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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The Arrogance of Protesting National Artists

A surprise histrionic attack was launched on the selection of the 2009 National Artists proclaimed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. When the Cultural Center of the Philippines finds it convenient, its leadership appeals not to inject politics into the arts as it has become the object of protests by victims of the martial law regime of Marcos. The CCP is now in a controversy for its recognition or restoration of a discredited conjugal dictatorship. Yet obviously, the CCP after fueling the national artist brouhaha, surprisingly, has directed a political assault on the President with her duty and authority of giving a State Award. At the Congressional hearing, the Minutes of the meeting of the NCCA Board signed by some of protesting CCP officials and National Artists like Rio Almario and Eddie Romero and son of National Artist, Felipe De Leon were unfolded. The November 6 and December 4, 1997 discussion respectively states as follows:

“c. The two Boards concluded that it is within the President’s prerogative to create new categories as well as declare awardees without the benefit of passing through formal selection process.” (November 6, 2007; NCCA Minutes of the Regular Commission Meeting, page 3)

And

“It was emphasized that the NCCA Commissioners and the CCP Trustees acknowledge the authority and prerogative of the President of the Philippines to create National Artist Categories, to disapprove recommendations made to him by the NCCA and CCP, or to designate National Artists on his own initiative.” (last paragraph, page 2; December 4, 1997; NCCA Minutes of the Regular Commission Meeting)

Clearly, from these meetings since 1997, there was a consensus and unanimity after resolving the rancor against President Fidel Ramos choice of Carlos Quirino for a new category of historical literature. To quote Shakespeare “it was all sound and fury signifying nothing” since in the end, CCP-NCCA Joint Board acknowledged Presidential authority and prerogative to proclaim National Artists. Their function is limited to advise. The entire melodrama of protests for 2009 was maliciously conjured up as a media magnet of hitting the President and unleashing a smear and vilification campaign against the persona of the 2009 National Artists. Unfortunately, whoever IS the Machiavellian gang who started the vicious trial by publicity unfairly misled a whole community and paved a highway of conflict where there should be none.

The prevailing rule is Executive Order No. 236 which rationalized all government awards into an Honors Code creating an Honors Committee to assist the President which has the capacity to liaise with appropriate government agencies such as the CCP and NCCA for preliminary recommendation and selection as well as receive other nominations and consult with expert resource persons in the field to provide additional advise for the President’s judgment. To make sure that there is no variance or difference of interpretation of the CCP-NCCA role, Executive Order 435 amending Section 5 of the Honors Code underscored its function as advisory and not mandatory.







We congratulate the President for her discernment in choosing Bobby Mañosa, who pioneered a distinctive fILIPINO architecture through use of indigenous materials, Pitoy Moreno dubbed Asia’s fashion czar, Carlo Caparas, the Comics King for his voluminous work of comics stories that have been transformed into TV and film as part of his efforts to revive the comics industry: as well as giving a long overdue recognition to Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, the youngest Filipina to have received a Ramon Magsaysay Outstanding Asian Award as PETA Founder linking Philippine theatre to the international arena since 1972and hailed as the 1st UNESCO Artist for Peace Awardee from our country IN 2003. Even in exile she merited the UN Human Rights Day Award for Theatrical innovation and provided cultural services to Filipinos abroad.

Where is the abuse? Their credentials are solid. If they were daughters or brothers or political allies without qualifications, only then can you raise the issue of the President’s abuse of discretion. When the protestors including the children of Marcos berated her as an over rated artist raised the issue against certain prohibitions on Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, the Office of the Solicitor General analyzed that it is not prescribed by the internal rule of CCP-NCCA they cited as they are deemed unrelated or impertinent to her status. She was not nominated in the CCP-NCCA process where she was involved as the head of the coordinating secretariat. She also did not participate in the Honors Committee deliberation where she was nominated by Ramon Magsaysay Awardee and Congressional Medal of Merit Awardee. Fr. James B. Rueter, S.J., National Artist, Dr. Alejandro R. Roces and Sen. Edgardo Angara among others.

Corollarily, the President’s proclamation of Alvarez is not unprecedented. The late Carlos P. Romulo was declared National Artist during his incumbency as Secretary of Foreign Affairs by President Marcos. Until Congress comes up with an amendment or create a new law to govern the selection of National Artists, we must respect the rule of law. I attended the Congressional Hearing presided by Rep. Del De Guzman providing a chance for Dialogue instead of one sided accusations. We advise people to look at the facts rather than adhere to a culture of gossip and vendetta. There are some protesters who may have some axe to grind against some of the proclaimed National Artists. There are also those who relish the protest venue for their party list membership in aid of election.

It would be good for Congress to look into the parameters of a parallel National Medal of Arts in the US where the President is given the freehand as head of state to select from among the names submitted by the National Council of Arts and the National Endowment of the Arts as well as include those of his own initiative as long as it does not exceed a list of 12 artists annually.

