Philippine Contemporary Artists, Honors, and Key Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key Philippine contemporary artists, national awards, and essential concepts for review.

Order of National Artists (ONA)

Highest Philippine award for individual artists, created by Presidential Proclamation No. 1001 (1972) and conferred by the President for outstanding contributions to the arts.

Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA)

National Living Treasures Award honoring masters of folk or traditional arts who preserve, practice, and transmit indigenous cultural expressions.

Four-fold Role of the Filipino Artist

Personal (express feelings), Social (reflect surroundings), Physical (create useful & beautiful objects), Immaterial (give form to hidden truths/spiritual forces).

Fernando C. Amorsolo

Realist painter, first National Artist (1972); works include Under the Mango Tree, Planting Rice, Fruit Gatherer.

Carlos “Botong” Francisco

Modernist muralist from Angono; National Artist 1973; works Filipino Struggles Through the Years and First Mass at Limasawa.

Victorio C. Edades

Father of Philippine Modern Painting; National Artist 1976; famous for The Builders.

Vicente S. Manansala

Cubist painter, National Artist 1981; works Bayanihan, Luksong Tinik, Stations of the Cross (UP Chapel).

Cesar F. Legaspi

Neo-realist painter; National Artist 1990; works Morning Dance and Man and Woman.

Hernando R. Ocampo

Abstract painter; National Artist 1991; noted for Ina ng Ibon and Man and Carabao.

Arturo R. Luz

Minimalist painter & sculptor; National Artist 1997; works Candle Vendors, Cities of the Past.

Ang Kiukok

Expressionist painter; National Artist 2001; works Angry Figure, Fighting Figures, Crucifixion.

Abdulmari Asia Imao

Painter-sculptor who popularized the Sarimanok motif; National Artist 2006.

Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera

Leading contemporary painter; National Artist 2006; famous for Sabel series.

Federico Aguilar Alcuaz

Painter/ceramist; National Artist 2009; works Tres Marias and Reveries of Love.

Francisco V. Coching

King of Philippine Komiks; National Artist 2014; created Pedro Penduko, Lapu-Lapu.

J. Elizalde Navarro

Painter/collagist; National Artist 1999; works The Frog Dance, Passengers on to Cathedral Station.

Jose T. Joya

Abstract expressionist; National Artist 2003; works Hills of Nikko, Granadaen Arabesque.

Guillermo E. Tolentino

Classical sculptor; National Artist 1973; created UP Oblation & Bonifacio Monument.

Napoleon V. Abueva

Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture; National Artist 1976; works Blood Compact Monument, Siyam na Diwata ng Sining.

Ramon Valera

Fashion designer who modernized the Philippine terno; National Artist 2006.

Francisca R. Aquino

Pioneer folklorist, “Mother of Philippine Dancing”; National Artist 1973.

Leonor Orosa Goquingco

Trailblazing choreographer; National Artist 1976; works Trend & Festival in Maguindanao.

Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula

Choreographer of Bayanihan Dance Company; National Artist 1988.

Ramon Obusan

Founder of Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group; National Artist 2006; productions Vamos a Belén! and Noon Po Sa Amin.

Alice Reyes

Founder of Ballet Philippines; National Artist 2014; choreographed Amada and Itim-Asu.

Amado V. Hernandez

Social-realist writer; National Artist 1973; novels Mga Ibong Mandaragit & Luha ng Buwaya.

Nick Joaquin

Manileño novelist & essayist; National Artist 1976; works A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, Cave and Shadows.

Carlos P. Romulo

Statesman-writer; National Artist 1982; author of I Am a Filipino and Last Man Off Bataan.

Francisco Arcellana

Short-story master; National Artist 1990; pieces The Flowers of May, Poetry and Politics.

N.V.M. González

Novelist; National Artist 1997; works The Winds of April, A Season of Grace.

Virgilio S. Almario

Poet & critic; National Artist 2003; compiled UP Diksyonaryong Filipino.

Bienvenido Lumbera

Poet-librettist; National Artist 2006; book Sulyap at Suri sa Nagbabagong Kultura.

Cirilo F. Bautista

Epic poet; National Artist 2014; wrote The Archipelago and Sugat ng Salita.

Antonio J. Molina

“Dean of Filipino Composers”; National Artist 1973; wrote Hatinggabi and Ang Batingaw.

Col. Antonio R. Buenaventura

Composer/conductor; National Artist 1988; arranged Pandanggo sa Ilaw.

Lucrecia R. Kasilag

Composer who fused ethnic & Western sounds; National Artist 1989; piece Legend of the Sarimanok.

Lucio D. San Pedro

Composer of Sa Ugoy ng Duyan; National Artist 1991.

Levi Celerio

Lyricist & leaf-player; National Artist 1997; songs Ang Pasko ay Sumapit, Ikaw.

