Singapore in 2011. His painting Mountain Fantasies uses the mythical Maria Makiling to warn us
about greed and the destruction of the environment.

Dexter Sy

Dexter Sy was born in Manila in 1979. He uses his mix heritage of being a Filipino-Chinese as his
inspiration for many of his works. These offer personal insights and commentary on the life of a Filipino-
Chinese. The result are artworks that are personal, self-deprecating, and honest. His works study the
differences and clash that arise from having a diverse and sometimes contradicting cultural heritage.

He says that art for him is not just about the piece itself but also the research thatgoes with it; he shares
that the research often takes a more significant time rather than the actual work on the art. He uses his
researches as the basis for his art concepts, since for him without the story and history, there will be no
art. Sy's Filipino-Chinese heritage comes naturally for him as he has long identified himself with his roots
and history. His mixed heritage can be seen in his use of Chinese folk arts and symbols, and borrowed
elements from traditional Chinese paintings and costumes. Filipino cultural influence is evident with
DNA (2015) by Dexter Sy his use of Catholic images, indigenous Filipino motifs, and ubiquitous Filipino
products. Notable works that showcase these interacting principles of his heritage include the following:

The Self Recognized by the Others (2015) is a portrait of Sy's family with faces painted in black and white
similar to that of the American rock band Kiss. He used this as an analogy to not generalize as he
explained that in the Philippines, when people find out that you are a Filipino-Chinese they
automatically assume that you are wealthy, which is not always true. The background is filled with
symbols and imagery from both Chinese and Filipino cultures.

DNA (2015) is an installation by Sy. He used the ubiquitous Good Morning towels as his chief medium.
These inexpensive hand towels made in China with the word "Good Morning" printed on them are often
used by Filipino workers and children to wipe their sweat away. These towels were hung from the ceiling
and interwoven with textile with indigenous Filipino designs to simulate a double helix strand of a DNA.
This installation was an amusing analogy of his Filipino-Chinese lineage.

Ronald Riel Jaramillo Hilario

Ronald Riel Jaramillo Hilario was born in San Vicente, llocos Sur in 1976. Hilario belonged to a family who
is famous in creating wood-carved santos and furnitures. He learned rebulto-carving from his uncle Jose
Lazo Jr., a local wood-carver. Using his family's woodcrafting heritage as an inspiration for his artworks,
he was able to distinguish himself from his contemporaries. He describes himself as a contemporary
artist who uses traditional wood-carving techniques. techniques, he also preserves and honors our
heritage.
His sculptural works give the unmistakable feel of the wood-carved religious iconography of Catholicism.
It is a trait that can be seen in almost all of his figurative sculptures. He believes that these sculptures
should not just be artifacts of our past but expressions of our worldviews, and thus our sense of identity.
He uses his inherited culture as a jumping- off point of his. artistic development. He advises all budding
Filipino artists to be more in touch of their culture before they start exploring. Study the history of their
ancestors so that they can better understand the world they live in and how their artistic expressions
can mediate and make their world better.

In 2004, he was chosen by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to be one of the
artists to exhibit for the Sungdu-an 3, a national traveling exhibition. This event cemented his legitimacy
as a contemporary Filipino artist. His works have brought him to different museums all over the
Philippines and has been invited to show pieces in Taiwan, New York, South Korea, and Brazil.

Other than his exhibits, he has also won numerous awards and recognitions. One of these prestigious
awards was being one of the awardees of the Thirteen Artists Awards (TAA) of the Cultural Center of the
Philippines.

Hilario is currently based in Antipolo City.

Clifford Espinosa

Clifford Espinosa is a Filipino architect, artist, and environmentalist. He believes that functional things
can be at the same time beautiful as seen in his furniture. His interest in art was already apparent since
he was a child, spending his spare time drawing and sketching.

When Espinosa was in college, he started exploring and experimenting with carving and was trained by
renowned activist and sculptor Jerry Araos. From there, he has designed and created sculptural and
functional masterpieces.

Clifford gets inspiration from indigenous forms of crafts. He applies the techniques he learned from
these traditional crafts on his own work, Such as assembling and creating furniture without the use of
nails. He measures and cuts each piece of wood perfectly so that each piece falls securely into place. He
believes that by replicating these indigenous techniques, he also preserves and honors our heritage.

Espinosa is also an environmentalist and that is why he is focused on green architecture. He creates
artworks from secondhand wood, which he buys from scrapyards. He does this to show people the
beauty of recycling and to teach the younger generation of conservation.

