Understanding the Order of National Artists

• The Order of National Artists is the highest national recognition for Filipinos who significantly contributed to the development of Philippine arts
• Established in 1972 under Proclamation No. 1001
• The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) administer the award
• The President of the Philippines grants the award every three years based on the recommendation of both institutions

Objectives

• Recognizes Filipino artists who have significantly contributed to the cultural heritage
• Acknowledges the highest level of Filipino artistic accomplishment to promote creative expression to develop a national cultural identity
• Recognizes Filipino artists who have dedicated their lives to forge new paths for future generations

Criteria for Selection

• Must be living natural-born Filipino citizens at the time of nomination, or those who died after 1972 but were Filipino citizens at the time of death
• Filipinos who have lost and re-acquired citizenship through dual citizenship, are eligible after five years
• Must have contributed to building a Filipino sense of nationhood through their content and form
• Must have pioneered a mode of creative expression or style, earning distinction and impacting future generations
• Must have created a substantial and significant body of work, or consistently displayed excellence enriching artistic expression
• Must enjoy broad acceptance through prestigious national or international recognition, critical acclaim and reviews, and respect from peers

Honors and Privileges

• Rank and title of National Artist, proclaimed by the President
• Gold-plated medallion minted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and citation
• Lifetime emolument and material/physical benefits comparable to those of the highest officers
• Minimum cash award of P200,000.00 (net of taxes) for living awardees
• Minimum cash award of P150,000.00 (net of taxes) for posthumous awardees, payable to legal heirs
• Minimum lifetime personal monthly stipend of P30,000.00
• Privileges effective January 1, 2013, include life insurance for insurable awardees and a state funeral benefit not exceeding P500,000.00
• A place of honor in state functions, national commemoration ceremonies, and cultural presentations

National Artists - Architecture

• Pablo S. Antonio (1976)
• Born in Binondo, Manila
• Pioneered modern Philippine architecture
• Emphasized function and the use of natural light and cross ventilation
• Works: Far Eastern University Administration and Science buildings, Manila Polo Club, Ideal Theater, Galaxy Theater, Capitan Luis Gonzaga Building, Boulevard-Alhambra apartments, and Ramon Roces Publications Building
• Juan F. Nakpil (1973)
• Born in Quiapo, Manila
• Known as the “Dean of Filipino Architects.”
• Works are reflective of Philippine traditions and culture
• Works: 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
• Reconstructed Rizal house in Calamba, Laguna
• Ildefonso P. Santos (2006)
• Born in Malabon, Manila
• Considered the “Father of Philippine Landscape Architecture.”
• Works: Tagaytay Highland resort, Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa, Batangas, and Orchard Gold and Country Club in Imus, Cavite
• Jose Maria V. Zaragoza (2014)
• From Guagua, Pampanga
• Name became synonymous with modern ecclesiastical architecture
• Works: Meralco Building, Philbanking Building, Sto. Domingo Church and Convent, Metropolitan Cathedral of Cebu City, Villa San Miguel Church in Mandaluyong
• Leandro V. Locsin (1990)
• Born in Silay, Negros Occidental
• Believed true Philippine architecture is "the product of two great streams of culture, the oriental and the occidental... to produce a new object of harmony.” Used themes of floating volume
• Largest single work is the Istana Nurul Iman, palace of the Sultan of Brunei
• Designed the five buildings of the CCP Complex: Cultural Center of Philippines, Folk Arts Theater, Philippine International Convention Center, Philcite, and The Westin Hotel

