Gingoog City Colleges

Paz Village, Brgy,. 24-A, Gingoog City

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Philippine Contemporary Arts in the Regions
STUDENT’S HANDOUT

MODULE ONE: WHAT IS CONTEMPORARY ART?

What is Art?

The Greek philosopher Aristotle may have provided

the earliest assumptions of art as linked to human instincts.
In his Poetics, Aristotle claimed that humans have instincts
for imitation and harmony. He described that these instincts
are “lying deep in our nature.” He argued that human beings
are the “most imitative of living creatures,” and through
imitation, humans learn and experience pleasure. Art, then,
may be defined as a human pursuit to imitate life and the
world into something pleasing or beautiful.

All art, whether two-dimensional like a painting or three-dimensional like a

sculpture, contains one or more of the seven elements of art. These elements are:

 Line
 Color
 Shape
 Form
 Value
 Space
 Texture

Forms of Art

 Picture (Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, and

Photography)
This is a two-dimensional image of various
subjects ranging from real-life images to the
visually abstract. It may be created using
different media such as chalk, charcoal,
graphite, ink, oil paint, and watercolor.
  Sculpture
This is a three-dimensional artwork that may
be created using stone, marble, wood, and
concrete.
 Architecture
These are structures that meant to be used
for shelter. The art of architecture relies on
the design and purpose of the structure.
 Music
This is the art form that appeals to the sense
of hearing. Music is composed by combining
notes into harmony.
 Literature
This is the art form of language through the
combined use of words, creating meaning
and experience.
 Theater
This is the art form of performance. Dramatic texts are portrayed on stage by
actors and actresses and are enhanced by props, lights and sounds.
 Cinema
This art form is a technological translation of theater. In films, special effects are
utilized to enhance the storytelling.
 Dance
This is the art of the human form. The body is used, mobilized, and
choreographed in a specific time, form, and space.

What is Contemporary Art?

The J. Paul Getty Museum defines

contemporary art as “art made and produced by artists
living today. Today’s artists work in and respond to a
global environment that is culturally diverse,
technologically advancing, and multifaceted.” With this
definition, you can picture the kind of art created by
today’s contemporary artists as art that has a world
view and is sensitive to the changing times.
Contemporary art today is not restricted to the
individual experience of the artist but is reflective of the
world that we live in. In this kind of art, you might see
how events in different countries might have an effect
on the Filipino way of life.
New Elements and Principles on Contemporary Art

 Appropriation
 Performance
 Space
 Hybridity
 Technology

MODULE TWO: PHILIPPINE CONTEMPORARY ART

Renowned art critic and Metropolitan Museum curator Dr. Patrick Flores
describes Philippine contemporary art with “The feeling (is) that all is possible in the
contemporary, conceived as a constantly extending and deepening constellation of art.”
Contemporary art then permits possibilities of exploring either subject or medium in art
to express the Filipino sense of self. You may not believe it, but every day, new art
forms are being created in our country that is becoming part of the contemporary art
production of the Philippines. At present, Filipinos are becoming more and more
aggressive as they use the arts to express themselves and create wonderful artworks
that try to capture the Filipino way of life.

Architecture

In Manila, the 16th century Binondo church is just a few blocks away from the
very modern Lucky Chinatown Mall. Each structure tells a story of how the art of
building was used to shape the course of history and society. Likewise, architecture in
the country continues to be vibrant. With the improvement of tourism, more first-class
architecture is expected to pour in.

Literature

On Philippine contemporary literature, eminent scholar and writer Roland

Tolentino describes that the Filipino writing in today’s world contains the diasporic
experience and the incorporation of both the rural and the urban experience. Writers
have also explored the western genre and have produced legitimate texts on prose
poetry, flash fiction, magic realism, and science fiction. Distinguished writers and editors
have gathered anthologies to collect into volumes the newest and most innovative
works of Filipinos today. Dean Francis Alfar, an award-winning writer, pioneered the
speculative fiction movement and has been publishing the Philippine Speculative Fiction
series. Flash fiction, with stories of 1000 words or less, has been gaining interest
amongst writers, such as the publication of Vince Groyon’s Very Short Stories for
Harried Readers and Anvil Publishing’s Fast Food Fiction Delivery.
Theater

Contemporary Philippine theater is still alive despite the dominance of television,

movies, and the Internet. There are multiple stage productions from university-based
theater groups to major theater companies. The Tanghalang Pilipino and the Philippine
Educational Theater Association (PETA) annually stage memorable productions.

Visual Arts

The new breed of contemporary Filipino visual artists is becoming bold regarding
the expression of personal feelings and perspectives. The influence of radical and
modern art movements in Europe and the Americas have penetrated the Philippines art
scene with the proliferation of installation and experimental art. The institutionalization of
museums and galleries has also revitalized the Philippines art scene.

ARTS PROMOTION AND PRESERVATION

Art is a national heritage that is essential in building the nation and ensuring
democracy. Paintings, sculptures, songs, dances, poetry, and other art forms remind
people of the origins, histories, struggles, and triumphs of the nation. When people, for
example, look at the Rizal monument in Luneta or sing the national anthem, they are
participating in the expression of the country’s nationhood. When the citizens are
conscious and proud of their cultural heritage, they became active agents in nation
building. As part of the democratic thrust of the Corazon Aquino administration,
Executive Order No. 118 created the Presidential Commission on Culture and the Arts
in 1987. Five years later, Republic Act 7356 established the National Commission for
Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

