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The Order of National Artists

Basahin sa Filipino (https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/pabatid-ang-orden-ng-mga-pambansang-alagad-

ng-sining/)

WHAT IS A NATIONAL ARTIST?

A National Artist is a Filipino citizen who has been given the rank and title of National Artist in recognition
of his or her significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts and letters.

The rank and title of National Artist is conferred by means of a Presidential Proclamation. It recognizes
excellence in the fields of Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film and Broadcast Arts, and
Architecture or Allied Arts.

WHAT IS THE ORDER OF NATIONAL ARTISTS?

Those who have been proclaimed National Artists are given a Grand Collar symbolizing their status.
Recipients of this Grand Collar make up the Order of National Artists. The Order of National Artists (Orden
ng Gawad Pambansang Alagad ng Sining) is thus a rank, a title, and a wearable award that represents the
highest national recognition given to Filipinos who have made distinct
contributions in the field of arts and letters. It is jointly administered by the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural
Center of the Philippines (CCP), and is conferred by the President of the
Philippines upon recommendation by both institutions.

As one of the Honors of the Philippines, it embodies the nation’s highest

ideals in humanism and aesthetic expression through the distinct
achievements of individual citizens. The Order of National Artists shares similarities with orders,
decorations, and medals of other countries recognizing contributions to their national culture such as, the
U.S. National Medal for the Arts, and the Order of Culture of Japan.

According to the rules of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, the Order of National Artists
should be conferred every three years.

THE INSIGNIA OF THE ORDER OF NATIONAL ARTISTS

The insignia of the Order of the National Artists is
composed of a Grand Collar featuring circular links
portraying the arts, and an eight-pointed conventionalized
sunburst suspended from a sampaguita wreath in green
and white enamel. The central badge is a medallion divided
into three equal portions, red, white, and blue, recalling the
Philippine flag, with three stylized letter Ks—the “KKK”
stands for the CCP’s motto: “katotohanan, kabutihan, at
kagandahan” (“the true, the good, and the beautiful”), as
coined by then first lady Mrs. Imelda Romualdez Marcos,
the CCP’s founder. The composition of the Grand Collar is
silver gilt bronze. In place of a rosette there is an enameled
pin in the form of the insignia of the order.

WHEN WAS THE ORDER OF NATIONAL ARTISTS CREATED?

It was established by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1001, s. 1972
(https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1972/04/27/proclamation-no-1001/), which created the Award and
Decoration of National Artist, “to give appropriate recognition and prestige to Filipinos who have
distinguished themselves and made outstanding contributions to Philippine arts and letters,” and which
posthumously conferred the award on the painter Fernando Amorsolo, who had died earlier that year.

LEGAL BASIS OF THE ORDER OF NATIONAL ARTISTS

Proclamation No. 1144, s. 1973 (https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1973/05/15/proclamation-no-1144/)
named the CCP Board of Trustees as the National Artist Awards Committee (or Secretariat). Presidential
Decree No. 208, s. 1973 reiterated the mandate of the CCP to administer the National Artist Awards as
well as the privileges and honors to National Artists.

Executive Order No. 236 s. 2003 (http://www.ncca.gov.ph/downloads/EO%20236.pdf), otherwise known

as the Honors Code of the Philippines, conferred additional prestige on the National Artist Award by
raising it to the level of a Cultural Order, fourth in precedence among the orders and decorations that
comprise the Honors of the Philippines, and equal in rank to the Order of National Scientists and the
Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan. The National Artist Award was thereby renamed the Order of National
Artists (Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining). This reflected the consensus among government
cultural agencies and the artistic community that the highest possible international prestige and
recognition should be given our National Artists. Section 5 of EO 236 stated the President may confer the
Order of National Artists “upon the recommendation of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).”

Executive Order No. 435, s. 2005 (https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2005/06/08/executive-order-no-435-

s-2005/) amended Section 5 (IV) of EO 236, giving the President the power to name National Artists
without need of a recommendation, relegating the NCCA and the CCP to mere advisory bodies that may
or may not be heeded. This expanded President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s flexibility to proclaim National
Artists at her discretion, which led to the controversy of 2009 and the subsequent intervention of the
Supreme Court by issuing a status quo ante order against the awardees that year.

In May 2009, four recommendations were sent to President Arroyo by the Secretariat. President Arroyo
issued proclamations on July 2009 for three, excluding for one nominee, Ramon P. Santos.

