NATIONAL ARTIST

Francisco "Kenkoy" Harabas is a Philippine comics

character created by writer Romualdo Ramos and
cartoonist and illustrator Tony Velasquez in 1929.

Darna is a superhero appearing in Filipino comic books

created by writer Mars Ravelo and artist Nestor
Redondo.

Larry Alcala's most enduring comic strip was Kalabog en

Bosyo that first appeared on the pages
of Pilipino Komiks in 1947. It eventually became the
longest running cartoon series created by a Filipino

ASYONG AKSAYA - famous comic strip by the late Larry

Alcala

National Artist for Tangible Arts- Visual Arts, The central badge is a medallion divided into three
Architecture and Allied Arts.’ equal portions, red, white, and blue, recalling the
National Artist for Intangible Arts - Music, Dance, Philippine flag, with three stylized letter Ks—the “KKK”
Theater, Literature,Film and Broadcast Arts stands for the CCP’s motto: “katotohanan, kabutihan, at
kagandahan” (“the true, the good, and the beautiful”),
It was established by virtue of Presidential Proclamation
as coined by then-first lady Mrs. Imelda Romualdez
No. 1001, s. 1972, which created the Award and
Marcos, the CCP’s founder. The composition of the
Decoration of National Artist, “to give appropriate
Grand Collar is silver gilt bronze. In place of a rosette,
recognition and prestige to Filipinos who have
there is an enameled pin in the form of the insignia of
distinguished themselves and made outstanding
the order.
contributions to Philippine arts and letters, President
Ferdinand E. Marcos promulgated Presidential Criteria
Proclamation No. 1001 dated April 27, 1972, which
established the National Artist Award. • Living artists who have been Filipino citizens for
the last ten years prior to nomination as well as
-It is a lifetime recognition of the artists’ those who have died after the establishment of
accomplishments with appropriate emoluments and the award in 1972 but were Filipino citizens at
honors to deserving individuals. the time of their death;
-It is jointly administered by the National Commission • Artists who have helped build a Filipino sense of
for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center nationhood through the content and form of
of the Philippines (CCP) and is conferred by the their works;
President of the Philippines upon recommendation by
both institutions. • Artists who have distinguished themselves by
pioneering in a mode of creative expression or
The first conferment of the National Artist Award was style, making an impact on succeeding
held in 1972 when it was conferred posthumously to generations of artists;
Fernando Amorsolo, the premier Filipino painter. This
was followed the next year by architect Juan Nakpil, • Artists who have created a significant body of
dancer Francisca Reyes Aquino, poet Jose Garcia Villa, works and/or have consistently displayed
composer Antonio Molina, sculptor Guillermo excellence in the practice of their art form,
Tolentino, and painter Carlos “Botong” Francisco. enriching artistic expression or style; and

The insignia of the Order of the National Artists • Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through
prestigious national and/or international
recognition, awards in prestigious national
 and/or international events, critical acclaim
and/or reviews of their works, and/or respect
and esteem from peers within an artistic
discipline

HONORS AND PRIVILEGES

1. The rank and title of National Artist, as proclaimed by

the President of the Philippines;

2. The insignia of a National Artist and a citation;

3. A lifetime emolument and material and physical Architecture

benefits comparable in value to those received by the
Pablo S. Antonio (January 25, 1901 – June 14, 1975)
highest officers of the land such as:
• A modernist pioneer.
a. Cash award of One Hundred Thousand Pesos • His timeless structures are characterized by
(P100,000.00) net of taxes, for living awardees; lucid lines, unadorned surface massing, strong
b. A cash award of Seventy-Five Thousand Pesos geometrical configuration.
(P75,000.00) net of taxes, for posthumous awardees, • Introduced the principle of streamlining- curving
payable to legal heir/s; lines, long form, nautical design
c. a monthly life pension, medical, and hospitalization • During American liberation he embraced
benefits; modernism to express identity of a new nation
d. life insurance coverage for Awardees who are still • Sun breakers, glass walls, and pierced screens
insurable;
e. a state funeral and burial at the Libingan ng Leandro V. Locsin (August 15, 1928 – November 15,
mga Bayani; 1994)
f. a place of honor, in line with protocol precedence, at • A visionary of clean, crisp modernism
national state functions, and recognition of cultural • Rational compositions that demonstrate
events. minimalist elemental geometry of floating mass
• His designs is marked by the use of concrete,
floating volume
• PICC : Philippine International
Convention Center, The Philippines’ decision to
host the joint meeting of the World Bank-IMF in
1976 was ambitiously aimed at establishing
Manila as the financial center of Asia. Floating
massive geometric rectangular volumes
penetrated the space in PICC with the profuse
use of cantilevers and wide overhangs, a
mainstay of Locsin’s signature architecture.