 National Commission for Culture and Arts

The NCCA is the country’s “overall policy making body, coordinating, and grants
giving agency for the preservation, development, and promotion of Philippine arts
and culture.” The creation of the NCCA serves as the state’s initiative to promote
and develop art and culture awareness in the country. The need for a
government institution for culture and arts dissemination is imperative because
the Philippines is composed of many regions. The NCCA, through its committees
and subcommittees, ensures that the interests of the various regions are
represented. There are six arts and cultural government agencies under the
NCCA.
o Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)
For almost 50 years, CCP has been serving as the premier venue in the
Philippines for culture and the arts. It has hosted numerous shows and
exhibitions on both performance and visual arts. CCP is also responsible
for bringing together the different arts from various regions to the entire
country and the whole world. It is home to the following artistic resident
companies namely:
- National Music Competition for Young Artists Foundation
(NAMCYA)
- Ballet Philippines
- Philippine Madrigal Singers
- Philippine Ballet Theater
- UST Symphony Orchestra
- Tanghalang Pilipino
- Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company
- Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group

o National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)

The NHCP was created with a vision of “a Filipino society with citizens
informed of their history, who love their country and are proud of their
cultural heritage.” The NHCP carries out its mandate by promoting
“Philippine history and cultural heritage through research, dissemination,
conservation, sites management and heraldry works.” Much of the work
done by the NHCP is the identification, conservation, and restoration of
historical sites around the different regions of the country. Through the
efforts of the NHCP, Filipinos may have “awareness and appreciation of
the noble deeds and ideals of our heroes and other illustrious Filipinos, to
instill pride in the Filipino race and to rekindle the Filipino spirit through the
lessons of history,” to have a nation whose people value the past looking
into the future.

o National Museum of the Philippines

Located in the heart of Manila, the National Museum of the Philippines is
the country’s repository of archeological artifacts, national treasures, and
rare specimens found and produced in the country. The main task of this
institution is to solicit, document, preserve, exhibit, and promote the
natural and artificial wonders of the Philippines. The National Museum is
also responsible for putting up a network of museums around the country
to serve as a local destination of the diverse natural and cultural heritage
 of the country. The National Museum has two main divisions – the Natural
History and the National Art Gallery.
Perhaps the most valuable artwork housed in the National Museum is
Juan Luna’s opus, Spolarium. It is the largest painting in the Philippines
(4.22 m x 7.675 m); it is a winning masterpiece at the Exposicion de Bellas
Artes in Madriid, Spain in 1884.
o National Library of the Philippines (NLP)

Established in 1901, the NLP was then called the American Circulating
Library to serve as “memorial to American servicemen who died in Philippine
soil.” Today, the NLP has the mandate of serving as a “repository of the
printed and recorded cultural heritage of the country and other intellectual
literary and information sources” and providing “access to these resources for
our people’s intellectual growth, citizenship building, lifelong learning and
enlightenment.” The NLP is home to rare books and documents such as Acta
de la Proclamacion de la Independencia del Pueblo Filipino and the
manuscript of the trial of Andres Bonifacio.

o The National Archives of the Philippines

The history of the National Archives goes back to the Treaty of Paris in
1898 “which stipulated the relinquishment or cession of documents from
Spanish to American authorities and provided for the preservation of
documents.” Today, the National Archives of the Philippines is guardian to
over 400 documents from the Spanish era dating 1552 – 1900 and various
records from the American period to the Republic.

o Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF)

The KWF or the Commission on the Filipino Language was created via
Republic Act No. 7104 : “Congress shall establish a national language
commission composed of representatives of various regions and disciplines
which shall undertake, coordinate and promote researches for the
development, propagation, and preservation of Filipino and other Philippine
languages.” To promote and develop our national language, the KWF has
annually given the Talaang Ginto: Makata ng Taon for Filipino poetry, Aklat
ng Bayan, and other grants or programs on fundings, awards, and projects.

MODULE THREE: THE NATIONAL ARTISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES

According to esteemed critic and scholar Dr. Nicanor Tiongson, there is a vital
role played by contemporary artists in “creating art that will contribute to social change
by enlightening viewers and audiences about the nature and causes of the problems
they face as Filipinos today.”

In 1972, the Philippines named its first national artist – world-class painter
Fernando Amorsolo. The national artist award is a great honor given to the Filipino
whose life and works have contributed to the advancement of the country’s arts and
letters.

The national artist then became part of the prestigious roster of the Order of
National Artists. NCCA and CCP jointly administer the nomination and selection of the
chosen exemplary artists, who are conferred by the President of the country.

In 1972, Presidential Proclamation No. 1001, s. 1972 created and established

“the Award and Decoration of National Artist.” This law enabled the government “to give
appropriate recognition and prestige to Filipinos who have distinguished themselves
and made outstanding contributions to Philippine arts and letters.”

 Qualifications of a National Artist Awardee

1. Living artists who are natural-born 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. Filipinos who have lost and
reacquired Filipino citizens through dual citizenship status for at least the
minimum period of five years, shall be eligible for nomination.
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 works and/or
consistently displayed excellence in the practice of their art form thus
enriching artistic expression or style
5. Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through the following:
a. Prestigious national and/or international recognition, such as the
Gawad CCP para sa Sining, CCP Thirteen Artists Award, and NCCA
Alab ng Haraya
b. Critical acclaim and/or reviews of their works
c. Respect and esteem from peers

 Benefits of the National Artist Awardee

1. The rank and title of National Artist, as proclaimed by the President of the
Philippines
2. The National Artist gold-plated medallion minted by the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas (BSP) and citation
 3. Lifetime emolument and material and physical benefits comparable in value to
those received by the highest officers of the land such as the following:
a. A minimum cash award of two hundred thousand pesos
(P200,000.00), net of taxes for living awardees, and a minimum cash
award of one hundred thousand pesos (P150,000.00), net of taxes for
posthumous awardee, payable to legal heir/s
b. A minimum lifetime personal monthly stipend of thirty thousand pesos
(P30,000.00)
c. Life insurance coverage for awardees who are still insurable
d. A state funeral benefit not exceeding P500,000.00
4. A place of honor, in line with protocular precedence, in state functions,
national commemoration ceremonies, and all other cultural presentations

 The National Artist Insignia

It is a Grand Collar adorned by circular links representing the arts. The
main medallion commemorates the sun and the colors of the Philippine flag. The
highly stylized three letter Ks stand for ”katotohanan, kabutihan, at kagandahan”
(the true, the good, and the beautiful).