Espinosa's works are also his way to express social commentaries as seen in his work entitled LuzViMin.
This one is made of three separate tables that can function on its own, but when assembled together it
becomes an impressive long table. He made it to show that a united country achieves many great things.

John Paul Antido

Flower Rush (2013) by John Paul Antido

John Paul Antido was born in Antipolo in 1982. He is a Filipino contemporary painter whose works are
characterized by his use of impasto technique where paint is applied so thickly leaving visible brush
strokes in the finished work: His Filipino heritage can be seen in his figurative subjects where people are
in contemporary settings but are depicted wearing traditional Filipino costumes such as the barot saya,
bakya, etc. His paintings are said to be an allegory of the situation of the Filipinos where their psyche
seem to live in two contradicting eras when compared to the global situation.

Ricky Ambagan

Ricky Ambagan looks to the present Filipino daily grind for inspiration in his collection of. paintings
entitled Mga Langgam Sa Syudad. His collection of fifteen paintings on burlap depicts the chaotic and
crowded streets of Manila, One of. his paintings replicates a captured candid moment in the midst of
transit using distortion as a style. He compared the city dwellers to ants that are overly preoccupied
with. their own businesses. He finds interest in the impermanence of things, which he tries to capture in
his art.

To create this collection, Ambagan goes around the city with his digital camera in tow. He anonymously
photographs the people going about their everyday lives. He then downloads the images that he distorts
with the use of computer. The resulting image is what he uses digital camera in tow. He anonymously
photographs the people going as reference to make his almost hyperrealistic paintings. He believes that
his work is a way to honor the masses. Since most would not be able to see his works, he instead puts
the masses into his works.

Aze Ong

Aze Ong (b. 1977) is known for her colorful and organic forms made of crocheted threads. She grew up
in Antipolo City. As there were no ethnic groups in her community, she always felt that she was
constantly looking for her identity as she grew up. That is until she volunteered as a teacher in Kibangay,
Lantapan Bukidnon for a year in 1999 for the Associate Missionaries of the Assumption (AMA). Most of
her students belonged to the Talaandig group and immersed herself in their culture and tradition.

During her stay, she developed her style and art. She shares that the creative process involved in her
creation of her crocheted masterpieces are parallel with the Talaandigs. Her inspirations are from within
and nature. She says that she often invokes the spirits to guide her craft.

She does not use patterns when she creates her works and is one of the reasons why each and every
piece she makes is unique and original. She also says that her emotions are often expressed in her
artworks, making each one very personal. Art for her is a way of life. She also loves to make artworks
that she can use such as dresses, jewelries, bags, jackets, and blankets.

If you attend her exhibits, she opens with performances of ritual and dances to ask for guidance from
the gods and goddesses to celebratebthe ritual of creation. She believes that the creation of art should
be Shared with the audience and an exhibit is its.main celebration.
Success and recognition did not come easy for Aze Ong. Using Crochet as her medium, it was first not
accepted in galleries and otherbSpaces. She says that her works were intentionally left outside the
museum for exhibit in art competitions. There were times when the event organizers would not accept
her medium and singled her out.

Eventually, through the years, museums and institutions finally saw its uniqueness and finally accepted
her works. She credits her determination and perseverance for her success especially in a male
dominated field. She did not let the discouragement and doubt stop her from her purpose, which is to
show her art to others. She hopes that her expression as a woman, as a person, and as an artist can truly
make a difference.

Alma Quinto

Alma "Urduja" Quinto was born in 1961 in Urdaneta, Pangasinan. She is an artist, teacher, and cultural
worker who uses her talent and art to help communities that have been affected by natural and human-
made calamities.

She believes that art has a social responsibility to the community and that art can be used as a tool for
healing and collaboration.

Since 1995, she has partnered with different charitable and socio-civic Part of Alma Quinto's installation
Soft Dreams and Bed Stories at the 8th Havana Biennale organizations here and abroad to bring healing
and awareness. An example is her partnership with the CRIBS foundation and Bantay Bata with whom
she teach and encourage the children to use art as an outlet so that they can discover the good in
themselves and in turn become stronger to confront the many hardships they have encountered in their
young life. She illustrated a number of books including for On the Night of Sendong: Narratives of
Children Survivors, which shared the accounts of the children survivors of the typhoon Sendong that hit
Cagayan de Oro in 2011. Her works have been shown in numerous museums such as the CCP, the Lopez
Museum, and the Yuchengco Museum, and in various countries such as Norway and Japan in 2005.