• Building: Parish of the Holy Sacrifice

Location: University of the Philippines, Diliman,
Church of the Holy Sacrifice- circular design, thin
shell concrete dome.

• St Andrew the Apostle Church

JUAN NAKPIL (May 26, 1899- May 7, 1986) Benedicto R. Cabrera (Bencab) – Variations of Sabel
• Created buildings that synthesize strength, (painting), Two Filipinas in an Era of Multinationals (
function, and beauty which embodies modern 1983) His style and choice of subject were a major
heritage of Filipino nation influence among social realist and new generation of
• Art Deco style contemporary artist.
• Rizal Theatre- thin shell concrete, folded plate
Abdulmari Asia Imao - Uses Okir, Sarimanok and Naga
diamond shaped supports
drawing from Tausug and Maranao art.
• UP Admin- earlier work which kept international
style Ang Kiukok
• Born to immigrant Chinese parents in Davao
PAINTING • Taught by Edades and other painters at UST
• Won Third Prize at the Fifth Shell National
Fernando Amorsolo -Classical realist who painted rural Students Art Competition for Calesa
scenes with farmers, maidens, and children. Established • Neo realist who developed his pictorial style
the Filipino standard of figure and facial anatomy into a universal figurative expressionism
(kayumanggi)Revealed his central and southern luzon • He was inspired by the by the deepest despair
roots by painting rice, abaca, or sugar cane, and sunsets and suffering of the human condition
along Mt. Arayat, Nasugbu, Tagaytay. Work ex. Under • Perfect rendition of ugliness, ironically refined
the Mango tree decorative craftsmanship elevates human angst
into a high point of spirituality
Carlos V. Francisco - He is well known in the art of
• Deconstructed human, animal and machine
Mural, historical art, Linear painting. Work example:
forms and rebuild them into unsettling
Magpupukot
structures of pain, torture, and dehumanization
Victorio C. Edades – The Builders (Muddy colors, non • He articulated tension, pain, and catharsis
proportionality) through perfect distortion
• Works (painting) – Fishermen,Figures on
Vicente S. Manansala, Kalabaw (Transparent cubism
Fire(1982)
(transparent & translucent) & Pila sa bigas

