The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) held a  testimonial dinner in honor of National Artist awardee-on-hold Carlo J.Caparas August 27 at the Hasmin Hostel in the university's M.H. Del Pilar Campus, reports meltormes.wordpress.com. The PUP has invited Caparas to be a visiting lecturer of visual arts and film.

At the event, Caparas was awarded a medallion for his achievements and was emotional when he received it, reports Pep.ph. He said, "Ito ay medalyon ng pagkilala ng PUP.   Para sa akin napakahalaga nito dahil ang PUP ang isa sa pinakamalaking pamantasan sa ating bansa.   Mahigit sa 50,000 ang kanilang estudyante at para pagkalooban ng ganitong karangalan ay napakalaking bagay sa katulad ko na di man lang nakatuntong sa mataas na paaralan o pamantasan."

The tribute was organized by the PUP's Office of the President, University Center for Culture and Arts (UCCA), and College of Language and Linguistics. UCCA  Director Segundo Dizon said in his testimony about the honoree, "the essence of Carlo J. Caparas is still becoming," says the meltormes blog.

While Caparas' appointment as National Artist has been met by numerous protests by former National Artist awardees and the artists' community, his supporters include  PUP president Dante Guevarra,  former MTRCB chief Manuel "Manoling" Morato and Dante Jimenez, head of the nongovernment Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), boxing champion Manny Paquiao, Senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, Joe Lad Santos of the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino, reports the Inquirer.

About his supposed closeness to President Gloria Arroyo, Caparas also told Pep.ph, "Malapit ang loob ko sa Presidente dahil naniniwala ako sa liderato niya, pero walang palakasan sa Presidente.   Sa pagkakakilala ko sa kanya na huling nakausap ko nung ilunsad ang    [CJC]  Komiks nung     nung [2007], ang ating Presidente ay tagasuporta ng sining ng komiks, ng telebisyon at pelikula.   Nung nakita ko na tagasuporta siya ng komiks, telebisyon at pelikula, awtomatiko, napalapit ang loob ko sa kanya."