What is amazing is the arrogance and lack of delicadeza of some national artists claiming monopoly of artistic expertise, excellence and exceptional body of works. We lay our trust on the SC for their decision on the legalities of the proclamation. When the CCP board wanted to arrogate upon itself the selection of trustees and whipped out a storm amongst themselves, the Supreme Court rendered its judgment on the pre-eminence of presidential prerogative. Here we go again, there is a saying: Those who do not learn from their past are condemned to relive it.


Commissioner Abdulrahman
Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF)

Mahina talaga ang pang-unawa nitong kapalmuks na 'to.

@Chauder,

Kawawa ka naman kung ang standard of excellence mo pala eh si CJC. Grow-up!

Yep! Caparas does have the right to receive an award. So do my pets.

My Gosh ang mga tita tito or Lolo and lola nyo lumaki na nagbabasa ng Komiks. ako nga natuto magbasa dahil sa komiks... Carlo J. Caparas deserved to be a national artist, napaka talented, a director, writer and amarami pang iba... over qualified pa nga sya eh.at kilala sya..kaya please lubayan nyo na siya.

Daoat nga ki Carlo eh mag bagong ANYO na siya. Mukha siyang Mabaho eh. Pagupit ka na Carlo, at palitan mo na ang dark glasses mo ng clear John Lennon lens. Palitan mo na rin ang baseball cap mo ng black beret. At Mag amerikana ka, at leather shoes.

Huwag ka na lang kaya kumibo. After all "NATIONAL ARTIST" ka na. Ang gawin mo na lang mag change image ka na lang para magmukha ka MALINIS. Mukha ka kasing madusing sa ayos mo.

For me, Carlo j. doesn't deserve the national artist award.

Carlo, please, maawa ka sa mga anak mo. Hindi bale na nga siguro ikaw, kasi naipagtatanggol mo'ng sarili mong kahit paano. Pero paanong tatayo ang anak mo pag nilait sila ng iba?

I believe CJC doesn't deserve the title National Artist for "Visual Arts" that's all, pero nirerespeto ko padin naman sya as tao, I don't want to level myself sa mga taong kala mo kung sino sa pagsasalita ng mga bad words. Stick to the point guys wag kayong bastos, kung sya ginagawa nya pls. wag naman tayo.

obvious nman na atat na atat ciang makuha ung award, nakakahiya. bat di nalang tumahimik. so greed

wag nyong awayin c carlo..talagang bobo yan eh..hindi nya kayo maintindihan..xempre nga namn, award yun eh..bakit hindi mo tatanggapin kng binibigay sa 'yo. kailangan lng nya ng pera..at xempre honor pra namn lumakas ang loob nya..tinggnan nyo ang GMA, pinapanigan nla si carlo j caparas, ksi namn binili nla lahat ng komiks nya pra sabihin nla magpromote ng kanilang baduy na teleserye..a remake of a work of a prestigious komiks king, national artist awardee, carlo j caparas..hahahaha

Delusional! If ever he gets the national Artist award he will be getting our TAX MONEY to create more of those awful movies. Isn't it enough that we are being treated like mindless twits by those TV shows and movies by recycling material over and over again? and now more massacre movies?

napakatanga lang talaga nya. grrr

Carlo J. Caparas = BOBO

pinagtatawanan ka sa kamangmangan mo Carlo ... ang kapal ng mukha mong ipangalandakan ang mga drawing mo sa national television ... ni hindi nga namin alam kung gawa mo nga iyon. Tapos ang lakas pa ng loob mong sabihin kay Celeste Legaspi na "kahit saang anggulo kaya kitang ipinta, kahit nakahubad ka pa" .... napakabastos mong tao! ... "A true National Artist does not need to drag his drawings on National Television to justify himself ... his work should speak for itself."

carlo wag ka ng mag puputak lalo lang nabubuko na swapang ka sa award, magnanakaw, walang kadelekadesa, walang respeto sa sarili at mangmang! Tahimik ka na lang lalong dumadami ang kaaway mo ... kawawa ka naman!

“Yung mga pumupuna siguro sa akin, it’s either minamaliit nila kakayahan ko o gusto nilang nasa katayuan ko sila, sinamampalad lang na nandoon sila sa labas at nakatingin na lang,” Caparas said.

Carlo, tunay mo bang inaakalang kinaiinggitan ka ng kahit sinong nasa sining ngayon?

Duh....

National Artist ka lang kapag itinuturing kang ganoon ng mga colleagues mo sa sining, hindi kapag binansagan ka lang "National Artist" ng presidente.

Dehins gets, dehins gets.... Kawawang mangmang.

Carlo J. Caparas has the capacity to become National Artist... anyone of us can be an artist. The midpoint of this issue is that THEY DIDN'T UNDERGO in RIGHT PROCESS.. RIGHT PROCESS.... hindi po dumaan sa TAMANG PROSESO kaya po sila nagproprotesta.