 The National Artists of the Philippines

Year Awardee Category Notes

1972 Fernando Amorsolo Visual Arts - Posthumous

Painting conferment

1973 Francisca Reyes Aquino Dance

Carlos “Botong” V. Francisco Visual Arts - Posthumous

Painting conferment

Amado V. Hernandez Literature Posthumous

conferment

Antonio J. Molina Music

Juan Nakpil Architecture

Guillermo E. Tolentino Visual Arts –

Sculpture
Jose Garcia Villa Literature

1976 Napoleon V. Abueva Visual Arts –

 Sculpture
Leonor Orosa-Goquingco Dance

Nick Joaquin Literature

Jovita Fuentes Music

Victorio C. Edades Visual – Painting

Pablo Antonio Architecture Posthumous

conferment

1981 Vicente S. Manansala Visual Arts - Posthumous

Painting conferment

1982 Carlos P. Romulo Literature

Gerardo de Leon Film Posthumous

conferment

1987 Honorata “Atang” de la Rama Theater and Music

1988 Antonio R. Buenaventura Music

Lucrecia Resyes Urtula Dance

1989 Lucresia R. Kasilag Music

1990 Francisco Arcellana Literature

Cesar Legaspi Visual Arts –

Painting
Leandro V. Locsin Architecture

1991 Hernando R. Ocampo Visual Arts –

Painting
Lucio D. San Pedro Music

1997 Lino Brocka Film Posthumous

conferment

Felipe Padilla de Leon Music Posthumous

conferment

Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater Posthumous

conferment
 Rolando S. Tinio Theater and Posthumous
LIterature conferment

N. V. M. Gonzalez Literature Posthumous

conferment

Levi Celerio Music and Literature

Arturo R. Luz Visual Arts –

Painting
Jose Maceda Music

Carlos Quirino Historical Literature

1999 J. Elizalde Navarro Visual Arts - Posthumous

Painting conferment

Ernani Joson Cuenco Music Posthumous

conferment

Andrea O. Veneracion Music

Edith L. Tiempo Literature

Daisy Avellana Theater

2001 Ishmael Bernal Film Posthumous

conferment

Severino Montano Theater Posthumous

conferment

F. Sionil Jose Literature

Ang Kiukok Visual Arts Painting

2003 Jose T. Joya Visual Arts - Posthumous

Painting conferment

Virgilio S. Almario Literature

Alejandro R. Roces Literature

Eddie S. Romero Film and Broadcast

Arts
Salvador F. Bernal Theater and Design
2006 BenCab Visual Arts –
Painting
Abdulmari Asia Imao Visual Arts –
Sculpture
Bienvinido Lumbera Literature

Ramon Obusan Dance

I.P. Santos Architecture –

Landscape
Fernando Poe Jr. Film Posthumous
conferment

Ramon Valera Architecture Posthumous

conferment

2009* Manuel Conde Film and Broadcast Posthumous

Arts conferment

Lazaro Francisco Literature Posthumous

conferment

Federico Aguilar Alcuaz Visual Arts – Posthumous

Painting, Sculpture conferment
and Mixed Media
2014 Alice Reyes Dance

Francisco Coching Visual Arts Posthumous

conferment

Cirilo F. Bautista Literature

Francisco Feliciano Music

Ramon Santos Music

Jose Maria Zaragoza Architecture

*Conferment was delayed due to a controversy. Order was later bestowed to the
candidates in Malacañang Palace in November 2013.

