Philippine National Artists

Pambansang Alagad nh Sining ng Pilipinas or the National Artist of the Philippines-the

highest recognition the Philippine government can give to a person of the arts
-created through Presidential Proclamation No 1001, S. 1972
-awardees represent the Philippine’s highest ideals in the field of humanities and the
arts
-it covers the following categories: architecture and the allied arts, dance, film and
broadcast arts, literature, music, theater, and visual arts
-this award is supposed to be given every three years as mandated by the rules of the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)

How do you become a National Artist?

First, announcement will be made by the NCCA and the CCP, acting as the Order of the
National Artists Award Secretariat, for the opening of nominations for the said award.
Nominees should have the following qualifications:
1. The artist must be a Filipino citizen or at least at the time of the nomination. An
artist who has passed on can still be nominated as long as he/she was a Filipino
before they died.
2. The artist should have contributed “in building a Filipino sense of nationhood” as
seen in their works.
3. The artist should have lead the way in new and creative expression or style,
separating themselves from others and in turn influencing other generations of
artists.
4. The artist’s work should be noteworthy and an embodiment of excellence, further
enriching their chosen field of creative expression.
5. The artist should be critically acclaimed and accepted by legitimate institutions
and peers.

Once qualified, the nominations will be studied and reviewed by the NCCA and CCP.
They would then submit their recommendations to the President of the Philippines. The
President would release a proclamation granting respective rank and title to the
nominees. The awardees would be conferred in a ceremony arranged by the NCCA and
CCP secretariat.

Additional benefits:
1. The title and rank of a National Artist
2. Medal bearing the insignia of National Artist as well as a citation
3. A cash gift of Php 100,000 to the living artist and Php 75,000 for those who were
recognized after their death, which will be given to the heir of the awardee.
4. Monthly pension with medical and hospitalization benefits
5. Life insurance to those who are still qualified
6. State funeral and interment at the Libingan ng mga Bayani
7. A reserved place at state functions, awarding ceremonies, and cultural events
List of the National Artists of the Philippines

FERNANDO CUETO AMORSOLO

Birth and Death: May 30, 1892-April 24, 1972
Year Awarded: 1972
Category: Painting
Place of Birth: Paco, Manila

-Philippine’s first National Artist on April 28, 1972

-was given the title the “Grand Old Man of Philippine Art” for his influential style and
technique that has inspired generations of artists
-well-known for his genre paintings and landscapes and his idealized depiction of the
dalagang Filipina
-trademark style of backlighting technique that makes the canvas feel alive with the light
Major Works:
-Maiden in a Stream (1921)
-El Ciego (1928)
-Dalagang Bukid (1946)
-Planting Rice (1946)
-Sunday Morning Going to Town (1958)

FRANCISCA REYES-AQUINO
Birth and Death: March 9, 1899 – November 21, 1983
Year Awarded: 1973
Category: Dance
Place of Birth: Bocaue, Bulacan

-known as dancer and researches of Philippine folk dance

-research was titled Philippine Folk Dances and Games which documented local forms
of celebrations and rituals which was published in 1926
-received the Republic Award of Merit in 1954, and the Ramon Magsaysay Award in
1962 before being conferred to the Order of the National Artists in 1973

Major Works:
-Philippine Folk Dances and Games (1926)
-Philippine National Dance (1946)
-Gymnastics for Girls (1947)
-Philippine Folk Dances Vol. 1-6

CARLOS “BOTONG” V. FRANCISCO

Birth and Death: November 4, 1912 – March 31, 1969
Year Awarded: 1973
Category: Painting
Place of Birth: Angono, Rizal
-known for historically themed murals such as the Filipino Struggles through History
which is displayed in the Manila City Hall
-He, along with Victor Edades and Galo Ocampo, is one of the pioneers of modernism
in the country
-his art reflects the values and the colors of his town Angono that has been a trademark
of his works and styles
-credited with the discovery of the Angono Petroglyphs, one of the earliest examples of
prehistoric art in the Philippines

Major Works:
-Blood Compact
-First Mass at Limasawa
-The Invasion of Limahong
-The Martyrdom of Rizal

AMADO V. HERNANDEZ
Birth and Death: September 13, 1903 – May 24, 1970
Year Awarded: 1973
Category: Literature
Place of Birth: Hangonoy, Bulacan

-writer and stalwart of the laborers

-he believed that his art should act as a conscience of society, correcting and calling
attention to what is needed
-wrote in prose that is much closer to the everyday spoken language
-his novel “Mga Ibong Mandaragit” was written when he was in prison
-also critically acclaimed playwright and essayist

Major Works:
Novels
-Mga Ibong Mandaragit (1969)
-Luha ng Buwaya (1972)
Plays
-Muntinlupa (1957)
-Magkabilang Mukha ng Isang Bagol (1960)

