Philippine Contemporary Artists: National Artists, GAMABA, and Contemporary Arts (Study Notes)

The National Artists of the Philippines: Overview

Purpose: The National Artists Award (Order of National Artists) is the Philippines’ highest honor given by the President to Filipino artists for distinguished contributions to Philippine arts and letters.
Establishment: Presidential Proclamation No. 1001 (1972).
Categories (as outlined): music, dance, theatre, visual arts, literature, film and broadcast arts, architecture or allied arts.
Related body: Award administration is handled by the Order of National Artists Secretariat – NCCA and CCP.
Related honor: GAMABA (Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan) or National Living Treasures Award for traditional/customary arts.

Criteria for National Artists

1. Living artists who are Filipino citizens at the time of nomination, and those who die after the award’s establishment but were Filipino citizens at death.
2. Artists whose content and form contribute to a Filipino sense of nationhood.
3. Artists who pioneered a mode of creative expression or style, earning distinction and influencing later generations.
4. Artists who have created a substantial and significant body of work and/or consistently displayed excellence in their art form.
5. Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through prestigious national and/or international recognition (e.g., CCP awards, CCP Thirteen Artist Award, NCCA Alab ng Haraya) and critical acclaim.

Nomination and Selection Process

Nominations open via cultural organizations, educational institutions, and private foundations; the Secretariat announces openings for nominations.
The Secretariat screens nominations; they prepare a list of recommended nominees.
The President proclaims the final list and confers the rank and title after deliberations and proclamation.
Frequency: Awarding occurs every three years.

Timeline: First National Artists and Early Groupings

1972: First National Artist – Fernando Amorsolo (Visual Arts) [Popular works: Planting Rice, Under the Mango Tree, etc.]
1973: Second wave with seven awardees (the “1973 group”):
- Carlos Botong Francisco (Visual Arts)
- Francisca R. Aquino (Dance)
- Amado V. Hernandez (Literature)
- Antonio J. Molina (Music)
- Juan F. Nakpil (Architecture)
- Guillermo E. Tolentino (Sculpture)
- Jose Garcia Villa (Literature)
1976: Additional recognitions expanded the roster (examples of later groups include cannot be exhaustively listed here) reflecting ongoing expansion of categories.

Visual Arts: Notable National Artists and Works

Cesar F. Legaspi (+) — Date: 1990; Popular works: Morning Dance, Tree Planting, Man and Woman
Hernando R. Ocampo (++) — 1991; Popular works: Man and Carabao, Ina ng Ibon
Arturo R. Luz — 1997; Popular works: Candle Vendors, Bagong Taon, Cities of the Past
Ang Kiukok (+) — 2001; Popular works: Angry Figure, Fighting Figures, Crucifixion
Abdulmari Asia Imao — 2006; Popular works: Sarimanok (paintings and sculptures)
Benedicto R. Cabrera — 2006; Popular works: Sabel in Blue, Yellow Confetti, The Oriental Fan
Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (++) — 2009; Popular works: Tres Marias, Reveries of Love, Still Life with Landscape
Francisco V. Coching (++) — 2014; Popular works: The Adventures of Pedro Penduko, Lapu-Lapu

Visual Arts: Representative Painting Awards and Works

Fernando C. Amorsolo (++) — 1972; Popular works: Planting Rice, Fruit Gatherer, Under the Mango Tree
Carlos V. Francisco (++) — 1973; Popular works: Planting of the First Cross, Filipino Struggles through the Years; First Mass at Limasawa
Victorio C. Edades (++) — 1976; Popular works: The Builders, The Sketch, The Wrestlers
Vicente S. Manansala (++) — 1981; Popular works: Cubist paintings, Bayanihan, Luksong Tinik, Stations of the Cross (UP Chapel)
J. Elizalde Navarro (++) — 1999; Popular works: Passengers on to Cathedral Station, The Frog Dance, The Ilongot War Dance
Jose T. Joya (++) — 2003; Popular works: Abstract paintings; Hills of Nikko, Granada Arabesque, Dimension of Fear

Visual Arts: Architecture and Allied Arts

Juan D. Nakpil (+) — 1973
Pablo S. Antonio (++) — 1976
Leandro V. Locsin (+) — 2006
Arch. Ildefonso P. Santos Jr. (+) — 2006
Jose Maria V. Zaragoza (++) — 2014
Notable works include: Quezon City Hall, Quiapo Church interior redesign, UP Theatre, CCP complex, Rizal Park landscaping, CCP, Manila Hotel, Meralco Building, etc.