 National Artists for Literature

o Francisco Arcellana
Francisco "Franz" Arcellana (September 6, 1916 – August 1, 2002) was a
Filipino writer, poet, essayist, critic, journalist and teacher. He was born on
 September 6, 1916. Arcellana already had ambitions of becoming a writer
early in his childhood. His actual writing, however, started when he
became a member of The Torres Torch Organization during his high
school years. Arcellana continued writing in various school papers at the
University of the Philippines Diliman. Later on he received a Rockefeller
Grant and became a fellow in Creative Writing at the University of Iowa
and at the Breadloaf Writers' Conference from 1956– 1957.
o N. V. M. Gonzalez
"Literature is an affair of letters," N.V.M. Gonzalez once said. A teacher,
author, journalist and essayist, Gonzalez is one of the most widely
recognized, anthologized and closely studied among Filipino writers. His
most notable works include the novels The Winds of April, The Bamboo
Dancers and A Season of Grace, short story collections Children of the
Ash-Covered Loam and The Bread of Salt and Other Stories and essay
collections Work on the Mountain and The Novel of Justice: Selected
Essays. Gonzalez distinctively wrote of the Filipino life, of the Filipino in
the world. Gonzalez is himself a Filipino in the world, traversing between
the United States and the Philippines and exploring Europe and Asia. The
affair of letters Gonzalez created is more than literature. It is the story of a
Filipino in the world. It is his story.
o Nick Joaquin
Nick Joaquin, byname of Nicomedes Joaquin, (born May 4, 1917,
Paco, Manila, Phil.—died April 29, 2004, San Juan, Phil.), Filipino novelist,
poet, playwright, essayist, and biographer whose works present
the diverse heritage of the Filipino people.
Joaquin was awarded a scholarship to the Dominican monastery in Hong
Kong after publication of his essay “La Naval de Manila” (1943), a
description of Manila’s fabled resistance to 17th-century Dutch invaders.
After World War II he traveled to the United States, Mexico, and Spain,
later serving as a cultural representative of the Philippines to Taiwan,
Cuba, and China.
Starting as a proofreader for the Philippines Free Press, Joaquin rose to
contributing editor and essayist under the nom de plume “Quijano de
Manila” (“Manila Old-Timer”). He was well known as a historian of the brief
Golden Age of Spain in the Philippines, as a writer of short stories
suffused with folk Roman Catholicism, as a playwright, and as a novelist.
o F. Sionil Jose
Francisco Sionil José (born 3 December 1924) is one of the most widely
read Filipino writers in the English language. His novels and short stories
depict the social underpinnings of class struggles and colonialism in
 Filipino society. José's works—written in English—have been translated
into 28 languages, including Korean, Indonesian, Czech, Russian, Latvian,
Ukrainian and Dutch
o Jose Garcia Villa
Jose Garcia Villa, a Filipino poet, critic, short story writer and painter, is an
important person to recognize during Filipino American History Month.
Villa was born in 1907 in the Philippine Islands. His early path did not
involve poetry. Instead he began a pre-medical course of study at the
University of the Philippines, eventually switching to pre-law. After some
time, Villa recognized that his true passion was in the creative arts, and
his career as a writer began.
Aside from publishing various collections of poetry, Villa also added to the
world of poetic style, introducing a new rhyme scheme called “reversed
consonance.” As Villa explained, “The last sounded consonants of the last
syllable, or the last principal consonant of a word, are reversed for the
corresponding rhyme. Thus, a rhyme for near would be run; or rain, green,
reign.”
Villa has won numerous awards, including the 1973 National Artist of the
Philippines for literature. His work in both poetry and challenging
traditional poetic style continues to have an impact in modern poetry, both
for members of the poetry community and other Asian American writers.
o Edith L. Tiempo
Edith L. Tiempo, poet, fictionist, teacher and literary critic was one of the
finest Filipino writers in English whose works are characterized by a
remarkable fusion of style and substance, of craftsmanship and insight.
She was born on April 22, 1919 in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. Her
poems are intricate verbal transfigurations of significant experiences as
revealed, in two of her much anthologized pieces, “The Little Marmoset”
and “Bonsai”. As fictionist, Tiempo was as morally profound. Her language
has been marked as “descriptive but unburdened by scrupulous detailing.”
She was an influential tradition in Philippine literature in English. Together
with her late husband, Edilberto K. Tiempo, she founded and directed the
Silliman National Writers Workshop in Dumaguete City, which has
produced some of the country’s best writers.
o Virgilio S. Almario
Virgilio Senadrin Almario (born March 9, 1944), better known by his pen
name Rio Alma, is a Filipino artist, poet, critic, translator, editor, teacher,
and cultural manager. He is a National Artist of the Philippines and
currently serves as the chairman of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino
(KWF), the government agency mandated to promote and standardize the
 use of the Filipino language. On January 5, 2017, Almario was also
elected as the chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the
Arts.
o Amado V. Hernandez
Amado Vera Hernandez, commonly known as Amado V. Hernandez
(September 13, 1903 – March 24, 1970), was a Filipino writer and labor
leader who was known for his criticism of social injustices in the
Philippines and was later imprisoned for his involvement in the communist
movement. He was the central figure in a landmark legal case that took 13
years to settle.
o Carlos P. Romulo
Carlos P. Romulo, in full Carlos Peña Romulo, (born January 14, 1899,
Camiling, Philippines—died December 15, 1985, Manila), Philippine
general, diplomat, and journalist known for his activities on behalf of the
Allies during World War II and his later work with the United Nations.
In 1931 Romulo was made editor in chief of TVT Publications, comprising
three newspapers, one in English, one in Spanish, and one in Tagalog
(the second most prevalent language in the Philippines). In 1937 he
became publisher of another chain of newspapers.
When Japan attacked the Philippines in 1941, he became an aide-de-
camp to U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur on Corregidor Island, and his
broadcasts became widely known as the “Voice of Freedom.” After Japan
captured Corregidor, Romulo went with MacArthur to Australia and then
joined the Philippine government-in-exile of Pres. Manuel Quezon in
Washington, D.C., as secretary of information.
o Carlos L. Quirino
Carlos Lozada Quirino is the second son of Dr. Jose Felix Arcinas Quirino
and Dolores S. Lozada and is a nephew of Philippine President Elpidio R.
Quirino. He is best known for his early biography of the Philippines
National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal. He also wrote several works on Philippine
history that, among others include:
Manuel L.Quezon -- Man of Destiny (1935) Jose Rizal -- The Great
Malayan (1940) Magsaysay and the Philippines (1958) Philippine
Cartography (1959) Damian Domingo: First Eminent Filipino Painter
(1961) History of the Philippine Sugar Industry (1974) Filipinos at War
(1981) Amang, the Life and Times of Eulogio Rodriguez, Sr. (1983)
In 1997 he was recognised as a National Artist of the Philippines for
Historical Literature.
o Alejandro R. Roces
 Alejandro Reyes Roces (13 July 1924 – 23 May 2011) was a Filipino
author, essayist, dramatist and a National Artist of the Philippines for
literature. He served as Secretary of Education from 1961 to 1965, during
the term of Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal.
Noted for his short stories, the Manila-born Roces was married to Irene
Yorston Viola (granddaughter of Maximo Viola), with whom he had a
daughter, Elizabeth Roces-Pedrosa. Anding attended elementary and high