She describes her style as "not static," She explains that since hel art projects often involve marginalized
communities, she often needs to adapt to communicate and collaborate to connect with people and ln
turn learn from, their experiences. Her themes are often about serious social issues. But in order to
connect with a broader range of audience, she makes her installations and soft sculptures alluring,
whimsical, playful, and colorful to get the attention of people especially the young.

This technique is evident in her installation work Soft Dreams and Bed Stories exhibited at the 8th
Havana Biennale in Cuba. Her work served as a vehicle to advocate empowerment of children through
the use of Philippine cultural icons to depict the narratives of girl survivors of abuse. The bed in the
collection was inspired by the babaylan, the precolonial priestess, healer, and leader. She adds that the
grounding of one's work on Filipino culture and heritage is important as artists and visual
communicators since it "strengthens our identity to know who we are."
VISAYAS

Peter James Fantinalgo and Moreen Austria

Visayan artists Peter James Fantinalgo and Moreen Austria

collaborated together in 2016 to create a collection entitled Lawig that

celebrates the unique relationship between the neighboring islands of

Negros and Panay. Lawig means "umbilical cord" in Hiligaynon, which

is quite apt given the island's history. These two provinces have long

been entwined with each other, sharing history and language that

resulted in a sort of sibling rivalry. The collection hopes for people to

reflect and reevaluate what they know about their region historically and

sociologically.

Ang Mga Pangayao (The Migrants) (2016) by Moreen Austria (mixed metal and wood) Butungay (Tug-of-
War) (2016) by Peter James Fantinalgo (mixed media)

Nunelucio Alvarado

Since the 1970s, Nunelucio Alvarado has been a prominent name in the art scene in the Philippines and
in Southeast Asia. He is currently based in Bacolod. Proud of his heritage, he often uses his work to raise
awareness on the Sakadas of Negros and the other marginalized people of the society. His many
paintings are often rooted in the problems his home province faces, namely, injustice and poverty.

His early works illustrated the sugar farmers indebted from birth to the land owners. His paintings are
often very bold in their expression and emotions. Many of his works are described as full of conflict and
demanding of the viewer's attention. His style is unmistakable, with his figures facing front and their
scale hierarchal with their importance to the message. He uses a lot of ornamentation that spirals from
his composition.

His more recent collection entitled Babaye was inspired by the women of the Visayas often endearingly
referred to as Inday. Although it tackles a much lighter theme, his depiction is anything but light. His
figures of women are made massive and full of symbolism such as the expressionless faces and the
exposed internal human structure. It is ornamented with spikes and thorns and zigzag patterns, all
adding to the intimidating feel of the paintings.

Manuel Pañares
Cebuano painter Manuel Pañares is known for his historical theme paintings. He believes in the power of
art as a medium of learning He creates realistic paintings of Cebu and Mindanao's historical events o a
way for his fellow Cebuanos to learn more about their history.

Pañares was born in December 1946 and began to paint as early as 3 years old. He has long favored to
paint subjects that dealt with etymology and history. His paintings exude expression and life and, at the
same time, become tableaus of historical events. They are like time machines that make viewers
witnesses of the events of the past. The accuracy of his works is very important to him, spending days
and even months researching and studying every detail that he would put in his paintings and ensuring
the historical accuracy of his works. Due to his diligence and passion, his works are often used by
museums and other institutions to serve as visuals for their exhibits.

His collection entitled Sugbo sa Karaang Panahon features paintings that show the precolonial times of
the Visayas and the tribes of Mindanao.

Martino Abellana

Martino Abellana, also known as "Noy Tinong," was an important personality in the development of art
in Cebu and the rest of the Visayas. He is acknowledged as the "Dean of Cebuano Painters." His
exposure to the arts started at an early age since he came from a family of artists.

He was an ‘in demand muralist and portraiture artist. He is also known for his seascapes depicting the
beautiful shores and beaches of Cebu.

He later became the head of the Fine Arts Department of the University of the Philippines, Cebu. He
served as a great inspiration and influence to generations of Visayan artists, one that can still be seen
decades after his death in 1988.

MINDANAO

Mariano Amar Catague

Catague's painting of a Lumad playing an indigenous instrument Mariano "Anoy" Amar Catague, born in
1967, was a Davao artist who depicts the Lumads in his figurative paintings. His passion for the
Indigenous tribes began when he had interacted with the Manuvu tribe

in Agusan del Norte. When he witnessed how the Lumads' peaceful way of living was destroyed by the
militarization in the area, he decided thatbhe would dedicate his artistic talents to them. In his paintings,
Catague often shows the native people in the serenity of their homeland. He would paint them in their
tribal attire, playing their indigenous musical instruments or doing their ordinary chores. The paintings
give a feel of serenity and peace but still calls attention to the suffering that the ethnic tribe faces as it is
often driven away from its sacred ancestral land.

