Meet the 10 New National Artists of the Philippines

(SPOT.ph) Ten new National Artists for 2025 have officially been named under Proclamation No. 1414, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on September 1, as confirmed by Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez.

The new National Artist awardees span literature, visual arts, architecture, dance, design, film and television, theater, and music.

For Literature, the order recognizes creative writer, film and theater critic, and socio-political studies scholar Nicanor Tiongson, alongside creative writer and Palanca Hall of Famer Gregorio Brillantes, who is known for his acclaimed English-language short stories.

In Visual Arts, printmaker and visual artist Imelda Cajipe Endaya becomes the first woman to be recognized in the category. She joins fellow visual artist Nunelucio Alvarado, known as “Maestro Nune,” whose socio-realist paintings often depict the lives of sugar plantation workers.

In Architecture, Gabriel Formoso is recognized for his contributions to Philippine architecture, including his work on the Bangko Sentral Complex in Manila.

Rafael “Nonoy” Froilan joins the order for Dance. A pioneer of Ballet Philippines, Froilan is widely regarded as the country’s “premier danseur.”

Maria Beatriz “Patis” Tesoro, known as the Grand Dame of Philippine Fashion, is recognized for her contributions to Design. Beyond her inventive interpretations of the terno silhouette, Tesoro has championed the preservation and use of traditional Philippine textiles, particularly piña.

Multi-awarded screenwriter Armando “Bing” Lao joins the roster for Film and Television. He is best known for his screenplays for films including Brillante Mendoza’s Kinatay, Jeffrey Jeturian’s Kubrador and Pila Balde, and Chito S. Roño’s Suntok sa Buwan.

In Theater, Teodoro “Teddy” Hilado, widely regarded as the Father of Lighting Design in Philippine Theater, was recognized for his contributions to the field. Hilado is known for his “grand but quiet” approach to lighting, using the medium to enhance a production without overpowering the performance. Beyond the stage, his work has also illuminated notable architectural spaces and landmarks, including the tomb of Jaime Cardinal Sin at the Manila Cathedral and Tower One & Exchange Plaza along Ayala Avenue in Makati, as well as churches in Bataan, Dagupan, Nueva Ecija, and other parts of the country.

Rounding out the new roster is composer and conductor Alfredo S. Buenaventura, recognized for a body of work spanning opera, dance dramas, cantatas, and chamber music. His compositions draw from local folklore and explore the Filipino experience.

Formoso, Hilado, Lao, and Brillantes received the honor posthumously, as the artists passed away in 1994, 2015, 2024, and 2025, respectively.

Although announced in 2026, the awardees are recognized as National Artists for 2025, having been nominated and evaluated for the distinction the year prior.

Aside from receiving the highly coveted rank and title of National Artist, each of them will receive a gold-plated medallion minted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, a citation, and a Grand Collar during formal ceremonies.

They are also entitled to lifetime benefits, including a P200,000 cash award and a monthly stipend of P50,000. They are also entitled to medical and hospitalization benefits of up to PHP750,000 per year and life insurance coverage through the Government Service Insurance System. Upon their death, National Artists receive a State Funeral, with the government shouldering all arrangements and expenses.

The Order of the National Artists is the highest national recognition awarded to Filipinos who have made distinct and significant contributions to Philippine arts and letters, such as Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film and Broadcast Arts, and Architecture and Allied Arts. You can think of it as our version of the US National Medal for the Arts and Japan's Order of Culture.

The President of the Philippines confers the order on the advice of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), which vet and nominate artists for the order through a special panel and jury of experts specifically brought together to screen and evaluate nominees for the awards.

The CCP and the NCCA base their nominations on a broad set of criteria which includes:

• Living artists who have been Filipino citizens for the last ten years prior to nomination, including those who have died after the establishment of the award in 1972 and were Filipino citizens at the time of their death.

• Artists who have helped build a Filipino sense of nationhood through the content and form of their works.

• Artists who have distinguished themselves by pioneering a mode of creative expression or style, making an impact on succeeding generations of artists.

• Artists who have created a significant body of works and/or have consistently displayed excellence in the practice of their art form, enriching artistic expression or style.

• Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through:

  • Prestigious national and/or international recognition, like the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining, CCP Thirteen Artists Award, and the NCCA Alab ng Haraya.

  • Critical acclaim and/or reviews of their works.

  • Respect and esteem from peers within an artistic discipline.

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