school at the Ateneo de Manila University, before moving to the University
of Arizona and then Arizona State University for his tertiary education. He
graduated with a B.A. in Fine Arts and, not long after, attained his M.A.
from Far Eastern University back in the Philippines.[1] He has since
received honorary doctorates from Tokyo University, Baguio's St. Louis
University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and the Ateneo de
Manila University. Roces was a captain in the Marking’s Guerilla during
World War II and a columnist in Philippine dailies such as the Manila
Chronicle and the Manila Times. He was previously President of the
Manila Bulletin and of the CAP College Foundation.
In 2001, Roces was appointed as Chairman of the Movie and Television
Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). Roces also became a member
of the Board of Trustees of GSIS (Government Service Insurance System)
and maintained a column in the Philippine Star called Roses and Thorns.
o Lazaro Francisco
Francisco was born on February 22, 1898 to Eulogio Francisco and Clara
Angeles, in Orani, Bataan. He spent his childhood years in Cabanatuan,
Nueva Ecija. He took his college education at the Central Luzon
Agricultural College (now Central Luzon State University), but was not
able to finish due to poverty. He became a messenger of the Provincial
Treasurer's Office of Nueva Ecija. Later on, he took third degree civil
service examination where he qualified to become an assessor of the
provincial government of Nueva Ecija.
He started writing in 1925, with five of his novels took him to fame. Being
an assessor in an agricultural province, most of his writings were focused
on small farmers and their current conditions with foreign businessmen.
This lead him to win separate awards from Commonwealth Literary
Contest in 1940 and 1946, for his masterpieces, Singsing na Pangkasal
and Tatsulok, respectively.
In 1958, he established the Kapatiran ng mga Alagad ng Wikang Pilipino,
roughly translated as "Brotherhood of the Disciples of the Filipino
Language", a society that campaigned the use of Tagalog as the national
language of the Philippines.
 He received other distinguished awards and accolades in literature in his
lifetime, including the Balagtas Award (1969), the Republic Cultural
Heritage Award (1970) and the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award
from the government of Manila.
In 2009, former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo awarded the National
Artist of the Philippines for Literature to Francisco, posthumously, for his
significant contribution to Philippine literature.
o Bienvinido Lumbera
Lumbera was born in Lipa on April 11, 1932. He was barely a year old
when his father, Christian Lumbera (a Shooting Guard with a local
basketball team), fell from a fruit tree, broke his back, and died. Carmen
Lumbera, his mother, suffered from cancer and died a few years later. By
the age of five he was an orphan. He and his older sister were cared for
by their paternal grandmother, Eusebia Teru.
When the war ended, Lumbera and his grandmother returned to their
home in Lipa. Eusebia, however, soon succumbed to old age and he was
once again orphaned. For his new guardians, he was asked to choose
between his maiden aunts with whom his sister had stayed or Enrique and
Amanda Lumbera, his godparents. The latter had no children of their own
and Bienvenido, who was barely fourteen at the time, says he chose them
mainly because "they could send me to school."
At the height of Martial Law, Lumbera had taken on other creative
projects. He began writing librettos for musical theater. Initially, the
Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) requested him to
create a musical based on Carlos Bulosan’s America Is in the Heart.
Eventually, Lumbera created several highly acclaimed musical dramas
such as Tales of the Manuvu; Rama, Hari; Nasa Puso ang Amerika;
Bayani; Noli me Tangere: The Musical; and Hibik at Himagsik Nina
Victoria Laktaw. Sa Sariling Bayan: Apat na Dulang May Musika, an
anthology of Lumbera's musical dramas, was published by De La Salle
University-Manila Press in 2004. Lumbera authored numerous books,
anthologies and textbooks such as: Revaluation; Pedagogy; Philippine
Literature: A History and Anthology; Rediscovery: Essays in Philippine Life
and Culture; Filipinos Writing: Philippine Literature from the Regions; and
Paano Magbasa ng Panitikang Filipino: Mga Babasahing Pangkolehiyo.
o Cirilo F. Bautista
Bautista was born in Manila on July 9, 1941 and spent his childhood in
Balic-Balic, Sampaloc.
He received his basic education from Legarda Elementary School (1st
Honorable Mention, 1954) and Mapa High School (Valedictorian, 1959).
 He received his degrees in AB Literature from the University of Santo
Tomas (magna cum laude, 1963), MA Literature from St. Louis University,
Baguio (magna cum laude, 1968), and Doctor of Arts in Language and
Literature from De La Salle University-Manila (1990). He received a
fellowship to attend the International Writing Program at the University of
Iowa (1968–1969).
Aside from his teaching, creative and research activities as a Professor
Emeritus of Literature at the College of Liberal Arts, De La Salle
University-Manila, Bautista was also a columnist and literary editor of the
Philippine Panorama, the Sunday Supplement of the Manila Bulletin. He
was also a member of the Board of Advisers and Associate, Bienvenido
Santos Creative Writing Center of De La Salle University-Manila and
Senior Associate, The Center for Creative Writing and Studies of the
University of Santo Tomas.
 National Artists for Architecture
o Pablo S. Antonio
Pablo Sebero Antonio, Sr. (January 25, 1901 – June 14, 1975) was a
Filipino architect. A pioneer of modern Philippine architecture, he was
recognized in some quarters as the foremost Filipino modernist architect
of his time. The rank and title of National Artist of the Philippines was
conferred on him by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1976
Antonio first came into prominence in 1933 with the construction of the
Ideal Theater along Avenida Rizal in Manila. His work caught the eye of
the founder of the Far Eastern University in Manila, Dr. Nicanor B. Reyes,
Sr., who was looking to build a school campus that was modern in style.
Between 1938 and 1950, he designed several buildings on the university
campus in the Art Deco style. The FEU campus is considered as the
largest ensemble of surviving Art Deco architecture in Manila,[5] and in
2005, it received an Honorable Mention citation from the UNESCO for the
body's 2005 Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage
Conservation.
o Leandro V. Locsin
Leandro V. Locsin was a Filipino architect, artist, and interior designer,
known for his use of concrete, floating volume and simplistic design in his
various projects. He was proclaimed a National Artist of the Philippines for
Architecture in 1990 by the late former President Corazon C. Aquino.
n his visit to the United States, he met some of his influences, Paul
Rudolph and Eero Saarinen. It was then he realized to use concrete,
which was relatively cheap in the Philippines and easy to form, for his
buildings. In 1969, he completed what is to be his most recognizable work,
 the Theater of Performing Arts (Now the Tanghalang Pambansa) of the
Cultural Center of the Philippines. In 1974, Locsin designed the Folk Arts
Theater, which is one of the largest single span buildings in the Philippines
with a span of 60 meters. It was completed in only seventy-seven days, in
time for the Miss Universe Pageant. Locsin was also commissioned to
build the Philippine International Convention Center, the country's
premiere international conference building and the seat of the Vice
Presidency.
The current building was dedicated in 2004, and was designed by the L.
V. Locsin and Partners, led by Leandro Y. Locsin, Jr. Most of Locsin's
work has been inside the country, but in 1970, he designed the Philippine
Pavilion of the World Expo in Osaka, Japan. His largest single work is the
Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei.