Theatre and Dance: National Artists and Representative Figures

Honorata "Atang" dela Rama — 1973; Pioneer in Philippine theatre, early Filipino stage presence
Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero — 1976; theatre and film contributions
Rolando S. Tinio — 1990; Theatre and literature; prominent for adaptations and plays
Daisy H. Avellana — 2006; Known as a mother of Philippine theatre; performances and directing
Severino Montano — 2001; Theatre and literary contributions; zarzuela and Kundiman roles
Alice Reyes — 2014; Dance and choreography; founder of Ballet Philippines

Dance: National Artists and Works

Francisca R. Aquino (+) — 1973; Mother of Philippine dancing (pioneering contributions)
Leonor O. Goquingco (+) — 1976; Mother of Philippine Theater Dance; choreographic legacy
Lucrecia R. Urtula (+) — 1988; Choreography and dance advocacy
Ramon Obusan (+) — 2006; Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group; Vamos A Belén; Noon Po Sa Amin (dance/theatre)
Alice Reyes — 2014; Ballet Philippines; contemporary dance leadership

Literature: Notable National Artists and Works

Amado V. Hernandez (++) — 1973; Key works and themes in Philippine literature; notable contributions include social realism and advocacy
Nick Joaquin (+) — 1976; Renowned for chronicling Filipino heritage; major writings and essays; pen name Quijano de Manila
N. V. M. Gonzales (++) — 1997; Prolific writer and National Artist in literature
Edith L. Tiempo (+) — 1999; Contributions to Filipino literature and editing; prolific writer and mentor
F. Sionil Jose (+) — 2001; Notable works: historical and social commentary; vast body of novels and short stories
Virgilio S. Almario — 2003; Literature, editor, critic; known for modern Filipino language renaissance
Alejandro R. Roces (+) — 2003; Noted writer and dramatist
Bienvenido Lumbera — 2006; Poet, critic, historian; champion of Filipino language and literature
Lazaro Francisco (++) — 2009; Prolific novelist; social realism in the Philippines
Cirilo F. Bautista — 2014; Poet, critic, essayist; long-standing literary influence

Music: National Artists and Representative Works

Antonio J. Molina (+) — 1973; Known for: Hatinggono, Ang Batingaw, Kundiman-Kundangan; founder and organizer roles
Jovita Fuentes (+) — 1976; Opera and concert singer; prominent figure in classical Filipino music
Col. Antonio R. Buenaventura (+) — 1988; Composer and conductor; principal figure in Filipino music
Lucrecia R. Kasilag (+) — 1989; Composer; integrated folk and modern forms; notable works include translating/arranging Philippine songs? (also noted as translator in other item contexts)
Luio D. San Pedro (+) — 1991; Composer; orchestral and choral works
Felipe P. de Leon (++) — 1997; Composer; founder of cultural organizations
Levi Celerio (+) — 1997; Composer, lyricist; known for leaf-plays and songs; Guinness world record for leaf painting and a prolific composer
Jose M. Maceda (+) — 1997; Experimental composer; multimedia works
Andrea Veneracion (+) — 1999; Founder of the Philippine Madrigal Singers
Erkii J. Cuenco (++) — 1999; Composer; known musical scores for films and ballets; cross-disciplinary work
Francisco F. Feliciano (++) — 2014; Composer; notable works include choral and geographic-inspired pieces
Ramon P. Santos — 2014; Composer; cross-cultural merging and innovation

Music: Representative Works (Selected)

Antonio J. Molina: Hatinggano; Ang Batingaw; Kundiman-Kundangan
Lucrecia R. Kasilag: (varied national and international concert works; leadership in Philippine music scene)
Francisco F. Feliciano: La Loba Negra; Pokpok Alimpako; Yerma
Ramon P. Santos: Ding Ding Nga Diwaya; Ang Hardin ni Ligaya; Ang Putting Waling-Waling