Aside from the honor, awardees get the following: a cash award of P100,000 (net of taxes); P75,000 (net of taxes) for posthumous awardees paid to legal heirs; monthly life pension, medical and hospitalization benefits; life insurance coverage for Awardees who are still insurable; arrangements and expenses for a state funeral; and a place of honor at national state functions, and recognition at cultural events.
The Best of the Best: Criteria for Selection
Artists who are nominated are selected with the following criteria:
â– Ź Through content and form of their works have contributed in building a Filipino sense of nationhood;
â– Ź Have pioneered in a mode of creative expression or style, thus, earning distinction and making an impact on succeeding generations of artists;
â– Ź Artists who have created a substantial and significant body of works and/or consistently displayed excellence;
â– Ź Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through: prestigious national and/or international recognition, such as the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining, CCP Thirteen Artists Award and NCCA Alab ng Haraya; acclaim and review of their works;
â– Ź Respect and esteem from peers;
â– Ź Artists who are Filipino citizens at the time of nomination, as well as those who died after the establishment of the award in 1972 but were Filipino citizens at the time of their death.
The presentation of awards is usually made on June 11 or any appropriate date in fitting ceremonies to be organized by the National Artist Award Secretariat, according to the NCCA website.
Previous awardees include Ramon Obusan (Dance), Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal (cinema), Napoleon Abueva, Ang Kiukok, Arturo Luz, Carlos "Botong" Francisco (Art), Levi Celerio, Lucrecia Kasilag (music), Nick Joaquin, Bienvenido Lumbera (literature) and Atang dela Rama (Theater and Film).
For the complete list, click here.
WAG NA PUMALAG IRESPETO NALANG KUNG SINO ANG MGA NAHIRANG!!!!