Filipino Cinema and Architecture Quiz

Contemporary Arts in the Philippines

• Filipino Artists and their contributions to contemporary arts are highlighted.

Lesson 5: National Artists of the Philippines and Their Contributions

• Students should be able to identify the works of National Artists and appreciate their contributions to Philippine art and culture.
• Students should be able to recognize the value of the National Artists' award-winning works through painting, drawing, or performance.

What is the National Artists Award?

• The National Artists Award (NAA) is the highest national recognition given to Filipinos for their significant contributions to Philippine arts, including Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film, Broadcast Arts, and Architecture.
• The award is given mutually by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), and by the President of the Philippines based on their suggestions.
• The award has a similar honor to the GAMABA and the National Scientist Award.
• The award was created in 1972 under Presidential Decree No. 1001 by President Ferdinand Marcos.
• The first artist to be honored was Fernando Amorsolo after his death.
• Currently, there are 66 awardees from seven disciplines. These include engineering, structure, film, visual arts, writing, music, and theater.

Criteria for National Artists

• The National Artist of the Philippines selected based on broad criteria set by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts.

• Criteria include living artists who have been Filipino citizens for the past ten years prior to nominations.

• Artists who have died after the establishment of the award in 1972, yet were Filipino citizens at the time of their death.

• Artists who have helped build a Filipino sense of nationhood through their works.

• Artists who have distinguished themselves by pioneering a creative expression or style and influencing succeeding artists' generations.

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

• Artists who enjoy broad national and/or international recognition and awards received from prestigious events. Also, respect and esteem from peers within an artistic discipline.

