Eyebrows have been raised over some names included in the new list of the country’s National Artists. Named National Artist for Theater was Cecille Guidote-Alvarez, incidentally the executive director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), which oversees the selection process of the National Artist Awards together with the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Alvarez is also the presidential adviser on culture.
According to a report by Newsbreak, it is a ’shameless’ selection. Alvarez runs the the awards secretariat, and advises Malacañang on matters that concern the sector for which the award is intended. Says the report, “Actually, [some artists] also feared that President Arroyo would do dagdag-bawas on the list of awardees that the Council of Experts submitted. That, Gng. Gloria also did. She inserted not just 1 name but 4.”
Carlo J. Caparas was also named National Artist for Visual Arts and Film along with the late Manuel Conde (whose production of his self-starring Genghis Khan made waves at the 1952 Venice Film Festival) for cinema, Federico Aguilar Alcuaz for visual arts, Lazaro Franciso for literature, Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa for architecture, and Jose “Pitoy” Moreno for fashion design.
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Click here to read SPOT.ph blogger Lourd de Veyra’s alternative list for the National Artists Awards.
Click here to read Part 2 of Lourd de Veyra’s Alternative National Artist List.
Another case of dagdag bawas? in the past, the country’s president like Ramos or Estrada, would shoe in one or two of their favorites. But Gloria added four names to the list and dropped Prof Ramon Santos, clearly abusing her power as president even in the field of culture and arts. Why Pitoy Moreno and Cecile Guidote Alvarez? Why, why, why?
Unfortunately, because she can can can can can. That’s the sad fate of the arts under PGMA.
Simple lang. Si Cecile Guidotte Alvarez, walang delicadeza. Siya ang nagpapatakbo ng NCCA at nagbibigay ng payo kung sino ang dapat tumanggap ng National Artists Award, at eto ngayon, naka bantay salakay. Dapat, magresign na siya sa NCCA kung tatangapin niya ang award dahil bukod sa may conflict of interest, double compensation pa siya. Yan ang ayaw na ayaw ng Commission on Audit at ng Sandigang Bayan.
This year’s National Artists awards definitely makes a mockery of the “National Artist” Award. What did Cecille Guidote Alvarez do that merited her the Award?? And what did Carlo J do also to get the Award. Both of them are very close to GMA, and I guess that is what they did, get close to GMA. GMA deserves some “Batok” for her Choices.
OMGMA! Pati ba naman yan pinakialaman ni GMA? Wala siyang K! What does she know? And why are the artists not rising up in arms? Ok lang ba sa kanila?
It’s patently ridiculous that Carlo J. Caparas was awarded with the title for Visual Arts and Film. Clearly, these two categories are separate, so “Visual Arts” means CJC’s work in comics.
The puzzling thing is, CJC is NOT an illustrator. He has never drawn any of this comic book stories, least of all his most popular creations. Panday and Pieta were drawn by Steve Gan. Bakekang was drawn by Mar Santana.
How can someone who is NOT a visual artist get the National Artist title for Visual Arts?
It is illogical, it is ridiculous, and it is insulting to every visual artist out there, including those who deserve it so much more, like Francisco V. Coching and Larry Alcala, who should have been awarded this title long ago.
Dios mio, kung ako si Caparas, hindi ko tatanggapin ang award. Kung ako naman yung mga ibang National Artist, isosoli ko ang award ko. When something is too ubiquitous, too easily obtained, it loses its special character. Walang kuwenta.
this system is just exasperating! sadly, we allow it.
Dumb, thats all i can say…
I dont question Pitoy Moreno’s inclusion. My only beef is with Alvarez since she runs the awards. out of delicadeza she should have opted out, though im sure she has her fair share in the arts. For Caparas, there is some bias, since he has been a strong GMA supporter since before.