THE ORDER OF NATIONAL ARTISTS

The Order of National Artists The Criteria for the Selection of a National Artist
This Order of National Artists is the highest national honor and  Living artists who are natural-born Filipino citizens at the time
recognition who has contributed much to the development and of nomination, as well as those who died after the
promotion of Philippine Arts. establishment of the award in 1972 but were Filipino citizens at
the time of their death.
National Artist
 Artists who through the content and form of their works have
 Filipino artists who have made significant contributions to the contributed in building a Filipino sense of nationhood.
cultural heritage of the country  Artists who have pioneered in a mode of creative expression
 artistic accomplishment is at its highest level promoting or style, thus, earning distinction and making an impact on
creative expression and national cultural identity succeeding generations of artists.
 an artist who has dedicated his life and works to forge new
The Procedure in nominated as a Candidate for National Artist
paths and directions for future generations of Filipino artists
(National Center for Culture and the Arts, 2015). 1. Candidates may be nominated under one or more of the
following categories:
On Becoming a National Artist
 Dance - choreography, direction and/or performance.
 Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining  Music - composition, direction, and/or
 Presidential Proclamation No. 1001 performance
 April 27,1972  Theater - direction, performance and/or production design.
 The first award was conferred posthumously later that year on  Visual Arts - painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography,
Fernando Amorsolo. installation art, mixed media works, illustration, graphic
arts, performance art and/or imaging.
The proclaimed National Artists are awarded a Grand Collar as a  Literature - poetry, fiction, essay, playwriting, journalism
symbol of their title.  and/or literary criticism.
The rewards of being conferred as a National Artist:  Film and Broadcast Arts - direction, writing, production
design, cinematography, editing, camera work, and/or
 The rank and title of National Artist, as proclaimed by the performance.
President of the Philippines.  Architecture, Design and Allied Arts - architecture design,
 The National Artist gold-plated medallion minted by the interior design, industrial arts design, landscape
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) architecture and fashion design.
 KKK: Kagandahan, Katotohanan at Kabutihan 2. Members of the Special Research Group, as well as agencies
 200,000 during na Marcos and 250,000 during Duterte attached to the NCCA and CCP shall not submit nominations.
administration for the living awardees 3. NCCA and CCP Board members and consultants and NCCA
 150,000 to the family of the deceased artist and CCP officers and staff, and NCCA Committee members
 Libingan ng mga bayani are automatically disqualified from being nominated.
4. Includes a cover letter; a duly accomplished nomination form; Some of them were made for local movies while some became
a detailed curriculum vitae of the nominee; a list of the popular love songs which included: Saan ka Man naroon?, Kahit
nominee's significant works; portfolio of the nominees' art konting pagtingin
works and copies of published reviews;
Alice Reyes
Fernando Amorsolo
(October 14, 1942 - July 15, 2005)
(May 30, 1892-April 24, 1972)
National Artist for Dance (2014)
 developed the backlighting technique which became his
She is best known for "Bungkos Suite”.
trademark
 A product of the Art School of the Limn de Manila and the Alice Garcia Reyes become a significant part of Philippine dance
University of the Philippines, parlance. A dancer, choreographer, teacher, and director.
Amorsolo's masterpieces include: Alice Reyes masterpiece includes:
The El Ciego (1928), Dalagang Bukid (1936), Maiden in a Stream Amada, Itim-Asu, Bayanihan Remembered for Ballet Philippines,
(1921), The Mestiza (1943), Sunday Morning Going to Town At a Maranaw Gathering, Tales of the Manuon, Rama Hari
(1958), Muting RN, (1946)
Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez
Levi Celerio
(September 8, 1915 – November 28, 1999)
(April 30, 1910 - April 2, 2002)
National Artist for Literature (1997)
National Artist for Literature / Music (1997)
Better known as N.V.M. Gonzalez, fictionist, essayist, poet, and
Also known for using the leaf as a musical instrument. One of his teacher.