o Juan F. Nakpil
Juan Felipe de Jesus Nakpil (born Juan Felipe Nakpil y de Jesus; May 26,
1899 – May 7, 1986), known as Juan F. Nakpil, was a Filipino architect,
teacher and a community leader. In 1973, he was named one of the
National Artists for architecture. He was regarded as the Dean of Filipino
Architects.
Nakpil worked at Andres Luna de San Pedro's architectural firm (1928)
and at Don Gonzalo Puyat & Sons, opening his own architectural firm in
1930. Among Nakpil's works are San Carlos Seminary, Geronimo de los
Reyes Building, Iglesia ni Cristo Riverside Locale (Now F. Manalo, San
Juan), Magsaysay Building, Rizal Theater, Capitol Theater, Captain Pepe
Building, Manila Jockey Club, Rufino Building, Philippine Village Hotel,
University of the Philippines Administration and University Library, and the
Rizal Shrine in Calamba, Laguna. He also designed the International
Eucharistic Congress altar and improved the Quiapo Church in 1930 by
erecting a dome and a second belfry. The church burned down in 1929
prior to Nakpil's redesign of the building. In the 1930's to the 1940's,
Nakpil and his fellow architects Andres Luna de San Pedro, Fernando
Ocampo and Pablo Antonio started the period of modern architecture in
the Philippines. Nakpil and others also established the Philippine College
of Design in 1941 but the institution did not survive the Second World War.
He was hailed as a National Artist for Architecture in 1973.
o Ildefonso P. Santos Jr.
Ildefonso Paez Santos Jr. (September 5, 1929 – January 29, 2014),
popularly known simply as "IP Santos", was a Filipino architect who was
known for being the "Father of Philippine Landscape Architecture." He
 was recognized as a National Artist of the Philippines in the field of
Architecture in 2006. He was the son of Filipino poet Ildefonso Santos and
Asuncion Paez.
Santos pioneered the profession of landscape architecture in the
Philippines. He was bestowed with the title of "national artist" for his
outstanding achievement in architecture and allied arts on June 9, 2006.
Among the locations that comprise IP Santos' body of work are the
landscaping of:
- Cultural Center of the Philippines complex
- Bantayog ng mga Bayani
- Manila Hotel
- San Miguel Corporation Building
- Nayong Pilipino
- Paco Park
- Rizal Park
- Loyola Memorial Park
- Tagaytay Highlands Golf and Country Club
- The Orchard Golf and Country Club
- Magallanes Church
- Asian Institute of Management
o Jose Maria Zaragoza
Zaragoza took up BS Architecture at the University of Santo Tomas where
he graduated in 1936. He placed 7th in the licensure exams in the 1938.
He also had a diploma in liturgical art and architecture from the Rome-
based International Institute of Liturgical Art. At the Hilversun Technical
Research Center in the Netherlands, he obtained a diploma in
comprehensive planning.
During the earlier years of his career, Zaragoza had meetings with
American architect Frank Lloyd Wright culminating with a visit to Wright'
atelier in Arizona in the United States in 1956. However, unlike his
contemporaries, Zaragoza looked into European architecture for
inspiration instead of drawing from American architecture.
Zaragoza was involved in designing several religious buildings such as
The Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Tala, Caloocan completed in 1950;
the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City and the Villa San Miguel in
Mandaluyong both which was finished in 1954; the Pius XII Center in
Manila completed in 1958, and the expansion of the Quiapo Church
completed in 1984, a project met with some controversy.
 He was invited by Brazilian architects Oscar Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa to
be one of the guest architects in designing Brasília, which was planned to
be the new capital city of Brazil.
Zaragoza also designed the former Union Church of Manila, a shell-
shaped church that resembled the Philippine Exposition Hall in New York
of 1936. This church building, dedicated in 1975, was torn down in the late
1990s to make room for a new Union Church of Manila on a portion of the
same site.
Zaragoza also designed the Saint John Bosco and the National Shrine of
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
Overall, he designed about 45 churches and religious centers.
 National Artists for Film
o Lino Brocka
Lino Brocka was a radical filmmaker whose socially conscious films
explored the plight of the marginalized and ignored sectors of Filipino
society. Maria Soriano explores his trailblazing life and career, and looks
at his films, which are unfortunately unattainable outside of The
Philippines.
Brocka’s films are very character driven, magnifying the oppression and
neglect of the common citizen, the poor everyman barely scrapping by
while fighting off abuse from the system. He often cast unknown actors to
focus more on the story and not on the celebrity. Actors such as Bembol
Roco, Hilda Koronel and Laurice Guillen are amongst the unknown actors
that worked with him repeatedly for years, eventually becoming stars in
their own right. Alongside his socially conscious films Brocka also
discussed themes of sexuality, which filmmakers during his time tended to
avoid. Despite his Mormon faith, Brocka was openly gay and homosexual
themes were often a big part of the narratives of his films, as was showing
sexually confident and strong-spirited women. Brocka’s films highlight the
marginalised and ignored sectors of society- the slum dwellers,
prostitutes, street hustlers, as well as those who were discriminated
against simply because of gender or sexuality – subjects that no other
director dared to touch, especially while under the Marcos dictatorship.
Under the Marcos regime, strict censorship was enforced in the media and
Brocka was forced to smuggle his films out of the country for screenings to
avoid heavy cuts. In 1984, he flew to Cannes to support another
nomination for Bayan Ko (My Country). In his fight for freedom of speech,
he declared that the Marcos dictatorship had taken control of the
Philippine media for its enforcement of censorship, which resulted in his
