National Artists

Fernando Amorsolo (1972)

Fernando Amorsolo (1972)

• First National Artist

• “The Grand Old Man of Philippine Arts”

• Developed Philippine Art through his rural landscapes and portraits.

• “El Ciego,” “Planting Rice,” “Defense of a Filipina Woman’s Honor”

Carlos “Botong” Francisco (1973)

• Revived the dying art of mural painting

• “Progress of Medicine in the Philippines,” “Filipino Struggles Through History,” “The Martyrdom of Rizal,” “Blood Compact”

Guillermo Tolentino (1973)

• “Father of Philippine Arts”

• Classical style sculptures and busts of famous people

• UP Oblation, Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan, the seal of the Republic of the Philippines

Napoleon Abueva (1976)

• “Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture”

• Youngest to be bestowed with the award (age 46)

• Nine Muses of Arts in UP Diliman, The Transfiguration at the Eternal Garden Memorial Park, Sunburst at the Peninsula Manila Hotel.

Victorio Edades (1976)

• “Father of Modern Philippine Painting”

• “The Sketch,” “The Artist and Model,” “Japanese Girl”

Jose Joya (2003)

• Pioneered the start and progress of abstract expressionism

• Works were inspired by the hues of the Philippine landscape

• “Granadean Arabesque,” “Hills of Nikko,” “Naiad”

Abdulmari Imao (2006)

• The first Muslim National Artist

• Multiple sculptures and paintings of the sarimanok

• “Sulu Warriors,” “Industry Brass Mural,” “Mural Relief on Filmmaking”

Francisco Coching (2014)

• “King of Komiks”

• “Dean of Filipino Illustrators”

• One of the pillars in Philippine comics especially during the golden age of comics (1950’s-60’s)

• “Pedro Penduko,” “Satur,” “Hagibis”

Juan F. Nakpil (1973)

• “Father of Philippine Architecture”

• Works reflecting Philippine traditions and cultures

• University of the Philippines Administration Building (Quezon Hall) and Library (Gonzalez Hall), the reconstruction of the Quiapo Church in 1933 and the Rizal House

Pablo Antonio (1976)

• “Father of Modern Philippine Architecture”

• Works defined by their simplicity as he believed that structures must be functional first before form

• 5 buildings in Far Eastern University Manila, White Cross Orphanage in San Juan City, Manila Polo Club in Makati City

Leandro Locsin (1990)

• Reshaped the urban landscape of the Philippines

• Cultural Center of the Philippines, NAIA Terminal 1

Ildefonso Santos Jr. (2006)

• “Father of Philippine Landscape Architecture”

• Paco Park, Tagaytay Highland Resorts, Bantayog ng mga Bayani, Rizal Park, Loyola Memorial Parks

Jose Maria Zaragoza (2014)

• “The Modern Ecclesiastical Architect”

• Designed over 45 churches and religious structures

• Honored by Pope John Paul II with the title “Gentiluomo di Sua Santita” (1992) for his contributions to the Catholic Church

• Meralco Building in Pasig City, Santo Domingo Church and Pink Sisters Convent in Quezon City, Metropolitan Cathedral of Cebu City

Francisco Mañosa (2018)

• Pioneered the neo-vernacular style of architecture

• Coconut Palace, San Miguel Corporations Headquarters in Mandaluyong (based on the Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras), EDSA Shrine

Ramon Valera (2006)

• “Dean of Philippine Fashion”

• National Artist in Allied Arts

• One-piece terno

Amado Hernandez (1973)

• Believed that the purpose of a writer is to represent the society’s conscience and spirit in times of oppression

• “Mga Ibong Mandaragit”

Nick Joaquin (1976)

• One of the most influential Filipino writers in English

• Penname “Quijano de Manila”

• “A Portrait of an Artist as Filipino,” “The Woman Who Had Two Navels,” and “May Day Eve”

Carlos P. Romulo (1982)

• President of the University of the Philippines and the first Asian President of the United Nations General Assembly

• Pulitzer Prize in Journalism in for his articles predicting the Second World War

• “I Walked with Heroes,” “The United,” “I Saw the Fall of the Philippines”

Rolando Tinio (1997)

• National Artist for Literature and Theater

• Revived zarzwela and introduced contemporary western drama

• ”Larawan,” “Sitsit sa Kuliglig,” “Milagros”

Carlos Quirino (1997)

• Only National Artist for Historical Literature

• First biography of Jose Rizal, “The Great Malayan,” “Maps and Views of Old Manila”, biographies of Philippine presidents

Lazaro Francisco (2009)

• “Master of the Tagalog Novel”

• Developed the culture of social realism in literature

• “Maganda pa ang Daigdig,” “Daluyong,” “Ang Pamana ng Pulubi”

Resil Mojares (2018)