Popular works “sa ugoy ng duyan”
His first novel, The Winds of April, was published in 1941 and won
Education: University of the Philippines Diliman, Florentino Torres honorable mention for The Winds of April Commonwealth Literary
High School, Victorino Mapa High School Awards
Levi Celerio’s Life He attended National University at Manila, Philippines, but did not
finish his degree..
He was also included in the Guinness Book of World records as
the only person who made music through a leaf. Major works of N.V.M Gonzalez include the following:
Aside from being a musician, Celerio was also a poet and film The Winds of April, Seven Hills Away, The Bamboo Dancers
actor who appeared in various Philippine films of the 1950’s and
1960’s. Juan Nakpil
Levi Celerio’s Compositions (May 26, 1899 – May 7, 1986)

He was able to compose over 4,000 songs. National Artist for Architecture, (1973)
Juan Nakpil major works: Murals in marble at the National Heroes Shrine, Mt. Samat,
Bataan. His Sandugo or Blood Compact shrine in Barangay Bool,
The Geronimo de los Reyes Building, Magsaysay Building.
Tagbilaran City is a landmark at the site of the first international
He studied Engineering at the University of California, University treaty of friendship between Spaniards and Filipinos.
of Kansas, where he received his bachelor's degree in Mechanical
Engineering. Wilfredo Ma. Guerrero
Juan F. Nakpil is the dean of all architects in the Philippines as he (January 22, 1910 – April 28, 1995)
was a teacher, and civic leader as well. National Artist for Theater (1997)
He pursued Architecture in France at the Fontainebleau School of Filipino playwright, director, teacher, and theater artist.
fine arts.
He studied at the Ateneo de Manila University, at the University of
Juan Felipe Nakpil is famous of his major works: the Philippines, and briefly, at Columbia University.
Magsaysay Building, Manila Jockey Club, Rizal Theater. He also He wrote more than 100 plays with almost half published.
designed the International Eucharistic Congress altar and
improved the Quiapo Church in 1930 by erecting a dome and a Wilfredo Ma. Guerrero plays include 13 Plays:
second belfry.
(First published in 1947), 8 Other Plays (1952), 7 More Plays
Napoleon V. Abueva (1962),12 New Plays (1975), My Favorite 11 Plays (1976) 4 Latest
Plays (1980), and Retribution and eight other selected plays
(January 26, 1930 - February 16, 2018) (1980), Half an Hour in a Convent, Wanted: A Chapreon, Forever,
Condemned, Perhaps, In Untity, Deep in My Heart, Three Rats,
National Artist for Sculpture (1976)
Our Strange Ways, The Forsaken House, Frustration.
Also known as “Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture”
Catalino Ortiz Brocka
Full name: Esabelio Veloso Abueva.
(April 3, 1939 – May 22, 1991)
He was the youngest national Artist at age 46.
National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts (1997)
Education: Harvard University, UP College of Fine Arts, University
of the Philippines Diliman. Also known as Lino Brocka, was one of the Philippines' greatest
auteurs
Napoleon V. Abueva, a native of Bohol, was the youngest
National Artist awardee. Awards: FAMAS Award for Best Director, Sutherland Trophy.

Napoleon V. Abueva Works: Education: University of the Philippines System, Nueva Ecija High
School
Napoleon V. Abueva major works include:
He fought for “freedom of expression”
Kaganapan (1953), Kiss of Judas (1955), Thirty Pieces of Silver,
The Transfiguration (1979), Eternal Garden Memorial Park, UP Catalino “Lino” Ortiz Brocka fought for “freedom of expression” in
Gateway (1967), Nine Muses (1994), UP Faculty Center the Philippine Constitution.
He was able to create 66 films before his death. He earned his English degree from the University of the
Philippines.
He also directed not only commercial films but theater play
through the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) Ishmael Bernal Works:
and the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP).
Bernal is a director, actor and screenwriter.