 arrest and imprisonment along with other journalists and filmmakers upon
his return to the Philippines.
He was released from jail after the fall of Marcos and was invited by
Corazon Aquino, Marcos’ successor, to be part of a committee to draft the
1986 constitution but left soon after as he felt that many of the policies
worked against the Filipino people. He protested against the new
government by making radical films such as Ora Pro Nobis (1989) and
Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak (1990), with Ora earning him yet another Palm
d’Or nomination.
Lino Brocka died in a car accident on May 21, 1991. His untimely death
did not stop his long and hard fight for social justice as he was
posthumously awarded the National Artist Award and is considered, to this
day, the greatest social realist, and the greatest director, the Philippines
has produced.
o Ishmael Bernal
Ishmael Bernal (30 September 1938 – 2 June 1996) was a Filipino film,
stage and television director, actor and screenwriter. Noted for his
melodramas, particularly with feminist and moral issues, he directed many
landmark Filipino films such as Nunal sa Tubig (1975), City After Dark
(1980), Relasyon (1982), Himala (1982), and Hinugot sa Langit (1985). He
was declared a National Artist of the Philippines in 2001.
Born in Manila on 30 September 1938, Bernal was the son of Elena
Bernal and Pacifico Ledesma. He studied at Burgos Elementary School,
Mapa High School and at the University of the Philippines where he
finished his Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1959. After graduation
he worked with Lamberto Avellana's documentary outfit before proceeding
to France where he earned his Licentiate in French Literature and
Philosophy at the University of Aix-en-Provence. He received his Diploma
in Film Directing in 1970 at the Film Insititue of India in Poona under the
Colombo plan scholarship. An active participant in the struggle for artist's
rights and welfare, Bernal was also a board member of the Concerned
Artists of the Philippines and the Directors Guild of the Philippines, Inc.
Until his demise, he remained part of DGPI, an organization that studies
the role of film as an instrument of entertainment, education and
development
o Gerardo “Gerry” De Leon
De León, who was born Gerardo Ilagan, was a member of the Ilagan clan
of Philippine motion pictures, which includes Robert Arevalo, Conrado
Conde, Angel Esmeralda, Eddie Ilagan, Ronaldo Valdez, musical scorer
Tito Arévalo, and his daughter Liberty Ilagan. De León was a medical
 doctor by profession, but his ultimate love for film won him over. He made
his acting debut in the 1934 film Ang Dangal. He acted in eight other films
before becoming a director. The first film he directed was Bahay-Kubo
(1939), starring Fely Vallejo, an actress whom he later married.
De Leon produced a number of anti-American propaganda films during
World War Two, in collaboration with the occupying Japanese forces and
Japanese director Abe Yutaka, who personally chose De Leon for the
projects. De Leon was arrested and charged with treason after the
Japanese were defeated, and was almost executed by the Filipino
government. But at the last minute, he was pardoned when evidence
came to light that all during the war, he had secretly assisted the Filipino
resistance as well.
Nicknamed "Manong", de León is the most awarded film director in the
history of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences' FAMAS
Awards. From 1952 to 1971, he was awarded seven FAMAS Awards,
three of them received consecutively. His 1961 film The Moises Padilla
Story was selected as the Philippine entry for the Best Foreign Language
Film at the 32nd Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[3]
All of the films for which he won Best Director also won Best Picture at the
FAMAS, namely Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo (1952), Hanggang sa Dulo
ng Daigdig (1958), Huwag Mo Akong Limutin (1960), Noli Me Tangere
(1961, adapted from the novel of the same title), El Filibusterismo (1962),
Daigdig ng mga Api (1965), and Lilet (1971). One of his unfinished
projects was Juan de la Cruz (1972) with Fernando Poe, Jr..
He is known to fans of cult horror films for the handful of 1960s horror
movies he directed, some co-directed with his friend Eddie Romero and
co-financed with American money. These films included Terror Is a Man
(1959), The Blood Drinkers/ Blood is the Color of Night (1964), Curse of
the Vampires/ Whisper to the Wind (1966), Brides of Blood (1968), and
Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1969). Roger Corman hired him in 1971 to
direct his gritty Women in Prison film Women in Cages, featuring Pam
Grier as a sadistic prison warden. De Leon died on July 25, 1981 at age
67.
o Fernando Poe, Jr.
Ronald Allan Kelley Poe (August 20, 1939 – December 14, 2004), better
known as Fernando Poe Jr. and colloquially known as FPJ and Da King,
was a Filipino actor. During the latter part of his career, Poe was defeated
by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 2004 Philippine
presidential elections. His long career as an action film star earned him
the nickname "King of Philippine Movies" (often shortened to Da King).
 Poe was posthumously declared a National Artist of the Philippines for
Film on May 23, 2006 by President Macapagal-Arroyo. The award was
confirmed by President Benigno Aquino III on July 20, 2012, and was
presented to his family on August 16.
Poe dropped out of college to work in the Philippine film industry as a
messenger boy, and was given acting roles in subsequent years. Starting
as a stuntman for Everlasting Pictures, he was given a starring role in the
movie Anak ni Palaris (Son of Palaris) at the age of 14. The movie was not
a big hit. In 1957 the movie Lo Waist Gang made him popular, and the film
was such a big hit that low-waist pants became a fad.
Also known as 'FPJ' from his initials, Poe acted in a number of movies
which depicted him as the champion of the poor and downtrodden. He
also directed nine movies, under the pseudonym Ronwaldo Reyes. Reyes
originated from the surname of his paternal grandmother, Martha.