• Contributions to Visayan Literature

• Pioneering the Cebuano identity

• The founding director of the research institution Cebuano Studies Center

• “Waiting for Mariang Makiling: Essays on Philippine Cultural History,” “The War Against the Americans: Resistance and Collaboration in Cebu”

Ramon Muzones (2018)

• “Greatest Ilonggo Writer of the Century”

• Contributions to Hiligaynon literature

• First feminist Hiligaynon work “Bag-ong Maria Clara”, longest serialized novel “Dama de Noche” with over 125 installments for over 2 years

Antonio Molina (1973)

• “Dean of Filipino Composers”

• Contributed to the development of Filipino music beyond the genre of folk

• ”Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass,” “Hatinggabi,” “Awit ni Maria Clara”

Jovita Fuentes (1976)

• Cio-cio in Giacomo Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly” in the world of European opera

• Liu Yu in “Turandot”

• Mimi in “La Boheme”

Honorata “Atang” Dela Rama (1987)

• National Artist for both Music and Theater

• “Queen of Kundiman”

• Fought for the dominance of kundiman along with sarsuela during the American occupation

• Popularized kundiman songs “Pakiusap,” “Mutya ng Pasig”

• Performed in sarsuelas “Dalagang Bukid,” “Pangarap ni Rosa”

Lucio San Pedro (1991)

• Believed in the philosophy “creative nationalism”

• Incorporated elements of folk music to exhibit Filipino heritage

• “Lahing Kayumanggi,” “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan,” “Angononian March”

Felipe de Leon (1997)

• “The People’s Musician”

• His music expressed the sentiments and aspirations of Filipinos

• “Ako’y Pilipino,” “Payapang Daigdig,” “Lupang Tinubuan”

Levi Celerio (1997)

• National Artist for Music and Literature

• Credited for writing more than 4,000 songs

• Known for playing music using a leaf

• “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan,” “Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon” (popularly known as “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit”), “Ikaw”

Andrea Veneracion (1999)

• Founded the Philippine Madrigal Singers

• Prompted the progress of Philippine choral music

Ryan Cayabyab (2018)

• Mr. C

• Opera, concertos, symphonies, religious, folk, and OPM

• Composes for theater, dance, and films

• “Da Coconut Nut,” “Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka,” “Paraiso”

Francisca Aquino (1973)

• “Mother of Philippine Dancing”

• “The Folk Dance Pioneer”

• She preserved dances, such as “Tinikling,” “Pandanggo sa Ilaw,” and “Cariñosa,” through research, writing books, and teaching

Leonor Goquingco (1975)

• ”Trailblazer”

• Produced original choreographies of native folk dance that depict the country’s culture

• Founding member of the Philippine Ballet Theater

• “Mother of Philippine Theater Dance”

• “Dean of Filipino Performing Arts Critics”

Lucrecia Urtula (1988)

• One of the founders of The Bayanihan Dance Company, with which she staged their signature dance “Singkil”

• Discovery and study of Philippine folk and ethnic dances spanning almost four decades, such as “Vinta”, “Tagabili”, and “Pagdiwata”

Alice Reyes (2014)

• Introduced and developed contemporary dances in the Philippines

• In 1969, she started the CCP Dance Workshop Company, which later became known as Ballet Philippines

Lamberto Avellana (1976)

• National Artist for Film and Theater

• “The Boy Wonder of Philippine Movies”

• ”Sakay” - his first film

• “Kandelerong Pilak” - the first Filipino film to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival (1954)

Gerardo de Leon (1982)

• Most awarded film director in the history of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards (7)

• “Noli me Tangere,” “El Filibusterismo,” “Daigdig ng mga Api”

Ishmael Bernal (2001)

• “The Genius of Philippine Cinema”

• “Director of the Decade of the 1970s” by the Catholic Mass Media Awards

• Known for his social realistic films depicting the struggles of Filipinos

• “Himala,” “Pagdating sa Dulo,” “Hulog ng Langit”

Ronald Allan Poe (2006)

• “The King of Philippine Movies”

• “Da King”

• Known for his action films that portray the poor and oppressed

• “Ang Probinsyano,” “Isang Bala Ka Lang,” “Ang Panday”

Kidlat Tahimik (2018)

• “Father of Philippine Independent Cinema”

• Known for his experimental narratives about inequality

• Credited to have founded Philippine New Wave Cinema

• “Perfumed Nightmare,” “Who Invented the Yoyo?,” and “Why is Yellow the Middle of the Rainbow?”

Daisy Avellana (1997)

• “First Lady of Philippine Theater”

• Co-founded the Barangay Theater Guild, along with her husband, Lamberto Avellana

Salvador Bernal (2003)

• “Father of Philippine Theater Design”

• Only National Artist for Theater Design

• Designed over 300 productions with an emphasis in utilizing local materials

Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio (2018)

• “The Grande Dame of Southeast Asian Children’s Theater”

• She founded the Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas

• “Papet Pasyon,” “Sepang Loca,” “Abadeja: Ang Ating Sinderela”