National Artists - Visual Arts

• Fernando Amorsolo (1972)
• Born in Paco, Manila
• Known as the “Grand Old Man of Philippine Art”
• First National Artist
• Trademark backlighting technique
• Works: Maiden in a Stream (1921), El Ciego (1928), Dalagang Bukid (1936), The Meztiza (1943), Planting Rice (1946), and Sunday Morning Going to Town (1958)
• Cesar Legaspi (1990)
• A pioneer “Neo-Realist”
• Refined cubism in the Philippine context, using geometric fragmentation
• Works: Gadgets I, Gadgets II, Diggers, Idols of the Third Eye, Facade, Ovary, Flora and Fauna, Triptych, Flight, Bayanihan, Struggle, Avenging Figure, Turning Point, Peace, The Survivor, and The Ritual
• Hernando Ocampo (1991)
• Self-taught painter from Sta. Cruz, Manila.
• Evoked the Philippine landscape with bold colors
• Played role in sustaining the Philippine Art Gallery
• Masterpiece “Genesis” served as the basis of CCP Main Theater's curtain design
• Works: 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
• Arturo Luz (1997)
• Established the Luz Gallery
• Significant paintings are Bagong Taon, Vendador de Flores, Skipping Rope, Candle Vendors, Procession, Self-Portrait, Night Glows, Grand Finale, Cities of the Past, Imaginary Landscapes
• Mural painting Black and White is in the lobby of the CCP
• Sculpture of a stainless steel cube is in front of the Benguet Mining Corporation Building in Pasig
• Jose T. Joya (2003)
• Pioneered abstract expressionism in the Philippines
• Abstract idiom transcended foreign influences
• Harmonious colors inspired by Philippine landscapes
• Rice paper in collages valued transparency
• Benedicto Cabrera (2006)
• From Malabon
• Best-selling painter of generation
• "Sabel" is a melancholic symbol of dislocation, despair, isolation, and threatened human dignity
• Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (2009)
• Painter and sculptor from Sta. Cruz, Manila
• Known for gestural paintings, sketches in ink, watercolor, and pencil
• Received a fellowship from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Spain
• Studied at the Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid
• Francisco Coching (2014)
• Born in Buting, Pasig
• Known as the “King of Komiks” and "Dean of Filipino Illustrators.”
• Central in the formation of comics
• Victorio Edades (1976)
• The “Father of Modern Philippine Painting”
• Colors were dark and somber
• Subject matter are laborers, factory workers
• Works: The Sketch, The Artist and the Model, Portrait of the Professor, Japanese Girl, Mother and Daughter, The Wrestlers, and Poinsettia Girl
• Guillermo Tolentino (1973)
• Born in Malolos, Bulacan
• Hailed as the “Father of Philippine Arts.” 
• Famous works include the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan, and the UP Oblation in Diliman, Quezon City
• Designed gold and bronze medals for Ramon Magsaysay Award and did the seal of the Republic of the Philippines
• Vicente Manansala (1981)
• Cubist painter and illustrator
• Paintings are described as “visions of reality teetering on the edge of abstraction."
• Works: A Cluster of Nipa Hut, San Francisco Del Monte, Banaklaot, I Believe in God, Market Venders, Madonna of the Slums, Still Life with Green Guitar, Via Crucis, Whirr, Nude
• Carlos "Botong" Francisco (1973)
• Poet from Angono
• Revived the forgotten art of mural
• Best known for his historical pieces
• Works: Portrait of Purita, The Invasion of Limahong, Serenade, Muslim Betrothal, Blood Compact, First Mass at Limasawa, The Martyrdom of Rizal, Bayanihan, Magpupukot, Fiesta, Bayanihan sa Bukid, and Sandugo

National Artists - Mixed Media

• J. Elizalde Navarro (1999)
• Born in Antique
• Proficient painter and sculptor
• Devotion to visual arts spans 40 years
• Works: I'm Sorry Jesus, I Can't Attend Christmas This Year (1965), and his Homage to Dodjie Laurel (1969: Ateneo Art Gallery collection), and A Flying Contraption for Mr. Icarus (1984: Lopez Museum)
• Napoleon Abueva (1976)
• Native of Bohol
• Youngest awardee
• Considered as the “Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture."
• Works: Kaganapan (1953), Kiss of Judas (1955), Thirty Pieces of Silver, The Transfiguration (1979), Eternal Garden Memorial Park, UP Gateway (1967), Nine Muses (1994), UP Faculty Center, Sunburst (1994)-Peninsula Manila Hotel, etc
• Ang Kiukok
• Born Ang Hwa Shing
• A painter from Davao City
• Fused cubism, surrealism, and expressionism in style
• Favored fighting cocks, rabid dogs, and enraged people
• Works: Geometric Landscape (1969), Pieta (1962, Saigon), Seated Figure (1979)
• Abdulmari Asia Imao (2006)
• Native of Sulu
• Sculptor, painter, photographer, ceramist, documentary film maker, cultural researcher, writer, and articulator of Philippine Muslim art and culture
• Works popularized indigenous ukkil, sarimanok and naga motifs
• Works: Industry Brass Mural, Mural Relief in Filmmaking, Industrial Mural, and Sulu Warriors

