National Artists 2nd Edit PDF

National Artist Award The Order of National Artists (Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining) is the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts; namely, Music, Dance, Theater, Visu...

National Artist Award The Order of National Artists (Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining) is the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts; namely, Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film, Broadcast Arts, and Architecture and Allied Arts. The order is jointly administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and conferred by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation by both institutions. Architecture and Allied Arts JUAN NAKPIL Year Awarded: 1973 Place of Birth: Quiapo, Manila Major Works: a. Administration Building and Library (UP Diliman) b. Reconstruction of Rizal Shrine c. Manila Jockey Club d. Old Humanities Building, UP Los Baňos Juan Nakpil, an architect, teacher, and civic leader is a pioneer and innovator in Philippine architecture. Nakpil’s greatest contribution is his belief that there is such a thing as Philippine Architecture, espousing architecture reflective of Philippine traditions and culture. It is also largely due to his zealous representation and efforts that private Filipino architects and engineers, by law, are now able to participate in the design and execution of government projects. He has integrated strength, function, and beauty in the buildings that are the country’s heritage today. He designed the 1937 International Eucharistic Congress altar and rebuilt and enlarged the Quiapo Church in 1930 adding a dome and a second belfry to the original design. Quezon Hall or the Admission Building in UP Diliman Renovated house of Jose Rizal in Calamba, Laguna  PABLO S. ANTONIO Year Awarded: 1976 (Posthumously) Place of Birth: Binondo, Manila Major Works: a. Far Eastern University Administration and Science Building b. Manila Polo Club c. Ideal Theater d. Ramon Roces Publications Building Born at the turn of the century, National Artist for Architecture Pablo Sebero Antonio pioneered modern Philippine architecture. His basic design is grounded on simplicity, no clutter. The lines are clean and smooth, and where there are curves, these are made integral to the structure. Pablo Jr. points out, “For our father, every line must have a meaning, a purpose. For him, function comes first before elegance or form “. The other thing that characterizes an Antonio structure is the maximum use of natural light and cross ventilation. Antonio believes that buildings “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.” Far Eastern University Administration Manila Polo Club in Makati and Science Building LEANDRO LOCSIN Year Awarded: 1990 Place of Birth: Silay City, Negros Occidental Major Works: a. Cultural Center of the Philippines b. Folk Arts Theater c. Philippine International Convention Center d. Sofitel Philippine Plaza (The Westin Hotel) e. Istana Nurul Iman Leandro V. Locsin reshaped the urban landscape with a distinctive architecture reflective of Philippine Art and Culture. He believes that the true Philippine Architecture is “the product of two great streams of culture, the oriental and the occidental… to produce a new object of profound harmony.” It is this synthesis that underlies all his works, with his achievements in concrete reflecting his mastery of space and scale. Every Locsin Building is an original, and identifiable as a Locsin with themes of floating volume, the duality of light and heavy, buoyant, and massive running in his major works. From 1955 to 1994, Locsin has produced 75 residences and 88 buildings, including 11 churches and chapels, 23 public buildings, 48 commercial buildings, six major hotels, and an airport terminal building. Cultural Center of the Philippines Philippine International Convention Center Dance FRANCISCA REYES-AQUINO Year Awarded: 1973 Place of Birth: Bocaue, Bulacan Major Works: a. Philippine Folk Dances and Games b. Philippine National Dance c. Gymnastics for Girls d. Philippine Folk Dances (Vol. 1-6) Francisca Reyes-Aquino is known as a dancer and Researcher of Philippine folk dance. Her research, Philippine Folk Dances and Games documented local forms of celebrations and rituals which was published in 1926. It has been utilized for school instruction both public and private. She received the Republic Award of Merit in 1954, and the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1962 before conferred to the Order of the National Artists in 1973.  RAMON AREVALO OBUSAN Year Awarded: 2006 Place of Birth: Camarines Norte, Bicol Major Works: a. Vamos a Belen! Series (1998-2004) b. Noon Po sa Amin c. Obra Maestra d. Water, Fire, and Life e. Gimpses of ASEAN f. Saplot Documentary and books a. Sayaw (documentary) b. Dance of the Philippines (book) Ramon Obusan was an accomplished stage designer, artistic director, choreographer, and most of all dancer. He is recognized as the promoter of Philippine traditional dance through his performances and cultural research. He did his research and documentaries that explore Filipino traditional dance. He also founded the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group in 1971. He received various awards for his works: Grand Prix Award in France in 1982 for his documentary entitled Sayaw, the Patnubay ng Kalinangan Award given by the City of Manilla in 1992, and the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining para sa Sayaw. ALICE REYES Year Awarded: 2014 Place of Birth: Manila Major Works: a. Amada (1969) b. At a Maranaw Gathering (1970) c. Itim-Asu (1971) d. Tales of the Manuvu (1977) e. Rama Hari (1980) f. Bayanihan Remembered (1987) Alice Reyes is the founder of the Ballet Philippines. She is a dancer choreographer, teacher, and director. Her contribution to Philippine dance is the development of a distinctive modern Filipino dance expression. Her subject matters are performed using combinations of indigenous dance, modern, and ballet.  