At the same time, he garnered awards and recognition from
His masterpiece includes:
institutions like the CCP, FAMAS, TOYM, and Cannes Film
Festival. Nunal sa Tubig (1975), City After Dark (1980), Relasyon (1982),
Himala (1982), Broken Marriage (1983), Hinugot sa Langit (1985),
Catalino Ortiz Brocka Works:
Pahiram ng Isang Umaga (1989)
“Santiago” (1970), “Wanted: Perfect Mother” (1970), “Tubig sa
Also included in his works are his first film: Pagdatiug Sa Dulo; El
Ginto” (1971), “Stardoom” (1971), “Insiang” (1976), “Jaguar”
Vibora; Bontfacio; Tisoy; Pabling, Working Girls; Ligaw Na
(1979), “Bona” (1980), “Macho Dancer” (1989), “Tinimbang Ka
Bulaklak, Mister Mo, Lover Boy Ko; lkaw Ay Aking; Relasyon. Aliw;
Ngunit Kulang” (1974), “Maynila: Sa Kuko ng Liwanag” (1975)
Manila By Night.
His famouse films to name a few:
His filmography is primarily focused on the social issues of his
“Orapronobis” (1989) times as well as the social injustices whether in the personal or
social level. Bernal's art is beyond aesthetics.
“Makiusap Ka sa Diyos” (1991)
Bayan ko: Kapit sa Patalim (1984) Francisco V. Coching
It was only in 1997, that he was posthumously given the National (January 29, 1919 – September 1, 1998)
Artist of the Philippines for film award. However his life was short National Artist for Visual Arts (2014)
lived as Brocka Died in a vehicular accident on May 22, 1991.
He is also known as the “King of Komiks” and the “Dean of Filipino
Ishmael Bernal illustrators”
(30 September 1938 – 2 June 1996) Studied art through a correspondence school
National Artist for Cinema (2001) Spouse: Filomena Navales (m. 1944–1998)
“The genius of Philippine cinema “ Books: El Indio: a graphic novel
He was also accorded the rare honor of being called a true He was a Filipino comic books illustrator and writer who worked
maestro. for the Liwayway magazine
Education: University of the Philippines System As his works were products of his fertile imagination, passion for
storytelling, and excellent draftsmanship.
Awards: Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Director
His first creation was 'Bing Bigotilyo', a comic about a bungling
Books: Pro Bernal Anti Bio
playboy, which appeared in Silahis Magazine.
After the War, Coching created Hagibis, who is strong character in
liwayway Magazine, Sabas, ang Barbaro, Pedro Penduko, El
Indio, Bertong Balutan, Don Cobarde, Ang kaluluwa ni Dante,
Pagano, Haring Ulupong, Dumagit and many more.
Unfortunately at a young age of 54 Coching retired after producing
53 komik novels, He died on September 1, 1998 at the age of 79.
Francisco V. Conching Works:
His creations include Marabini (Marahas na Binibini ) or the strong
seductive, modern women of his comics. Later characters are
Pusakal, Talipandas, Gigolo, and Maldita, the heroes Dimasalang
and El Vibora.

Ramon Valera
(August 31, 1912 – May 25, 1972)
National Artist for Fashion Design (2006)
Also known as the “Dean of Philippine Fashion”
Filipino Designers consider Valera as the ‘High priest of local
Fashion’
Education: De La Salle University Manila
Valera designed the inaugural gowns of all the first ladies from
Aurora Quezon to Imelda Marcos
He created the “Terno”
He is said to be the first “National Artist for Fashion Design” A
product of the De La sale from his elementary and High school
education valera was not able to earn his degree from FEU due to
financial constraints.
His passion, commitment and expertise in Fashion Design is
exemplary.
Accordingly, he created the “Terno” by combining in one-piece set
the four-piece ensemble with a blouse, skirt, over-skirt, and scarf.
The four pieces were combined with a zipper at the back and
oversized bell sleeves or ‘Butterfly sleeves’.