THE NATIONAL

ARTISTS OF THE
PHILIPPINES
 The Artists and the Contemporary Arts
According to esteemed critic and scholar Dr.
Nicanor Tiongson, there is a vital role played by
contemporary artists in “creating art that will
contribute to social change by enlightening viewers
and audiences about the nature and causes of the
problems they face as Filipinos today.” It is with
this “enlightenment” that gives the artists
responsibility in their craft.
• Dr. Tiongson challenges the artist to create
art that has social and political relevance, a
kind of art that will contribute to an
awareness of present realities and conditions
of society.
 BIG IDEA
Contemporary Filipino artists have a
responsibility to create art that would
enlighten the people of the current
conditions of the society.
 AN ARTIST OF THE NATION
In 1972, the Philippines named its first National
Artist – world-class painter Fernando Amorsolo.
The National Artist Award is a great honor given to
the Filipino whose life and works have contributed
to the advancement of the country’s arts and
letters.
• The national artist then became part of the
prestigious roster of the Order of National
Artists. NCCA and CCP jointly administer the
nomination and selection of the chosen
exemplary artists, who are conferred by the
President of the country.
• In 1972, Presidential Proclamation No.
1001, s. 1972 created and established “ the
Award and Decoration of National Artist.”
This law enabled the government “to give
appropriate recognition and prestige to
Filipinos who have distinguished
themselves and made outstanding
contributions to Philippine arts and letters
 BIG IDEA
A national artist is a distinguished
individual who has made an
outstanding contribution to
Philippines arts.
 WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A NATIONAL ARTIST?
The National Artist Award is the country’s highest
honor given to an artist who, according to the NCCA,
“embodies the nations highest ideals in the
humanities and aesthetic expression through the
distinct achievements of individual citizens.”
The qualifications for the Filipino to be nominated
and selected are very stringent. Here are the
qualifications for the National Artist Award:
1. Living artists who are natural-born Filipino citizens at
the time of the nomination, as well as those who died
after the establishment of the award in 1972 but were
Filipino citizens at the time of their death. Filipinos
who have lost and reacquired Filipino citizenship,
through dual citizenship status for at least a minimum
period of five years, shall be eligible for nomination.
2. Artists who through the content and form of their
works have contributed in building a Filipino sense of
nationhood.
3. Artists who have pioneered in a mode of creative
expression or style, thus earning distinction and
making an impact on succeeding generations of
artists.
4. Artists who have created a substantial and
significant body of works and/or consistently
displayed in the practice of their art form thus
enriching artistic expression or style.
5. Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through the
following:
5.1 Prestigious national and/or international
recognitions, such as the Gawad CCP para sa
Sining, CCP Thirteen Artists Award, and the
NCCA Alab ng Haraya.
5.2 Critical acclaim and/or reviews of their
works.
5.3 Respect and esteem from peers.
 BIG IDEA
A national artist embodies the nation
contributing to nationhood through a
critically acclaimed significant body of
work.
What have I learned so far?
1.What is the first and most important
qualification for one to be nominated as a
national artist of the Philippines?
2.Enumerate the prescribed form of
acceptance or recognition that an artist
should have.
 What does the Award Give?

As a national artist of the Philippines, the

individual recognized for his or her
contribution to the Philippines arts.
According to the NCCA, the national
artist will be given the following:
1. The rank and title of National Artist, as
proclaimed by the President of the Philippines.
2. The National Artist gold-plated medallion
minted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(BSP) and citation.
3. Lifetime emolument and material and physical
benefits comparable in value to those received
by the highest officers of theland such as the
following:
3.1 A minimum cash award of two hundred
thousand pesos (P200,000.00), net of taxes for
living awardees, and a minimum cash award
of one hundred fifty thousand pesos
(P150,000.00), net of taxes for posthumous
awardees, payable to legal heir(s)
3.2 A minimum lifetime personal monthly
stipend of thirty thousand pesos (30,000.00)
3.3 Life insurance coverage for awardees who
are still insurable
3.4 A state funeral benefit not exceeding
P500,000.00
4. A place of honor, in line with protocular
precedence, in state functions, national
commemmoration ceremonies. And all other
cultural presentations
 What have I learned so far?
1. Which government institution is responsible for
manufacturing the national artist medallion?
2. How much is the cash prize awarded to national
artist?
3. Are the awards and privileges given to the national
artist enough to reciprocate their contribution to
the country? Or are these too much? Explain your
answer?
 THE NATIONAL ARTIST INSIGNIA
The insignia of the Order of National Artist is
a Grand Collar adorned by circular links
representing the arts. The main medallion
commemorates the sun and the colors of the
Philippine flag. The highly stylized three letter
Ks stand for “katotohanan, kabutihan, at
kagandahan” (the true, the good, and the
beautiful).
YEAR AWARDEE CATEGORY NOTES