ANTONIO J. MOLINA
Birth and Death: December 26, 1894 – January 29, 1980
Year Awarded: 1973
Category: Music
Place of Birth: Quiapo, Manila

-was a teacher, composer, and conductor

-known for his impressionist style in music and as part of the musical triumvirate of the
Philippines which includes Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco Santiago
-innovations include pentatonic scale, linear counterpoints and the lively ninth and
eleventh chords
-he wrote his first composition when he was 18 in 1912 entitled Miniaturas Vol. 1
-he was a professor at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music

Major Works:
Orchestral Music
-Ang Batingaw
-Kundiman-Kundangan
Chamber Music
-Hating Gabi
-Kung sa Iyong Gunita
Vocal Music
-Awit ni Maria Clara
-Larawan Nitong Pilipinas

JUAN F.NAKPIL
Birth and Death: May 26, 1899 – May 7, 1986
Year Awarded: 1973
Category: Architecture
Place of Birth: Quiapo, Manila

-was a man of many talents

-an artist, engineer, civic leader, and teacher
-he is best known for his innovations in the field of Philippine architecture as his designs
are both beautiful and functional and his design principles reflect his belief in Philippine
architecture, tradition and culture

Major Works:
-Administration Building and Library, UP Diliman
-Reconstruction of the Rizal Shrine
-Manila Jockery Club
-Old Humanities Building, UP Los Banos

GUILLERMO E. TOLENTINO
Birth and Death: July 24, 1890 – July 12, 1976
Year Awarded: 1973
Category: Sculpture
Place of Birth: Malolos City, Bulacan

-premier sculptor and esteemed professor at the University of the Philippines, Diliman
-specialized in commemorative sculptures of historical figures that are monumental and
grand
-received training from UP of the Philippine School of Fine Arts and at the Royal
Academy of Fine Arts in Rome
-while teaching, he created some of his famous works: the Bonifacio Monument (1933)
in C
-Bonifacio Monument, Caloocan
-Oblation, University of the Philippines, Diliman
-Ramon Magsaysay statue at the GSIS building
-Various burst sculptures of political and historical personalities

JOSE GARCIA VILLA

Birth and Death: August 5, 1908 – February 7, 1997
Year Awarded: 1973
Category: Literature
Place of Birth: Singalong,Manila

-commonly known by his pen name Doveglion (derived from dove, eagle, lion) and
regarded as one of the best contemporary poets in the world
-known for introducing the reversed consonance rhyme scheme and used punctuation
marks especially the comma in a novel and lyrical way
-early international acclaim in New York in 1942 for his work Have Come, Am Here.
-died in New York in 1997

Major Works:
His works have been collected and published under the following titles:
-Footnote to Youth
-Many Voices
-Poems by Doveglion
-Poems 55: The Best Poems of Jose Garcia Villa as Chosen by Himself
-Poems in Praise of Love: The Best Love Poems of Jose Garcia Villa
-The Portable Villa
-The Essential Villa
-Mir-i-nisa
-Storymasters 3: Selected Stories from Footnote to Youth

NAPOLEON V. ABUEVA
Birth and Death: January 26, 1930
Year Awarded: 1976
Category:Sculpture
Place of Birth: Tagbilaran City, Bohol

-citation on his awards reads “his massive abstractions and constructions of incredible
variety and diversity, an unfailing inventiveness, a prodigious energy and inexhaustible
inspiration firmly imprint his signature on the art of our time”
-youngest recipient of the title National Artist at age 46
-given the distinction of being the “Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture” for his
nonrepresentational sculptural works
-adept in using a diverse range of media such as adobe, metal, cement, marble, etc
-prefers Philippine hardwood like narra, molave, acacia, kamagong, etc.
Major Works:
-Kaganapan (1953)
-The Transfiguration (1979)
-University of the Philippines Gateway (1967)
-The Nine Muses (1994)

LAMBERTO V. AVELLANA
Birth and Death: February 12, 1915 – April 25, 1991
Year Awarded: 1976
Category: Theater and Film
Place of Birth: Bontoc, Mountain Province

-known as the “The Boy Wonder of Philippine Movies”

-he is credited to be the first to use the point-of-view camera technique that transformed
film narration
-started his career as a theater artist forming the Barangay Theater Guild with his wife,
Daisy Hontiveros
-inspired by the works of Carlos P. Romulo to try his hand in film
-his first film Sakay which was critically acclaimed and won him best picture in 1939
-notable achievements include grand prize at the Asian Film Festival in 1956 for Anak
Dalita and Best Director of Asia nod in Tokyo for Badjao in 1957

Major Works:
-Sakay (1939)
-Kalderong Pilak (1954)
-Anak Dalita (1956)
-Badjao (1957)
-The Evil Within (1970)