Film and Broadcast Arts ISHMAEL BERNAL Year Awarded: 2001 (Posthumously) Place of Birth: Manila Major Works: a. Pahiram ng Isang Umaga (1989) b. Broken Marriage (1983) c. Himala (1982) d. Pinulot ka lang sa Lupa (1987) Ishmael Bernal 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. Throughout his career, he has garnered numerous awards for his films both here and abroad. Apply LINO BROCKA Year Awarded: 1997(Posthumously) Place of Birth: Pilar, Sorsogon Major Works: a. Santiago (1970) b. Tinimbang ka Ngunit Kulang (1974) c. Jaguar (1979) d. Makiusap ka sa Diyos (1991  Catalino Ortiz Brocka was a film and theater director that led to push the boundaries and make people think. His main characters represented the marginalized and provide 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. LAMBERTO V. AVELLANA Year Awarded: 1976 Place of Birth: Bontoc, Mountain Province Major Works: a. Sakay (1939) b..Kalderong Pilak (1954) c. Anak Dalita (1956) d. Badjao (1957) e. The Evil Within (1970) Known as the “Boy Wonder of the 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 thattransformed film narration. His first fim, Sakay, was critically acclaimed and won him Best Picture in 1939. Other notable achievements include the grand prize at the Asian Film Festival in 1956 for Anak Dalita and Best Director of Asia in Tokyo for Badjao in 1957.  KIDLAT TAHIMIK Year Awarded: National Artist for Film (2018) Place of Birth: Baguio City Notable Works: a. Balikbayan #1: Memories of Overdevelopment Redux (2015) b. Japanese Summers of a Filipino Fundoshi (1996) c. Why Is Yellow the Middle of the Rainbow? (1983-1994) d. Orbit 50: Letters to My 3 Sons (1990-1992) e. Turumba (1983) f. Who Invented the Yoyo? Who Invented the Moon Buggy? (1979) g. Mababangong Bangungot/Perfumed Nightmare (1977) Kidlat Tahimik has continually invented himself through his cinema, and so his cinema is as singular as the man. His debut film, Mababangong Bangungot (1977), was praised by critics and filmmakers from Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa and is still considered by many as a pioneering postcolonial essay film. Tahimik’s intense independence as an artist and, at the same time, the film itself called for Filipinos to actively live out their independence and not allow their culture to be imperialized by the west. Kidlat’s “imperfect” film is an exemplar of what is worldwide known as “Third Cinema,” a cinema that is critical of neocolonial exploitation and state oppression. But, unlike other Third Cinema films, Kidlat’s work does not glory in ugliness. His films, even those that lament injustice and violence, are premised on the hope of possible, though yet unrealized, triumph. His constant claim is that whatever “progress” has relegated to the realm of sadness and poverty should never remain self-referentially sad or poor. Literature AMADO V. HERNANDEZ Year Awarded: 1973 (Posthumously) Place of Birth: Hagonoy, Bulacan Major Works: Novels a. Mga Ibong Mandaragit (1969) b. Luha ng Buwaya (1972) Plays a. Muntinlupa (1957) b. Magkabilang Mukha ng Isang Bagol (1960) Amado V. Hernandez was a writer and stalwart of the laborers. He believed that his art should act asconscience of society, correcting and calling attention to what is needed. As a writer, he was the one 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.  Mga Ibong Mandaragit. A masterpiece of Hernandez which focuses on the neocolonial dependency and revolt in the Philippines. Photo credit: https://www.amazon.com/Mga-Ibong-Mandaragit-Amado- Hernandez/dp/9718970088 JOSE GARCIA-VILLA Year Awarded: 1973 Place of Birth: Singalong, Manila Major Works: Novels a. Footnote to Youth b. Many Voices c. Poems by Doveglion d. Poems 55 e. The Portable Villa 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 reverse consonance rhyme scheme and used punctuation marks especially the comma in a novel and lyrical way. NICK JOAQUIN Year Awarded: 1976 Place of Birth: Paco, Manila Major Works: a. The Woman Who Had Two Navels b. The Portrait of an Artist as a Filipino c. The Ballad of the Five Battles d. Rizal in Saga 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. His style is defined as flowery ad Spanish-influence 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 his conferment as a National Artist, he used his influence to fight for intellectual freedom and helped free imprisoned writer Jose F. Lacaba during the Marcos regime.  