Controversy surrounding the new list of National Artists has reached fever pitch among the country's most renowned artists with the naming of Cecille Guidote-Alvarez (as National Artist for Theater) and Carlo J. Caparas (National Artist for Visual Arts and Film). National Artist for Visual Arts in 2006 Ben Cabrera has called the list "a mockery," and will boycott the awards ceremony along with fellow National Artists Arturo Luz, Napoleon Abueva and Bienvenido Lumbera.
What does it mean to be a National Artist and how exactly do you get the honor? SPOT.ph gives you the lowdown.
The Order of National Artists (Orden ng Gawad 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 and Broadcast Arts, and Architecture and Allied Arts. The award is jointly administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and bestowed by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation by both the NCCA and the CCP.
The awardees are measured by their vision, insight, creativity, imagination and technical proficiency in expressing Filipino culture, tradition and aspirations. Started in 1972, the award was established under Proclamation No. 1001 to give due recognition to artists. The first award was given posthumously to artist Fernando Amorsolo the year after. In 2003, the National Artist Award was raised to the level of a Cultural Order, meaning the award is equal in rank to the Order of National Scientists and the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan.
WAG NA PUMALAG IRESPETO NALANG KUNG SINO ANG MGA NAHIRANG!!!!