J. Elizalde Navarro - Maguindanao Folk Dance SCULPTURE

Ilongo War Dance Guillermo Tolentino - UP Oblation, BONIFACIO
MONUMENT
Jose T. Joya - Granadean Arabesque Napoleon Abueva - Sandugo (Blood Compact Shrine)
• Abstract expressionism Tagbilaran, Bohol, Transfiguration of Christ
• Dynamic spontaneity and quick gestures of
action painting INTANGIBLE ARTS
Francisca Aquino - Among Reyes-Aquino's most noted
Visual Arts (Painting, Sculpture, Comic Illustration) works is her research on folk dances and songs as a
student assistant at the University of the
Cesar F. Legaspi – Gadgets, Man and Woman (Painting) Philippines (UP)
Hernando R. Ocampo- Genesis LEONOR-OROSA GOQUINGCO
• Abstraction of flora and fauna • The first Philippine folkloric ballet, Trend: Return
• Utilized fantasy and fiction to the Native, was choreographed by Goquingco
in 1941.
Arturo R. Luz - Cities of the past • After the Second World War, she organized
• Playful linear works the Philippine Ballet and brought the famous
• Minimalist Filipino novel, Noli Me Tángere, to life.
• Geometric abstracts • The Noli Dance Suite consisted of several
dances. Maria Clara and the Leper, Salome and
Elias, Sisa, Asalto for Maria Clara and The
 Gossips are some of the dances found in LITERATURE
the Noli Dance Suite. Virgilio Almario “Rio Alma”
• Filipinescas (Source: The Filipinescas Story, • Poet, literary historian, critic
1960-70) • Revived and reinvented traditional Filipino
• The Filipinescas’ dance choreography (Source: poetry
The Filipinescas Story, 1960-70) • He put a face to the Filipino writer in the
• She was the dance director of this company for country wielding a pen against untruth,
more than 30 years since the establishment of hypocrisy, and injustice.
the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance • He has published many books including the
Company in the late 1950s. seminal Makinasyon, Peregrinasyon, Doktrinang
• In the 60s she traveled throughout the country Anakpawis, Mga Retrato at Rekwerdo, Muli and
to study the dance of cultural minorities Sa Kandungan ng Lupa.
everywhere. She used the acquired knowledge • POET, LITERARY HISTORIAN, CRITIC
to • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR NCCA
• develop choreographies for Bayanihan. Some of • DIRECTOR- UP SENTRO NG WIKANG FILIPINO
her most praised dances are • EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF UP DIKSYONARYONG
the singkil ; the vinta , a dance in honor of the FILIPINO
Filipino sailing arts; tagabili , a story about
conflicts between FRANCISCO ARCELLANA
tribes; pagdiwata and salidsid , a dance from • Writer, poet, essayist, critic, journalist
the Philippine mountains. • Pioneered the development of the short story
• The company toured the world several times as a lyrical prose poetic form
with typical Filipino folk dance performances • one of the most important progenitors of the
and received many laudatory reviews. modern Filipino short story in English. A brilliant
craftsman, his works are now an indispensable
Ramon Obusan part of a tertiary-level-syllabi all over the
• Obusan is credited for his work in promoting country.
Philippine traditional dance and cultural work.
• Works: Stories, Through a Glass Darkly
• He is also an acclaimed archivist, researcher and
documentary filmmaker who focused on
CIRILO BAUTISTA
Philippine culture.
• He is known for his contribution in the field of
• He also founded Ramon Obusan Folkloric
poetry, fiction, and non fiction
Group in 1971
• He is fascinated with words and achieved
academic distinction
ALICE REYES
• Was greatly affected by the assassination of
• The first modern dance performance by Alice
Benigno Aquino and came up with poems
Reyes is with Modern Dance Company in 1970
regarding the event known as “In Memoriam”
in collaboration with artists Ray Albano and Lee
Aguinaldo became a great success.
LAZARO FRANCISCO
• Reyes decided to disregard an offer to teach in
• Pioneer in social realist tradition
the US at Mount Holyoke College
• A prominent writer with social conscience and
in Massachusetts and stay in the Philippines.
masterful handling of Tagalog & “supple prose
• With the help of Kaslig, Eddie Elejar and CCP
style”
president Jaime Zobel de Ayala she started the
• Highest paid novelist while he was with
CCP Dance Workshop Company, which was later
Liwayway
renamed to CCP Dance Company.
• His novels typify the author’s commitment to
• This later became Ballet Philippines (BP)
nationalism
 • Tackled the woes of the oppressed peasantry much motivation for his poems, short stories,
and exposed ills of tenancy system novels and plays. His famous poems were :
• Established Kapatiran ng mga Alagad ng Wikang “Isang Dipang Langit” “Bayang Malaya”, “Panata
Pilipino (KAWIKA) to elevate the use of the sa Kalayaan”, Bartolina, and “Kung tuyo na ang
Filipino language as a tool for nationalism. Luha Mo Aking Bayan”
• His masterpieces include the novels : • His well known novels include Mga Ibong
Ang Bayang Nagpatiwakal (Suicidal Country),Maganda Mandaragit (Birds of Prey) and Luha ng Buwaya
pa Ang Daigdig, Ama and Daluyong which earned him (Crocodile Tears)
recognition including the Republic Cultural Heritage
Award(1970) where he was cited as the foremost NICK JOAQUIN
novelist of his generation and champion of the Filipino • Poet, fictionist, playwright, and essayist
writer’s struggle for national identity. • The greatest Filipino writer in English of the 20th
century.
Nestor (NVM) Gonzalez • A veteran journalist who wrote under the
• Fictionist, essayist, poet pseudonym Quijano de Manila.
• Used English to express, reflect, and shaped • Regardless of genre he wrote with highest skill
Philippine culture and sensibility. and quality.
• He worked as a writer for Philippine Graphic, • His first collection, Prose and Poems (1952), was
and editor of the Evening News Magazine and the most commanding book in the first fifty
Manila Chronicle. years of Philippine Literature in English.
• He Initiated the first UP writers workshop and
MUSIC
was the first President of Philippine Writer’s
Association • LEVI CELERIO - Is a prolific lyricist who tendered
• Professor Emeritus at California state University, highly poetic lyrics to the works of composers.
Hayward No less than 4,000 songs has been attributed to
• Professor at the Asian American Studies Center him such as Pasko na Naman, Ang Pasko ay
and a professor in the English department of Sumapit, Saan ka man Naroroon, Ang Pipit,
UCLA, Los Angeles Waray-Waray
• Among his popular stories include A Grammar
of Dreams, Look stranger on this Island Now, • RYAN CAYABYAB - is the most accomplished
The Novel of Justice, Mindoro and Beyond, and composer, arranger, and musical director in the
A Season of Grace Philippine music industry.Notable Works:Rama-
Hari (Two-act musical ballet, 1980) Katy! The
AMADO V. HERNANDEZ Musical (Two-act musical, 1988) Smokey
• Poet, novelist, playwright, fictionist, and lbor Mountain (Pop CD album, 1990) One
leader Christmas (Christmas Album, 1993)Noli Me
• He was well known for his advocacy for Tangere (Tele-sine musical, 1995) Spoliarium
exposing social injustice and pushing for (Three-act opera, 2003) Ignacio Of Loyola (Film
freedom and independence from neocolonial Score, 2016) Larawan: The Musical (Full-
rule length musical film, 2017)Da Coconut Nut, Kay
• He has a great contribution to the development Ganda Ng Ating Musika, Nais Ko, Paraiso, Kahit
of Tagalog prose Ika’y Panaginip Lang, Kailan, Tuwing Umuulan at
• He worked as a journalist for various pre-war Kapiling Ka
Tagalog newspaper Watawat, Pagkakaisa,
Makabayan, Sampaguita, and Mabuhay Extra
• During the second World War he served as
intelligence officer for the resistance movement
• It was his prison ordeal and his involvement in
Labor and Guerilla movement which provided
FILM