National Artists - Fashion Design

• Ramon Valera
• Fashion designer from Abra
• Tradition of excellence and commitment to profession and innovations on the Philippine terno.

National Artists - Literature

• Jose Garcia Villa (1973)
• One of the finest contemporary poets
• Introduced reversed consonance rhyme scheme and comma poems
• Works: Footnote to Youth, Many Voices, Poems by Doveglion, Poems 55, Poems in Praise of Love, Selected Stories, The Portable Villa, The Essential Villa, Mir-i-nisa, Storymasters 3, 55 PoemsSelected and Translated into Tagalog by Hilario S. Francia
• Nick Joaquin (1976)
• Most distinguished Filipino writer in English writing
• English language enriched with "Joaquinesque"
• Works: The Woman Who Had Two Navels, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, Manila, My Manila, The Ballad of the Five Battles, and Cave and Shadows
• Francisco Arcellana (1990)
• Pioneered the development of short story as a lyrical prose-poetic form
• Published books: Selected Stories (1962), Poetry and Politics (1977), and The Francisco Arcellana Sampler (1990)
• Short stories: Frankie, The Man Who Would Be Poe, Death in a Factory, The Mats
• Levi Celerio (1997)
• National Artist for Literature and Music
• Prolific lyricist and composer
• Guinness Book of World Records for making music with a leaf
• Translated lyrics to traditional melodies
• Rolando S. Tinio (1997)
• National Artist for Theater and Literature
• Playwright, thespian, poet, teacher, critic, and translator
• Inventor of “Taglish” in Philippine poetry
• Works: film scripts for Now and Forever, Gamitin Mo Ako, Bayad Puri and Milagros; sarswelas Ang Mestisa
• Alejandro Roces (2003)
• Best writer of comic short stories
• Champion of Filipino culture, specifically Moriones and Ati-atihan
• Led campaign to change Independence Day and Filipino in passports
• Cirilo F. Bautista (2014)
• Multi-awarded poet, fictionist and essayist
• Works: Summer Suns (1963), Words and Battlefields (1998), The Trilogy of Saint Lazarus (2001), and Galaw ng Asoge (2003)
• Francisco Sionil Jose (2001)
• Widely-read Filipino writer in the English language
• Novels and short stories depict social underpinnings and colonialism
• Edith L. Tiempo (1999)
• Poet, fictionist, teacher, and literary critic
• Founded the Siliman National Writers Workshop
• Fusion of style and substance and verbal transfigurations
• Works: A Blade of Fern (1978), The Native Coast (1979), The Alien Corn (1992), The Tracks of Babylon (1966), and Abide, Joshua, and Other Stories (1964)
• Amado V. Hernandez (1973)
• Poet, playwright, and novelist
• The writer acts as the conscience of society in the face of inequity
• Contributed to the development of Tagalog prose through colloquial style
• Wrote socio-political novel "Mga Ibong Mandaragit"
• Carlos P. Romulo (1982)
• First Asian president of the United Nations General Assembly
• Philippine Ambassador to Washington D.C., and minister of foreign affairs
• Asian to win Pulitzer Prize in Journalism
• Virgilio S. Almario (2003)
• Chairman of the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino
• Earliest literary criticism in “Ang Makata sa Panahon ng Makina”
• Lazaro Francisco (2009)
• Master of the Tagalog Novel
• Novels exposed the evils of the tenancy system
• Bienvenido Lumbera (2006)
• Introduced Bagay poetry to Tagalog literature
• Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez (1997)
• Fictionist, essayist, poet, and teacher
• Works include Winds of April, Seven Hills Away, Children of the Ash-Covered Loam and Other Stories, and A Grammar of Dreams and Other Stories