In addition, President Arroyo issued proclamations for four individuals who were not recommended,
namely, Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, Francisco T. Mañosa, Magno Jose J. Caparas, and Jose “Pitoy” Moreno.
These four artists have not been vetted and deliberated upon by the Secretariat.

As a result, the majority of living national artists (Almario, Lumbera, et. al.) filed a petition questioning
President Arroyo’s abuse of her discretion by proclaiming as national artists individuals (Guidote-Alvarez,
Caparas, Mañosa, and Moreno) who have not gone through the rigorous screening and selection process
of the NCCA and the CCP.

In July 2013, the Supreme Court, in the case of Almario vs the Executive Secretary (GR No. 189028
(http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2013/july2013/189028.pdf), July 16, 2013), invalidated President
Arroyo’s proclamations of four national artists. It decided that, as the source of all honors, the President
has the discretion to reject or approve nominees. However, the President does not have the discretion to
amend the list by adding names that did not go through the NCCA-CCP process. The discretion is
confined to the names submitted by the NCCA and CCP.

From 2009 until 2011, in the absence of any resolution by the Supreme Court, the Secretariat had the
impression that they may not process any future nominations. The Order of the National Artists is
supposed to be proclaimed every three years.

When the Secretariat consulted the Office of the Solicitor General, clarification was provided. The
Supreme Court’s status quo ante order only applied to the batch of 2009 nominees. Therefore, upon the
advice of the Solicitor General, the Secretariat decided to once more proceed with the process.

PROCESS OF NOMINATION AND CONFERMENT OF THE

ORDER

(https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/images/uploads/filler1.png)
CRITERIA FOR THE ORDER OF NATIONAL ARTISTS
1. Living artists who are Filipino citizens at the time of nomination, as well as those who died after the
establishment of the award in 1972 but were Filipino citizens at the time of their death;

2. Artists who, through the content and form of their works, have contributed in building a Filipino sense
of nationhood;
3. Artists who have pioneered in a mode of creative expression or style, thus
earning distinction and making an impact on succeeding generations of
artists;

4. Artists who have created a substantial and significant body of work

and/or consistently displayed excellence in the practice of their art form thus
enriching artistic expression or style; and

5. Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through:

• prestigious national and/or international recognition, such as the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining, CCP
Thirteen Artists Award and NCCA Alab ng Haraya;

• critical acclaim and/or reviews of their works;

• respect and esteem from peers.

Those submitting nominations for National Artist must submit the following:

• A cover letter from the nominating organization. The cover letter shall be accompanied by a Board
Resolution approving the nomination concerned with the said resolution signed by the organization
President and duly certified by the Board Secretary.

• A duly accomplished nomination form;

• A detailed curriculum vitae of the nominee;

• A list of the nominee’s significant works categorized according to the

criteria;

• The latest photograph (color or black and white) of the nominee, either 5″ x
7″ or 8″ x 11″;

• Pertinent information materials on the nominee’s significant works (on CDs, VCDs and DVDs);

• Copies of published reviews; and

• Any other document that may be required.

To the following addresses:

The NATIONAL ARTIST AWARD SECRETARIAT Office of the Artistic Director Cultural Center of the
Philippines Roxas Boulevard, 1300 Pasay City

The NATIONAL ARTIST AWARD SECRETARIAT Office of the Deputy Executive Director National
Commission for Culture and the Arts 633 General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila

A member of the Order of National Artists are granted the following honors and privileges:

1. The rank and title of National Artist, as proclaimed by the President of the Philippines;

2. The insignia of a National Artist and a citation;

3. A lifetime emolument and material and physical benefits comparable in value to those received by the
highest officers of the land such as:

a. a cash award of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) net of taxes, for living awardees;

b. a cash award of Seventy Five Thousand Pesos (P75,000.00) net of taxes, for posthumous awardees,
payable to legal heir/s;

c. a monthly life pension, medical and hospitalization benefits;

d. life insurance coverage for Awardees who are still insurable;

e. a state funeral and burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani;

f. a place of honor, in line with protocular precedence, at national state functions, and recognition at
cultural events.