Specific National Artists and Their Works

• Pablo S. Antonio (Architecture): Major works include Far Eastern University Administration and Science buildings; Manila Polo Club; Ideal Theater; Lyric Theater; Galaxy Theater; Capitan Luis Gonzaga Building; Boulevard-Alhambra (now Bel-Air apartments); Ramon Roces Publications Building (now Guzman Institute of Electronics).
• Leandro V. Locsin (Architecture): Reshaped the urban landscape with distinctive architecture. Important work is the Istana Nurul Iman (palace of the Sultan of Brunei) and the CCP Complex.
• Juan F. Nakpil (Architecture): A pioneer and innovator in Philippine architecture. His major works include the Geronimo de los Reyes Building, Magsaysay Building, Rizal Theater, Capitol Theater, Captain Pepe Building, Manila Jockey Club, Rufino Building, Philippine Village Hotel, University of the Philippines Administration and University Library, and the reconstructed Rizal House in Calamba.
• Ildefonso P. Santos, Jr. (Architecture): Pioneered the practice of landscape architecture in the Philippines. Many notable works are parks, plazas, gardens, and outdoor settings. Examples include Makati Commercial Center in Manila, Paco Park, Tagaytay Highland Resort, Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club, and Orchard Golf.
• Francisco T. Mañosa (Architecture and Allied Arts): Designed the Filipino Sulo Hotel, as well as other creations which used unique Filipino forms
• Lamberto V. Avellana (Theater and Film): First filmmaker to introduce the motion picture camera point-of-view and was called "The Boy Wonder of Philippine Movies". Known for his films such as Sakay, Anak Dalita, and Badjao.
• Lino Brocka (Film and Broadcast Arts): Espoused the term "freedom of expression" in the Philippine Constitution. He created a large body of works highlighting the lives and struggles of marginalized groups such as slum dwellers, prostitutes and construction workers.
• Ishmael Bernal (Cinema): Hailing as a "genius of film", he has produced some of the most notable films including "Pahiram ng Isang Umaga", "Broken Marriage", "Himala", "City After Dark", and "Nanal sa Tubig".
• Fernando Poe, Jr. (Cinema): A cultural icon with a large impact on audiences, known for films such as Apollo Robles, Batang Maynila, Mga Alabok Sa Lupa, Ako Ang Katarungan, Tatak ng Alipin, Totoy Bato, Asedillo, Partida, and Ang Probisyano.
• Kidlat Tahimik (Film): His work was considered pioneering because of his post-colonial films. His debut film, Mababangong Bangungot.
• Fernando Amorsolo (Visual Arts): The first National Artist; known for landscapes and genre scenes. Works include "Maiden in a Stream," "El Ciego," "Dalagang Bukid, The Mestiza," "Planting Rice", and "Sunday Morning Going to Town".
• Hernando R. Ocampo (Visual Arts): Member of the Thirteen Moderns group. His works highlight the social and political realities of post-World War 2 Philippines and contributed to the rise of national spirit in Philippine arts. He served as the basis for the curtain design for the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater. Works include "Ina ng Balon," "Calvary," "Slum Dwellers," "Nude with Candle and Flower," "Man and Carabao," "Angel's Kiss," "Palayok at Kalan," "Ancestors," "Isda at Mangga," "The Resurrection," "Fifty-three "Q", "Backdrop," and "Fiesta".
• Abdulmari Asia Imao (Visual Arts): A sculptor, painter, photographer, ceramist, documentary filmmaker, cultural researcher, writer, articulated Philippine Muslim art and culture. His works popularized indigenous motifs like ukkil, sarimanok, and naga.
• Guillermo Tolentino (Sculpture): a product of the Revival period in Philippine art, with works like "The Bonifacio Monument".
• Lauro "Larry" Alcala (Visual Arts): A cartoonist who produced iconic works, such as "Slice of Life."
• Francisco Arcellana (Literature): Important progenitor of the modern Filipino short story in English prose-poetic form. His works include Selected Stories (1962), Poetry and Politics: The State of Original Writing in English in the Philippines Today (1977), and Francisco Arcellana Sampler (1990).
• Edith L. Tiempo (Literature): A poet, fictionist, teacher and literary critic; known for her remarkable fusion of style and substance; works include "The Little Marmoset" and "Bonsai"
• Bienvenido Lumbera (Literature): A poet, librettist, and scholar, who introduced modern aesthetic tendencies to Tagalog literature. Works include Likhang Dila, Likhang Diwa, Mga Tulang Lunot at Manibalang, Sa Sariling Bayan, Apat na Dulang May Musika.
• Virgilio S. Almario (Literature): A poet, literary historian, and critic who reinvented traditional Filipino poetic forms. Works include Makinasyon, Peregrinasyon, Doktrinang Anakpawis, Mga Retrato at Rekwerdo, and Muli, Sa Ilang Ilang.
• Ramon L, Muzones (Literature): A Hiligaynon writer; created many novels with a lasting and ground breaking impact on contemporary Hiligaynon literature. Works include "Shri-Bishaya," "Malala Nga Gutom," "Babae Batuk sa Kalibutan", "Ang Gugma Sang Gugma Bayaran", “Si Tamblot”, and “Maraosatubia”.
• Ramon Valera (Fashion Design): Innovative fashion designer known especially for his revolutionary take on the traditional Filipino terno.
• Salvador F. Bernal (Theater Design): A designer of over 300 productions distinguished by their originality. He maximized the use of inexpensive local materials (bamboo, rawabaca, and abaca fiber, and other materials) pioneering design.
• Carlos Quirino (Historical Literature): An early biographer of Jose Rizal. Quirino also wrote about broader Filipino history and culture. Francesa Reyes Aquino (Dance): A pioneer in the research and popularization of Filipino folk dances. Key works include Philippine National Dances (1946), Gymnastics for Girls (1947), Fundamental Dance Steps and Music (1948), Foreign Folk Dances (1949), Dances for All Occasions (1950), etc.
• Ramon Obusan (Dance): A dancer, choreographer, and stage director. His work and that of his group affected cultural and diplomatic exchanges.
• Alice Reyes (Dance): Developed a contemporary dance language unique to the Philippines.
• Leonor Orosa Goquingco (Dance): A trailblazer and pioneer of Philippine theater dance in balletic, folkloric, and Asian styles. Known for her highly-original, first-of-a-kind choreographies. Many important works include: "TREND", "In a Javanese Garden", "Sports", "VINTA!" "In a Concentration Camp", "The Magic Garden", "The Clowns," "Firebird", "Noli Dance Suite", "The Flagellant", "The Creation" and "Filipinescas".
• Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula (Dance): A choreographer, dance educator, and researcher whose work on Philippine and ethnic dances, including mountain dances, Spanish-influenced dances, and Muslim pageants, spanned decades. She produced many choreographed dances and suites
• Antonino Buenaventura (Music): A composer, conductor, and researched Filipino folk songs. He composed and orchestrated popular works, such as Echoes of the Past, History Fantasy, and Philippines Triumphant.
• Jose Maceda (Music): An ethnomusicologist who explored and popularized Filipino traditional music. His works were often performed in a communal ritual setting and include "ugma- ugma", "Pagsamba", and "udlot-udlot."
• Lucrecia R. Kasilag (music): An educator, composer of chamber and orchestral music; known for using indigenous instruments in her orchestral scores.
• Ernani J. Cuenco (Music): A composer known for his outstanding body of work that resonates with the Filipino sense of musicality. His musical compositions included "Nahan, kahit na Magtiis", "Diligin Mo ng Hamog", "Pilipinas", and others.
• Daisy H. Avellana (Theater): Elevated Filipino theater, using realistic plays and staging. Founded the Barangay Theatre Guild and worked closely with her husband, leading to the popularization of theatre and the arts.
• Rolando S. Tinio (Theater and Literature): A playwright, thespian, poet, and translator. Noted prominently for his original stage direction styles, which had a specific visual and intellectual clarity.
• Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero (Theater): A teacher and theater artist; is considered one of the most sterling luminaries in Philippine performing arts; pioneering concept of mobile-theater to bring productions to the countryside. He wrote many plays such as "Halfan Hour in a Convent", "Wanted: A Chaperon", and others.
• Honorata "Atang" Dela Rama (Theater and Music): Known especially for her performance as a 15-year-old girl in Dalagang Bukid, and as the first actress in a locally made Philippine film. She was also known for her kundiman.