Looking at Catague's paintings of the Lumads, you would notice his attention to facial expressions,
especially the eyes. He further emphasizes this feature with patterns of lines and dots. He also gives
emphasis to his figure's hands and feet by enlarging and ornamenting them. He believes that these are
important since these are the primary tools that the indigenous people use to make a living. Catague is
also a chronicler. During his time with the Manuvu, he videographed the Lumadnon theater group called
the Kaliwat Theater Collective that offered an authentic look of the performing arts of the Lumads. His
works have been shown in at least eight solo exhibitions and 38 group exhibitions here and abroad.

His passion and love for the Lumads of Mindanao have never waned in his art as he continues to raise
awareness on the social injustices the natives are experiencing. This passion of his has given him the
titleb"Painter of the Lumads."

Rameer Tawasil

The Vinta by Rameer Tawasil

The Vinta has always been an iconic symbol of Zamboanga. It is ubiquitously seen throughout the city,
but unfortunately to see a real one is far less likely. That is what Zamboanga artist Rameer Tawasil hopes
to change through his collection of paintings that depict the colorful Muslim vintas. He entitled the
collection The Poetry of the Sea Butterflies. And through it, he hopes to create a revival of the colorful

Tawasil was born in the town of Kalinggalan Caluang, Sulu. In his artworks, he often uses vibrant and
bold colors and applies indigenous Muslim motifs inspired by the okirs of the Maranao. His subjects are
often culled trom the rich cultural heritage of the Filipino Muslims.

His works are very popular to art connoisseurs with his works often being sold-out. Tawasil's paintings
are exhibited in the Philippines and in many countries all over the world such as UK, Germany, USA,
Malaysia, and South Korea.

Saudi Ahmad

Saudi Ahmad, based in 'Sibugay, Zamboanga, is said to be one of Mindanao's greatest painters. His
works have been displayed in many exhibits here and abroad. His clients include many prominent
businessmen and socialites. His works are often sold even before they are finished.

His works are inspired by the rich culture and tradition of the Filipino Muslims. His subjects are often
genre paintings of community life, with his figures garbed in colorful and detailed costumes. He believes
that through his work he can connect the values of the past to the present making it more relevant to
the younger generation.

His works are intricately made using his trademark technique that he calls subtraction, a process in
which he would apply watercolor on an area and then using a brush dipped in water he would erase or
lighten the applied watercolor. Using the watered brush, he would erase lines and patterns from the
painted area. It is a tedious and time-consuming process that entails a steady hand and precise
movements.
The Sibugay provincial government has submitted his name to be Considered for the National Artists
Award.

Bert Monterona

Bert Monterona was originally from Iligan City but is now based in Vancouver, Canada. Even if he is
abroad, he admits that the works that he does are heavily influenced by his indigenous roots. His works
are Known all over the world for his use of color, human figures, symbols, and motifs that cannot deny
his Filipino heritage. He believes that though it is good to study foreign works, one should not be fully
influenced by it. He says that an artist should still retain what he calls "basic native creativity" and use
local materials to create a more authentic art in terms of form and emotions. This, for him, is the way to
be truly unique and nationalistic.

Monterona is a mixed media artist who is known for his innovative use of indigenous materials for his
art, specifically for his tapestry paintings and bamboo stick paintings.

His tapestry paintings have bark-like quality through his use of dye and textile paint. His tapestry
paintings depict Filipino myths and rituals decorated with native motifs such as cloud scallops, triangular
mountains, flame, and leaf-like patterns created by the outgrowth of flora and the terrain. His figures
are dressed in traditional costumes complemented with jewelry, tattoos, okirs, regional artifacts, etc.

While conducting research on the local arts, he was inspired to develop a technique to use inexpensive
and readily available materials for his art. This resulted in his trademark technique-bamboo stick
painting. He uses textile paint applied on chipboard (the type used for cakes and gift boxes). He then
uses different sizes and widths of bamboo as a palette and brush to create his paintings.