1972 Fernando C. Amorsolo Visual Arts – Painting Posthumous conferment

1973 Francisca Reyes Aquino Dance

Carlos “Botong”
Visual Arts – Painting Posthumous conferment
Francisco

Amado V. Hernandez Literature Posthunous conferment

Antonio J. Molina Music

Juan Nakpil Architecture

Guillermo E. Tolentino Visual Arts – Sculpture

Jose Garcia Villa Literature

YEAR AWARDEE CATEGORY NOTES

1976 Napoleon V. Abueva Visual Arts – Sculpture

Leonor Orosa-Goquingco Dance

Nick Joaquin Literature

Jovita Fuentes Music

Victorio C. Edades Visual Arts – Painting

Pablo Antonio Architecture Posthumous conferment

1981 Vicente S. Manansala Visual Arts – Painting Posthumous conferment

1982 Carlos P. Romulo Literature

YEAR AWARDEE CATEGORY NOTES

1982 Gerardo de Leon Film Posthumous conferment

Honorata “Atang” de la
1987 Theater and Music
Rama

1988 Antonio R. Buenaventura Music

Lucrecia Reyes Urtula Dance

1989 Lucrecia R. Kasilag Music

1990 Francisco Arcellana Literature

Cesar Legaspi Visual Arts – Painting

Leandro V. Locsin Architecture

YEAR AWARDEE CATEGORY NOTES

1991 Hernando R. Ocampo Visual Arts – Painting

Lucio D. San Pedro Music

1997 Lino Brocka Film Posthumous conferment

Felipe Padilla de Leon Music Posthumous conferment

Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater Posthumous conferment

Rolanmdo S. Tinio Theater and Literature Posthumous conferment

N.V.M. Gonzales Literature Posthumous conferment

Levi Celerio Music and Literature

YEAR AWARDEE CATEGORY NOTES

1997 Arturo R. Luz Visual Arts – Painting

Jose Maceda Music

Carlos Quirino Historical Literature

1999 J. Elizalde Navarro Visual Arts – Painting Posthumous conferment

Ernani Joson Cuenco Music Posthumous conferment

Andrea O. Veneracion Music

Edith L. Tiempo Literature

Daisy Avellana Theater

YEAR AWARDEE CATEGORY NOTES

2001 Ishmael Bernal Film Posthumous conferment

Severino Montano Theater Posthumous conferment

F. Sionil Jose Literature

Ang Kiukok Visual Arts – Painting

2003 Jose T. Joya Visual Arts – Painting Posthumous conferment

Virgilio S. Armalio Literature

Alejandro R. Roces Literature

Eddie S. Romero Film and Broadcast Arts

YEAR AWARDEE CATEGORY NOTES

2003 Salvador F. Bernal Theater and Design

2006 BenCab Visual Arts – Painting

Abdulmari Asia Imao Visual Arts – Sculpture

Bienvenido Lumbera Literature

Ramon Obusan Dance

I.P. Santos Architecture – Landscape

Fernando Poe, Jr. Film Posthumous conferment

Ramon Valera Architecture Posthumous conferment

YEAR AWARDEE CATEGORY NOTES

2009 * Manuel Conde Film and Broadcast Arts Posthumous conferment

Lazaro Francisco Literature Posthumous conferment

Visual Arts – Painting,

Federico Aguilar Alcuaz Sculpture and Mixed Posthumous conferment
Media

2014 Alice Reyes Dance

Francisco Coching Visual Arts Posthumous conferment

Cirilo F. Bautista Literature

Francisco Feliciano Music

Ramon Santos Music

Jose Maria Zaragoza Architecture

You are a jewelery designer, and the Philippine
government commissions you to come up with a new
design for the National Artist Insignia. The
President of the Philippines will approve your work.
Draw your design incorporating the arts and motifs
from different regions in the country. Explain the
elements that you have included in your design.