____________________

Source: The NCCA’s National Artists of the Philippines Guidelines (http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-

ncca/org-awards/org-awards-national-artist-guidelines.php). For more information on Philippine arts
and culture, please visit www.ncca.gov.ph (http://www.ncca.gov.ph/)
APPENDIX: THE ROSTER OF NATIONAL ARTISTS

Awardee Date of Award Category

1. Fernando Amorsolo (++) 1972 Painting

2. Francisca R. Aquino (+) 1973 Dance

3. Carlos V. Francisco (++) 1973 Painting

4. Amado V. Hernandez (++) 1973 Literature

5. Antonio J. Molina (+) 1973 Music

6. Juan F. Nakpil (+) 1973 Architecture

7. Guillermo E. Tolentino (+) 1973 Sculpture

8. Jose Garcia Villa (+) 1973 Literature

9. Napoleon V. Abueva 1976 Sculpture

10. Lamberto V. Avellana (+) 1976 Theater and Film

11. Leonor O. Goquingco (+) 1976 Dance

12. Nick Joaquin (+) 1976 Literature

13. Jovita Fuentes (+) 1976 Music

14. Victorio C. Edades (+) 1976 Painting

15. Pablo S. Antonio (++) 1976 Architecture

16. Vicente S. Manansala (++) 1981 Painting

17. Carlos P. Romulo (+) 1982 Literature

18. Gerardo de Leon (++) 1982 Film

19. Honorata “Atang” dela Rama (++) 1987 Theater and Music

20. Antonio R. Buenaventura (+) 1988 Music

21. Lucrecia R. Urtula (+) 1988 Dance

22. Lucrecia R. Kasilag (+) 1989 Music

23. Francisco Arcellana (+) 1990 Literature

24. Cesar Legaspi (+) 1990 Visual Arts

25. Leandro V. Locsin (+) 1990 Architecture

26. Hernando R. Ocampo (++) 1991 Visual Arts

27. Lucio D. San Pedro (+) 1991 Music

28. Lino Brocka (++) 1997 Cinema

29. Felipe D. De Leon (++) 1997 Music

30. Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero (++) 1997 Theater

31. Rolando S. Tinio (++) 1997 Theater & Literature

32. Levi Celerio (+) 1997 Music & Literature

33. N.V.M. Gonzales (++) 1997 Literature

34. Arturo Luz 1997 Visual Arts

35. Jose Maceda (+) 1997 Music

36. Carlos Quirino (+) 1997 Historical Literature

37. J. Elizalde Navarro (++) 1999 Painting

38. Prof. Andrea Veneracion (+) 1999 Music

39. Edith L. Tiempo (+) 1999 Literature

40. Daisy Avellana (+) 1999 Theater

41. Ernani Cuenco (++) 1999 Music

42. F. Sionil Jose 2001 Literature

43. Ang Kiukok (+) 2001 Visual Arts

44. Ishmael Bernal (++) 2001 Film

45. Severino Montano (++) 2001 Theater

46. Jose T. Joya (++) 2003 Visual Arts (Painting)

47. Virgilio S. Almario 2003 Literature

48. Alejandro Roces (+) 2003 Literature

49. Eddie S. Romero (+) 2003 Film & Broadcast Arts

50. Salvador F. Bernal (+) 2003 Theater & Design

51. Ben Cabrera 2006 Visual Arts

52. Abdulmari Asia Imao 2006 Visual Arts

53. Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera 2006 Literature

54. Ramon Obusan (+) 2006 Dance

55. Fernando Poe Jr. (++) 2006 Film

56. Archt. Ildefonso Santos, Jr. (+) 2006 Landscape Architecture

57. Ramon Valera (++) 2006 Fashion Design

58. Manuel Conde* (++) 2009 Cinema

59. Lazaro A. Francisco* (++) 2009 Literature

60. Federico Aguilar Alcuaz* (++) 2009 Visual Arts

61. Alice Reyes 2014 Dance

62. Francisco V. Coching (++) 2014 Visual Arts

63. Cirilo F. Bautista 2014 Literature

64. Francisco F. Feliciano (++) 2014 Music

65. Ramon P. Santos 2014 Music

 66. Jose Maria V. Zaragoza (++) 2014 Architecture

Legend: (+) deceased; (++) posthumous conferment; * declared valid by Supreme Court GR No. 189028
(http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2013/july2013/189028.pdf)

____________

________________________

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ng-sining/)

* declared valid by Supreme Court GR No. 189028 (http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2013/july2013/189028.pdf)

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