Monterona is also known as a political artist. He uses his artworks to give commentaries on the issues of
the present. During the time of the Martial Law, he witnessed the social injustice the industry workers in
Mindanao faced. Throughout his career, he would often call attention to different social issues such as
human rights, economic condition, and feminism in the country. He believes that as an artist it is his
duty and responsibility to educate through art.

inspired by his Muslim faith such as calligraphy and arabesque patterns.

stylized depictions of the indigenous motifs such as the okir, sarimanok

Abdulmari Imao

The late Abdulmari Asia Imao is one of the most well-known visual artists from Sulu, Mindanao. He is a
painter, photographer, ceramist cultural researcher, documentary filmmaker, and sculptor. He was
recognized as a National Artist in 2006. Imao received trainings from different prestigious universities
here and abroad.

Imao's style is one of the most recognizable in contemporary art. His stylized depictions of the
indigenous motifs such as the okir, sarimanok and naga can easily be identified with him, He is also said
to be one o the reasons why Filipinos are more aware and knowledgeable of the cultural motifs. Being a
proud Muslim, he also uses elements that are inspired by his Muslim faith such as calligraphy and
arabesque patterns.

Lesson 2

Performing Artists Who Use Indigenous Techniques

Key Terms

 Baao Children and Youth

 Choir (BCYC)
 Lahing Batangan
 Dance Troupe
 Barasoain Kalinangan
 Foundation Inc. (BKFI)
 Jose Gomez
 Kabataang Silay Rondalla
 Ensemble (KSE)
 University of Visayas Chorale
 Kontemporaryong Gamelan
 Pilipino (Kontra-GaPi)
 Dagyaw Baile
 Kabpapagariya Ensemble
 Bayang Barrios
 Sining Kambayoka Ensemble
 Joey Ayala
 Amal Lumuntod
 Mebuyan Band
Throughout the archipelago, there are numerous individuals and groups who excel in different
performing arts. Through their dedication and commitment to hone and develop their talents, they have
brought honor to the country and enriched their crafts.

The following groups and individuals have become the country's pride as well as of their respective
provinces. These are noteworthy artists who deserve to be emulated by others. They are categorized by
the three main island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The artists presented are but a small sample of the performing artists In the Philippines. There are many
performing artists; each region has homegrown talents that bring pride to their hometowns and
provinces.

It would be almost impossible to catalog each and every performing artist from the different regions.

LUZON

Baao Children and Youth Choir (BCYC)

The Baao Children and Youth Choir (BCYC) is a choral group that started with student-artists from a
community and church-based choir of the Rosary School Incorporated and the Baao National High
School Special Programs in the Arts in Baao, Camarines Sur. It was formed in 2003 and was first known
as the Baao Youth Choir. Due to their talent they easily made name for themselves in the choir circuit. In
2014. they were renamed as the Baao Children and Youth Choir under the guidance of their present
conductor, Hermelino B. Briones.

The repertoire of the choir usually consists of a wide variety of musical genre and styles, including
exclusive performances of original works of named Filipino composers and arrangers.

The list of achievements of the BCYC include reaching the finals of National Music Competitions for
Young Artists (NAMCYA) Children's Choir Competition in 2004 and 2007, 1st place and "Best
Interpretation of the Contest Piece" in 2008. They won 1st place in the same competition in 2010 and
2013.

They also earned acclaim abroad, winning awards such as:

• Grand Prize in the 18th Certamen Juvenil de Habaneras (Torreviejas, Spain in 2012)

• Bronze Prize for both Youth Choir Category and the Ethnic Category as well as the Audience Prize
Award in the 9th Busan Choral Festival & Competitions (Busan, South Korea on 2013)

• Gold Prize for Youth Choir, Silver for the Ethnic Category, and the Audience Prize Award in the 11th
Busan Choral Festival & Competitions (Busan, South Korea in 2015)

 Third Prize for both Children Folk Song and Senior Children's Choir Category in the Llangollen
International Music Eistedfodd, the longest and oldest international choral competition in thevworld
(Wales, United Kingdom in 2017)
Other than competing here and abroad, the Baao Children and Youth Choir has performed in arts
festivals all over the country such as the Pasinaya Festival (2013 and 2016), Sining ay Buhay! Buhay ay
Sining! (2014), and Ugnayan sa Sining (2015). They have also been invited to perform to concert tours in
different countries all over the world such as Malaysia, Spain, United States, and United Kingdom. The
choral group. through its music, has continued to share to the world Filipino talent and the beauty of
Filipino music.

Lahing Batangan Dance Troupe

Lahing Batangan Dance Troupe of the Lyceum of the Philippines University, Batangas Citly Founded in
1996, the Lahing Batangan Dance Troupe is the official folk dance company of the Lyceum of the
Philippines University based in Batangas. The group performs dance concerts that feature an all- Filipino
repertoire.