Music JOVITA FUENTES Year Awarded: 1976 Place of Birth: Roxas City, Capiz Major Works: a. Cio-Cio-san in Giacomo Puccini’s Madame Butterfly b. Liu Yu in Puccini’s Turandot c. Mimi in Puccini’s La Boheme d. Princess Yang Guifei in Li Tai Pe Jovita Fuentes was an acclaimed theater actress,performing in various theater actress, performing in varioustheater productions in Europe, a feat that was unheard ofback then. Fuentes’ theater performances include theportrayal of Cio-Cio-san in Madame Butterfly, Liu Yu in Turandot, and Mimi in La Boheme. She was recognized by Spain and given the title “La Embahadora de Filipinas a su Madre Patria”, the first and only of record. ANTONIO J. MOLINA Year Awarded: 1973 Place of Birth: Quiapo, Manila Major Works: Orchestral music a. Ang Batingaw b. Kudiman-Kundangan Chamber Music a. Hating Gabi b. Kung sa iyong Gunita Vocal Music a. Awit ni Maria Clara b. Larawan Nitong Pilipinas 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, which includes Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco Santiago. His innovations include the pentatonic scale, linear counterpoints, and the lively ninth and eleventh cords, among others. LUCRESIA KASILAG Year Awarded: 1989 Place of Birth: San Fernando City, La Union Major Works: Orchestral music a. Love Songs b. Legend of the Sarimanok c. Ang Pamana Instumental a. Toccata for Percussions and Winds b. Filiasiana c. Misang Pilipino Lucresia Kasilag graduated Cum Laude in 1936 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 an artist, she combined traditional tribal music with Western music. She used Filipino indigenous musical instruments in orchestral performances. Visual Arts FERNANDO AMORSOLO Year Awarded: 1972 (Posthumously) Place of Birth: Paco, Manila Major Works: a. Maiden in a Stream (1921) b. El Ciego (1928) c. Dalagang Bukid (1936) d. Planting Rice (1946) e. Sunday Morning Going to Town Fernando Amorsolo was posthumously recognized as the Philippine’s 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. Photo credit: https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1372/a-small-collection-of-fernando-amorsolos-paintings NAPOLEON ABUEVA Year Awarded: 1976 Place of Birth: Tagbilaran City, Bohol Major Works: a. Kaganapan (1953) b. The Transfiguration (1979) c. University of the Philippines Gateway (1967) d. The Nine Muses (1994) At age 46, Napoleon 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. He is adept in using a diverse range of media such as adobe, metal, cement, marble, etc. But he still prefers Philippine hard wood such as narra, molave, acacia, kamagong, etc. Sandugo Shrine (Blood Compact between Datu Sikatuna and Legaspi), Tagbilaran, Transfiguration of Christ, Eternal Gardens, Caloocan Bohol by Napoleon Abueva. BENEDICTO R. CABRERA Year Awarded: 2006 Place of Birth: Manila Major Works: a. Madonna with Objects (1991) b. Studies of sable (1991) c. People Waiting (1989) d. The Indifference (1988) e. Waiting for the Monsoon (1986) Benedicto R. Cabrera or BenCab as he is popularly known, is oneof the most successful Filipino contemporary artists. He is a painter and a printmaker; his works have been displayed all over the country as well as in Europe and in the United States. He is most popular for his series of works that feature a solitary figure of a scavenger whom he named Sabel. He is now based in Baguio where he has set up a museum of his works and other artists. Madonna with Objects Waiting for the Monsoon LAURO ALCALA Year Awarded: 2018 Place of Birth: Daraga, Albay Notable Works: Slice of Life Weekend 1980-1986 Asiong Aksaya, Daily Express, Tagalog Klasiks, 1976-1984 Smolbatteribols, Darna Komiks 1972-1984 Siopawman, Daily Express, 1972-1983, 2002 Kalabogesyons, Pilipino Komiks, 1966-1972  Congressman Kalog, Aliwan Komiks, 1966-1972 Baryo Pogspak, Holiday Komiks, 1966-1972 Loverboy, Redondo Komiks, 1964-1969 Mang Ambo, Weekly Graphic, 1963-1965 Kalabog en Bosyo, Pilipino Komiks, 1949-1983 Islaw Palitaw, 1946-1948 His comic strips spiced up the slices of Filipino lives with witty illustrations executed throughout his 56 years of cartooning. He created over 500 characters and 20 comic strips in widely circulated publications. Alcala’s most iconic work, Slice of Life, not only made for decades long of widely circulated images of Filipino everyday life, it also symbolically became an experiential way for his followers to find a sense of self in the midst of an often cacophonic, raucous and at odds environment that Filipinos found themselves amidst. Theater DAISY H. AVELLANA Year Awarded: 1999 Place of Birth: Roxas City, Capiz Major Works or performances: a. Othello (1953) b. Portrait of the Artist as Filipino c. Macbeth in Black (1959) Directorial Credits a. Diego Silang (1968) b. Walang Sugat (1971) Screenplays a. Sakay (1939) b. Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (1955) 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 fellow 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. SEVERINO MONTANO Year Awarded: 2001 (Posthumously) Place of Birth: Laoag City, Ilocos Norte Major Awards: a. Patnubay ng Kalinangan Award (1968) b. Presidential Award for Merit in Dance and Theater (1961) c. Citizen’s Committee for Mass Media Award (1967, 1968) d. Pamulinawen Award (1981) Severino Montano is one of the heavyweights of Philippine theater. He has played various roles in theater production; he was 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 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 Tinio, Emmanuel Borlaza, Behn Cervantes, etc. Image source: https://nicleonhardt.wordpress.com/2019/07/07/iftr-2019-in-shanghai-talk-on-severino-montano-and-his-arena-theatre/