FERNANDO POE JR. (RONALD ALLAN K. POE)

• HE WAS HAILED AS THE KING OF PHILIPPINE
MOVIES
• HIS HAS A MYTHIC STATUS IN PHILIPPINE
CULTURE AS AN ACTOR, DIRECTOR, WRITER,
PRODUCER AND POLITICIAN

LINO BROKA ( CATALINO BROCKA)

• He espoused the term “freedom of expression”
in the Philippine Constitution.
• He left behind 66 films which breathed life and
hope for the marginalized sectors of society.
Among his critically-acclaimed films include:
“Wanted Perfect Mother,” “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng
Liwanag,” “Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim,” and
“Orapronobis.”

FASHION AND DESIGN

RAMON O. VALERA
• He never had a formal schooling in fashion
design but his work have been a standard of
fashion students for intricate sewing,
embroidery, and handwork.
• His contribution lie in performing his magical
innovation of Philippine Terno.
• He also constructed a butterfly sleeves which
became the terno’s defining feature.

THEATER DESIGN
SALVADOR F. BERNAL
• HE WAS A THEATER DESIGNER KNOWN TO
DESIGNED MORE THAN 300 PRODUCTION THAT
WERE DISTINGUISH FOR THEIR ORIGINALITY.
• HE HARNESSED THE DESIGN POTENTIAL OF
INEXPENSIVE LOCAL MSTERIALS SUCH AS
BAMBOO, RAW ABACA, ABACA FIBER, HEMP
TWINE, RATTAN AND “KATSA”.
• HE DESIGNED COSTUMES FOR PLAYS LIKE
PEQUE GALLAGA’S ORO,PLATA, MATA