The company regularly performs abroad to showcase Philippine folk dance. It has performed in various
countries such as Italy, Malaysia, and South Korea and has represented the country in various
international folk festivals.

Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation Inc. (BKFI)

Since its founding in the 1980s, the resident theater group of Bulacan-the Barasoain Kalinangan
Foundation Inc. (BKFI)-has. created and performed a good number of original plays. The company also
holds biannual Theater Laboratory Workshops whose outputs include creations of one-act plays.

As such, the BKFI serves as the theater school in Bulacan. In 2007, it created the BACH Institute, which
stands for the Bulacan Arts, Culture, and History Institute that endeavors to develop the rich cultural her
of the region. The group does this through trainings, research, and other educational activities. Another
laudable accomplishment of the group includes the promotion of the community theater that promotes
the culture of its home province. For its dedication to the advancement of its craft and heritage, the BFKI
was awarded the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining in 2004

Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino (Kontra-GaPi)

The Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino, or more popularly known as the Kontra-GaPi, is the local Ethnic
Music and Dance Ensemble of the College of Arts and Letters of the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Created in 1989, it had its early conception as a uniquely Filipino and Asian musical score for the
Dulaang UP's A Dream Play. Due to the success of the musical accompaniment and its ensemble, they
were encouraged to develop themselves into a separate performing group.
The group's name was inspired by the indigenous Asian orchestra called the gamelan. The gamelan is a
collection of various ethnic instruments such as the gongs, drums, xylophones, flutes and whistles; all of
which are traditionally used as accompanying music to Asian theater. When shortened, the group's
name has another layer of meaning and symbolism: kontra means "to oppose," while gapi means “to tie
down." When taken together, it tells of the group's stance against any suppression of creative
expression. The group firmly believes that Filipino music is worthy of showing to the rest of the world.

No auditions are done to members-the group may consist of 11 anyone who is interested in performing
regardless of experience or musical ability. With its vision and revolving pool of talents, their tours
throughout the country has brought their style of music to a broader audience, performing in a myriad
of venues from the theaters of the Cultural Center of the Philippines to the modest community
basketball courts and rice fields. The group has also been invited to perform all over the world through
the courtesy of festival organizers, embassies, and Filipino communities abroad.

VISAYAS

Jose Gomez

The "Music Man of Samar" is the moniker given to Jose Gomez. He is considered to be the most
productive composer of Samar songs. His interest in music started when he was a child, having parents
who are musically inclined. His professional musical career started as a member of the band called the
Cecilian. During the World War II, Gomez served as a guerilla soldier fighting against the Japanese. Even
as a soldier, his passion for music never waned and instead used his talents to entertain the soldiers.

During the war, he tragically lost his three sisters and a number of his band members in the hands of the
Japanese. This inspired him to compose "In the Wink of an Eye," a tribute to his lost siblings. The war
also moved him to write a song about the sweet potato, entitled "An Kamote," which was essential to
the survival of many families during the war.

After the war, he became a choirmaster for the Christ the King College (CKC) in Calbayog City. The choir
under his care performed throughout the city. He produced numerous songs during this time. The
musical compositions he wrote were used as church hymns, graduation marches, and Christmas songs
that were popular throughout the whole region.

His belief in the wealth of the Samar-Leyte culture inspired him to form the Cecilian Cultural Group that
consists of various members of the community. He is also a firm believer of the rights of composers. He
defended the copyright of his songs even at the cost of his health.

Throughout his career, he wrote more than 5,000 compositions and won several awards from different
music competitions and gained recognition for his effort albeit some posthumously. He died in February
1975.
Kabataang Silay Rondalla Ensemble (KSE)

The city of Silay has long been proud of their heritage. The efforts to preserve many of their historic
houses is proof of this. Its dedication can be seen not only in its heritage houses but also in its drive for
cultural development. As part of this focus in 1993, it created the Kabataang Silay Rondalla Ensemble
(KSE). The group is composed of the less fortunate youth of their community. It serves as a promoter of
the city's rich traditional folk dance and music.

The group has won awards and recognition from many regional, national, and eveninternational cultural
festivals. Today, the KSE continues to promote and showcase the musical heritage of the Philippines. It
has also expanded its repertoire and included contemporary classical, pop, and modern songs.

University of Visayas Chorale (UVC)

The University of Visayas Chorale was created in 1999 as a way to give opportunities and grant
scholarships to musically gifted students. The group has won numerous awards and has represented the
country in different competitions and choral festivals here and abroad.