Jose Maceda

Ethnomusicologist-composer; National Artist 1997; experimental work Ugnayan.

Andrea Veneracion

Founder, Philippine Madrigal Singers; National Artist 1999.

Francisco F. Feliciano

Composer-conductor; National Artist 2014; operas La Loba Negra, Pokpok Alimpako.

Ramon P. Santos

Avant-garde composer; National Artist 2014; piece Ding Ding Nga Diwaya.

Juan D. Nakpil

Architect; National Artist 1973; designed UP Quezon Hall and renovated Quiapo Church.

Leandro V. Locsin

Architect; National Artist 1990; designed CCP & PICC.

Jose Maria V. Zaragoza

Architect; National Artist 2014; works Santo Domingo Church, Meralco Building.

Lamberto V. Avellana

Film-theater director; National Artist 1976; films Anak Dalita, Badjao.

Ishmael Bernal

Director; National Artist 2001; films Himala, Manila by Night.

Eddie S. Romero

Filmmaker; National Artist 2003; Ganito Kami Noon, Aguila.

Fernando Poe Jr.

“Da King” of Philippine movies; National Artist 2006; films Ang Probinsyano, Ang Pilipinas Kong Mahal.

Ryan Cayabyab

Contemporary composer; National Artist 2018; wrote countless choral, pop, film, and theater works.

Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa

Architect of Coconut Palace & EDSA Shrine; National Artist 2018.

Resil Mojares

Cebuano scholar & essayist; National Artist 2018; author of The War Against the Americans.

Larry Alcala

Cartoonist; National Artist 2018 (posthumous); created Kalabog en Bosyo.

Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio

Mother of Philippine Children’s Theater; National Artist 2018; play Sepang Loca.

Kidlat Tahimik

Independent filmmaker; National Artist 2018; film Perfumed Nightmare.

Ligaya Fernando Amilbangsa

Ramon Magsaysay laureate who documented & promoted the Pangalay dance of the Sulu archipelago.

Imelda Cajipe-Endaya

Mixed-media artist & feminist activist; co-founder of KASIBULAN women artists’ group.

Brenda V. Fajardo

Painter-educator whose works draw on Philippine folklore; co-founder of KASIBULAN.

Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi

Printmaker-painter based in France; known for Philippine Madonna series.

Julie Lluch

Sculptor celebrated for terracotta figures such as Cactus; member of KASIBULAN.

Agnes Arellano

Sculptor noted for installation pieces exploring myth and feminism.

El Gamma Penumbra

Batangas shadow-play troupe that won Asia’s Got Talent (2015).

Patrick Flores

UP professor & curator of 2015 Philippine Pavilion in Venice Biennale titled “Tie a String Around the World.”

Cecil Licad

Internationally acclaimed classical pianist; Leventritt Gold Medalist (1981).

Lea Salonga

Tony-winning actress-singer; starred in Miss Saigon, Les Misérables; Disney voice of Mulan & Jasmine.

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde

First Filipina prima ballerina and first foreign soloist of Russia’s Kirov Ballet.

Charice Pempengco (Jake Zyrus)

Singer discovered on YouTube and The Ellen Show; achieved international recording success.

Ginaw Bilog

GAMABA 1993; Hanunuo Mangyan poet who preserved the ambahan chant-poetry.

Masino Intaray

GAMABA 1993; Palawan musician & epic chanter skilled in basal, kulilal, bagit.

Samaon Sulaiman

GAMABA 1993; Maguindanao master of the kutyapi (two-stringed lute).

Lang Dulay

GAMABA 1998; T’boli master weaver of T’nalak cloth.

Salinta Monon

GAMABA 1998; Bagobo-Tagabawa textile weaver famed for intricate designs.

Alonzo Saclag

GAMABA 2000; Kalinga musician-dancer and cultural advocate.

Federico Caballero

GAMABA 2000; Sulod-Bukidnon epic chanter who mastered ten epics including Labaw Dunggon.

Uwang Ahadas

GAMABA 2000; Yakan musician who teaches kwintangan and agung.

Darhata Sawabi

GAMABA 2004; Tausug master of pis syabit weaving.

Eduardo Mutuc

GAMABA 2004; Kapampangan metalsmith specializing in ecclesiastical silver and woodwork.

Haja Amina Appi

GAMABA 2004; Sama mat weaver who innovated colorful pandan designs.

Teofilo Garcia

GAMABA 2012; Ilocano artisan of tabungaw (gourd helmets).

Magdalena Gamayo

GAMABA 2012; Ilocano abel weaver noted for demanding pinilian patterns.

KASIBULAN

Women-artists’ collective (founded 1987-88) advocating feminist issues through art.

Pangalay Dance

Pre-Islamic martial-inspired dance of Sulu region, researched and promoted by Ligaya Amilbangsa.

Venice Biennale

Prestigious international art exhibition where the Philippines re-established a pavilion in 2015.