National Artists - Historical Literature

• Carlos Quirino (1997)
• Created historical literature as a new category
• Wrote “The Great Malayan” a biography of Jose Rizal
• Books and articles span Philippine History.
• Book "Maps and Views of Old Manila" is the best book on the subject

National Artists - Dance

• Alice Reyes (2014)
• Dancer, choreographer, teacher, and director
• Made a lasting impact on the development and promotion of contemporary dance
• Development of a distinctly Filipino modern dance idiom
• Utilized Filipino materials and combined indigenous dance, modern dance, and classical ballet
• Francisca Reyes Aquino (1973)
• Known as “Mother of Philippine Folk Dancing.”
• Thesis titled "Philippine Folk Dances and Games.”
• Served as supervisor of physical education and adapted the teaching of folk dancing
• Books include Philippine National Dances (1946)and Foreign Folk Dances (1949)
• Ramon Obusan (2006)
• Dancer, choreographer, stage designer, artistic director, archivist, researcher, and documentary filmmaker
• Work focused on promoting Philippine traditional dance and cultural work
• Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula (1988)
• Spent decades in the discovery and study of Philippine folk and ethnic dances
• Dance director of Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company
• Leonor Orosa-Goquingco (1976)
• Dubbed “Trailblaizer,” “Mother of Philippine Theater Dance” and “Dean of Filipino Performing Arts Critics.”
• Produced choreographies like “TREND: Return to Native”

National Artists - Music

• Antonio J. Molina (1973)
• Introduced innovations and liner viewpoints to music
• Composer of Hating Gabi
• Honorata “Atang” de la Rama (1987)
• National Artist for Theater and Music
• Honored as the “Queen of Kundiman"
• Jose Maceda (1997)
• Composer, musicologist, teacher, and performer
• Wrote papers about Philippine traditional and ethnic music
• His compositions are Ugma-ugma and Udlot-uldot
• Andrea Veneracion (1999)
• Known as choirmaster and choral singer
• Found the Philippine Madrigal Singers
• Ramon Santos (2014)
• Exponent of contemporary Filipino music
• Lucrecia Roces Kasilag (1989)
• Instrumental in developing music and culture
• Antonio R. Buenaventura (1988)
• Pursued musical career spanning seven decades
• Felipe Padilla de Leon (1997)
• Filipinized western music forms
• Ernani J. Cuenco (1999)
• Works brought contemporary Filipino music to a higher level
• Lucio D. San Pedro (1991)
• Contributed to civic culture with town bands
• Francisco Feliciano (2014)
• Brought awareness to Asian culture
• Jovita Fuentes (1976)
• Best known for portrayal of Cio-cio San

National Artists - Film

• Gerardo De Leon (1982)
• Most awarded film director in the history of Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS)
• Ishmael Bernal (2001)
• Critics hailed Bernal as “the genius of Philippine cinema.”
• Recognized through films served as social commentaries
• Roland Allan K. Poe (2006)
• Known as Fernando Poe, Jr.
• Cultural icon
• Projects the image of the underdog in films.
• Lino Brocka (1997)
• One of the most influential and significant Filipino filmmakers in Philippine cinema history
• Films breathed life and hope for the marginalized sectors
• Manuel Conde (2009)
• Known for producing and directing films based on Filipino tales
• Lamberto V. Avellana (1976)
• National Artist for Theater and Film
• Known as “The Boy Wonder of Philippine Movies.”

National Artists - Theater

• Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero (1997)
• Served as director of UP Dramatic Club
• Founded the UP Mobile Theater
• Salvador F. Bernal (2003)
• Acknowledged as the “guru of contemporary Filipino theater design.”;
• Severino Montano (2001)
• Forerunner in institutionalizing “legitimate theater”
• Daisy Avellana She elevated legitimate theater and dramatic arts