Some of the achievements of the choral group include silver and bronze awards in the Busan Choral
Festival in South Korea in 2007,band three gold certificates from the different categories in the
Tomohon International Chorale Competition in 2009 in Indonesia. It was the only Filipino choir that
perfromed in Sydney, Australia in the 2008 World Youth Day. UVC also won three gold awards at the
CCP International Choral Competition in 2009 and in 2015.

The UVC continues to bring pride to their region as well as the country. Its repertoire of folk songs
promotes the rich musical heritage of the country. It is recognized as one of the best in the world as it
continues to bring home honors and awards to the country from the various international choral
festivals it has participated in.

Dagyaw Baile

The Dagyaw Baile, formerly known as the Dagyaw Theater and Dance Company, is composed of various
high school students in the School for the Arts, majoring in dance from lloilo National High School. It was
created in 1990 and has thirty-five members. The members, other than their regular load in school, are
required to join various classes such as acting, dancing, and music with ethnic instrumentation. Dagyaw
Baile's mission is to give talented students an opportunity to showcase and hone their talents, develop
their social skills, and appreciate the beauty

Unit 3: Contemporary Artists Who Use Indigenous Materials

of their national heritage.

As testament to its talent, it was already sent to perform around the country as well as in Thailand and
Japan during its first year. Its name continued to gain recognition and respect and was chosen to
represent the country in various festivals and events such as the World Expo in Spain in 1992, the ASEAN
Dance Festival in Manila in 1994, the International Festival for Experimental Theater in 1995 in Egypt,
and the Lisboa World Exposition in 1998 in Portugal. It has also been invited to perform in France, Spain,
Pakistan, Singapore, Germany, Italy, and Canada.

MINDANAO

Amal Lumuntod

Amal Lumuntod is one of the best kulintang players in Maguindanao. The music created by playing
kulintang is not written down in notes but is rather played from memory. And because of this, kulintang
music is open to personal rendition when memory does not suffice

Traditionally, the talent of the kulintang player is based on how similar the music sounds to the original.
This is why Amal Lumuntod stands out. He is able to create numerous variations on. previously
performed kulintang music.

Amal learned the kulintang by imitating other kulintang players in the community. He developed his new
styles and techniques that rekindled interest in the kulintang among the younger generation.

Mebuyan Band

The Mebuyan band started from a theater and musical group project in 2001 called the Mebuyan Peace
Project. It was composed of eighteen female artists based in Mindanao. Mebuyan is derived from the
name of a goddess in Manobo and Bagobo mythology who is supposed to be an underworld goddess
who nurtures the unborn. It is quite aptly named since the group responds to women's issues and
deyelops and nurtures artistic talents and interests in the children and women of the region.

During this time, it performed numerous musical and theatrical productions. Some notable
performances include Panaw and Salima in 2003, which dealt with war and its effects. In 2006, it
performed Uwahig. which was a dance-drama about the conflicts in Mindanao.

In 2007, the Mebuyan Peace Project was divided into, two groups, one group focused on music while
the other group focused on dance.

Unfortunately, only the music group remains active and is now called the Mebuyan band, The band
brought in male talents from the region. It received recognition for its promotion and patronage of
Mindanao music and culture. As of writing, the group has recorded two albums. with the most recent
one entitled Mga Kwentong Mindanaw.
Kabpapagariya Ensemble

Kabpapagariya Ensemble was conceived as a theater group that was dedicated to promote culture and
the arts, Kabpapagariya means "the act of making friends." And like friends, the group entertains Its
audience with performances of dance and song. When it started in 1982, it was a very informal group
made of students from the Mindanao State University that entertained the school during breaks.

The company performs a wide array of subjects and themes, from folktales to contemporary events.
Though the spectrum of the stories performed is wide, an underlying commonality with all the
production is the attainment of peace and the aspiration of everybody in Mindanao.

Some of the group's notable productions include: Kawing in 1967,bwhich dealt with change; Isang
Alamat ng Singkil, which is based on a Maranao legend; the Torong-torong, which is based on Maranao
culture; the musical comedy Don't Disturb: God at Rest; the experimental theater Ang Kulambo, which
presents the people of Mindanao (the Lumads, the Moro, and the Christians), among others.

The Kabpapagariya Ensemble, in its long history, has produced some of Mindanao's most illustrious
names in the theater industry. It has become synonymous to the preservation of Mindanao heritage,
great talent, and ambassador for peace. For its dedication and passion to its craft, it was recognized as a
Gawad CCP Para sa Sining awardee.

Sining Kambayoka Ensemble

The Sining Kambayoka Ensemble (SKE) is the theater company of the Mindanao State University in
Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. It was created in 1974 and is the only Filipino-Muslim folk theater company
in the country. In its four decades, it has produced and performed numerous plays and reaped various
awards here and abroad.

As a theater company, its focus is on the preservation of the Maranao culture by using the folk theater
form called the Kambayoka, which is grounded on the Bayok (a love song) and the Darangen (an epic
song). It also pursues the development of socially conscious and responsible citizens.

Through the company's cultural development and conservation of the rich Maranao folk theater, it was
given the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining for Performing Arts in 1997.

Bayang Barrios

Bayang Barrios is a Filipina musician who is a member of the ethnic group Manobos. She was born in
June 12, 1968 and is known for her use of native instruments and styles. She was once part of Joey
Ayala's band Bagong Lumad, where her voice was first noticed and captured everyone's attention. She
endeavors to create music that not only promotes folk music but also gives attention to social causes.

She went solo.in 1996 and recorded an albumentitled Bayang Makulay with the help of her husband
Mike Villegas. It won several awards from the Catholic Mass Media Awards, the Katha Awards including
Best Folk Vocal Performance, Best Folk Song, and Best Folk Album.
Throughout her career, she has been blessed with numerous awards from various contests and award-
giving bodies such as the Asian Vocalist Festival held in Vietnam, Anvil Awards, Katha Awarde MTV
Music Awards, Forum of New Global Leaders, and Metropop.

She has continued to makemusic that promotes peace, environmental conservation, and social equality.
Her messages are sweeetly wrapped in music that combines her unique vocal style and arrangement,
and that showcases contemporary concerns with traditional folk flavor.

Joey Ayala

Joey Ayala is one of the most successful composers and musicians that hails from Mindanao. He is one
of the few who was able to make a mark in an industry filled with pop balladeers from Manila. He. along
with his band Bagong Lumad, is known to bring to mainstream consciousness the use of indigenous
instruments like the T'boli hegalong in performing contemporary folk songs. His songs and lyrics are
described as beautiful and wise. Throughout his career, he has released more than ten music albums
and has performed to various audiences here and abroad.

His contribution to Philippine music cannot be denied, as he is one of the few contemporary musicians
that bring to light the beauty of the sound of traditional instruments and at the same time raise
awareness on the ills of society. And because of his support and patronage of our art heritage, he has
received various recognitions such as the Datu Bago Award, Environmental Heroism Award from the
NCCA, Gawad ng Pagkilala from the Commission on the Filipino Language, Gerry Roxas Leadership
Award, The Special Magis Award for Outstanding Alumni from the Ateneo de Manila University, special
citation from Concerned Women of the Philippines, and TOYM.

REVIEW

• Baao Children and Youth Choir (BCYC) is a multi-awarded choral group. Its members are students from
Rosary School Inc. and the Baao National High School Special Program in the Arts. Lahing Batangan
Dance Troupe is a folk dance company based in Batangas and is the official folk dance company of the
Lyceum of the Philippines University.

• Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation Inc. (BKFI) is the resident theater group of Bulacan.

• Kontra-GaPi is the local Ethnic Music and Dance Ensemble of the College of Arts and Letters of the
University of the Philippines Diliman.

 Jose Gomez is considered to be the most productive composer of Samar songs.

• Kabataang Silay Rondalla Ensemble (KSE) is composed of the less fortunate youths of the Silay
community that serve as promoters of the city's rich traditional folk dance and music.
• The University of Visayas Chorale is the official choir of the University of Visayas and is one of the most
multi-awarded choir in the Philippines.

• Dagyaw Baile is composed of various high school students in the School for the Arts, majoring in dance
from lloilo National High School.

• Amal Lumuntod is one of the best kulintang players in Maguindanao.

• Mebuyan band started from a theater and musical group project in 2001 called the Mebuyan Peace
Project and is now a band that has integrated male talents from the region. Its songs tell stories of the
life in Mindanao.

• Kabpapagariya Ensemble is a theater group that is dedicated to promote culture and the arts. It is
composed of students from the Mindanao State University.

• Bayang Barrios was once part of Joey Ayala's band Bagong Lumad. She endeavors to create music that
not only promotes folk music but also gives attention to'social causes.

• Joey Ayala is one of the most successful composers and musicians that hails from Mindanao and is
known to bring to mainstream consciousness the use of indigenous instruments like the T'boli's
hegalong in performing contemporary folk songs.