He established FPJ Productions in 1961 and later organized other film

companies. In 1963, he testified against criminal gangs, known as the Big
Four, who extorted money from the film industry. In 1965, he shared the
lead in The Ravagers (in the Philippines this is titled Only the Brave Know
Hell), a film depicting the United States and the Philippines working
together against Japanese war time occupation. The film is considered
one of the most influential Filipino films.
Poe won the most best actor awards at the FAMAS. Among the movies
that received awards were Mga Alabok ng Lupa (1967), Asedillo (1971),
Durugin si Totoy Bato (1979), Umpisahan Mo, Tatapusin Ko (1983), and
Muslim .357 (1986).
In 1988, Poe partnered with San Miguel Corporation in a near ₱27 million
promotional deal for San Miguel Beer.
Among his roles were Flavio in the mythical Ang Panday series, Kahit
Konting Pagtingin, Dito sa Pitong Gatang and Aguila. His last movie was
Pakners which also stars 9-ball billiards champion Efren "Bata" Reyes.
o Eddie S. Romero
Edgar Sinco Romero (July 7, 1924 – May 28, 2013) was a Filipino film
director, film producer and screenwriter.
Romero was named National Artist of the Philippines in 2003, and his
body of work delved into the history and politics of his country. His 1976
film Ganito Kami Noon…Paano Kayo Ngayon?, set at the turn of the 20th
century during the revolution against the Spaniards and, later, the
American colonizers, follows a naive peasant through his leap of faith to
become a member of an imagined community. Aguila situated a family’s
 story against the backdrop of Filipino history, while Kamakalawa explored
the folklore of prehistoric Philippines. Banta ng Kahapon, his "small"
political film, was set against the turmoil of the late 1960s, tracing the
connection of the underworld to the corrupt halls of politics. His 13-part
series Noli Me Tangere brought Philippine national hero José Rizal's novel
to a new generation of viewers.
Romero co-produced one of the earliest Filipino horror films, the 1959
Terror Is a Man, which was directed by his friend and fellow director
Gerardo de Leon, with whom he would later co-direct other films. Romero
directed some critically acclaimed war films in the early 1960s, such as
Lost Battalion (1960), The Raiders of Leyte Gulf (1963) and The Walls of
Hell (1964). Along with Filipino-language (Tagalog language) films, he
made English-language films that became cult classics, like Black Mama,
White Mama,[10] Beast of the Yellow Night, The Woman Hunt, Beyond
Atlantis and The Twilight People and worked with American actors like
John Ashley and Pam Grier.
Romero's films, the National Artist citation stated, "are delivered in an
utterly simple style – minimalist, but never empty, always calculated,
precise and functional, but never predictable." Quentin Tarantino drew on
Twilight People as an inspiration for his "grindhouse" homages.
Romero is especially known to horror film fans for his three "Blood Island"
films from the late 1960s - Brides of Blood (1968), Mad Doctor of Blood
Island (1969) and Beast of Blood (1970), which he directed, co-produced
by "Hemisphere Pictures" (which was composed of Romero, Kane W.
Lynn and Irwin Pizor). Romero later called his American-financed “cult”
films – including the “Blood Island” series – “the worst things I ever did”.
When the kung fu craze started in the 1970s, Romero turned his back on
the international market for Filipino films which he had virtually created.
After 1976, he made smaller, more personal "art" films in Tagalog.
 National Artists for Visual Arts
o Napoleon Abueva
Napoleon Isabelo Veloso-Abueva (born January 26, 1930), more popularly
known as Napoleon Abueva, is a Filipino artist. He is a sculptor given the
distinction as the Philippines National Artist for Sculpture. He is also
entitled as the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture". He is the first and
only Boholano given the distinction as National Artist of the Philippines in
the field of Visual Arts.
Napoleon Abueva, nicknamed Billy, was born on January 26, 1930 in
Tagbilaran, Bohol to Teodoro Abueva, a Bohol congressman and
Purification Veloso, president of the Women’s Auxiliary Service. His father
 was a friend and contemporary of former Philippine President Manuel
Roxas and Ambassador Narciso Ramos. He was a member of the
Provincial Board, and later became the Provincial Governor of Bohol. He
ended his career as a Congressman in 1934. Both of Abueva's parents
died serving their country.
Some of his major works include Kaganapan (1953), Kiss of Judas (1955),
Thirty Pieces of Silver, The Transfiguration, Eternal Gardens Memorial
Park (1979), UP Gateway (1967), Nine Muses (1994), UP Faculty Center,
Sunburst (1994)-Peninsula Manila Hotel, the bronze figure of Teodoro M.
Kalaw in front of National Library, and murals in marble at the National
Heroes Shrine, Mt. Samat, Bataan. One masterpiece he dedicates to the
Boholanos is the Sandugo or Blood Compact shrine in Bool, Tagbilaran
City, a landmark at the site of the first international treaty of friendship
between Spaniards and Filipinos. This is now a tourist attraction in Bohol
province. This shrine is an expression of Abueva's awareness of his roots,
and a manifestation of his artistic talents.
Abueva also performed the death mask procedure of the late Fernando
Poe Jr. in 2004.
o Ang Kiukok
Ang Kiukok (1931-2005) was a popular Filipino artist best known for his
depictions of violent imagery and for originating the style of figurative
expressionism. Equally at home on canvas and paper, Ang's versatility
helped the elevation of sketches from medium simply for the production of
studies to a well-respected art form in their own right.
Ang Kiukok was born in Davao City, Philippines to Chinese immigrant
parents. Early encouragement of his art led to Ang's enrollment in the
University of Santo Tomas in Fine Art in 1952. There, notable Filipino
painters such as Vicente Manansala recognized his talent; Manansala
would become Ang's primary mentor and lifelong friend. After his time at
university, Ang spent his time teaching and participating in art shows. He
held his first solo exhibition in 1954 and won numerous awards during this
period.
In 1976, Ang was awarded the Outstanding Citizen Award, which led to
the 1978 Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award, and in 2001, he was
awarded the Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng Pilipinas (National Artists
of the Philippines) order, the highest honor bestowed for artistic
achievement in the Philippines. A retrospective of Ang's work was held at
the Metropolitan Museum of Manila in 2000; he was only the third person
in the history of the museum to receive this honor. He died from prostate
 cancer in 2005 and was buried in Libingan ng mga Bayani, Manila's
national cemetery for Filipino heroes.
o Victorio C. Edades
Victorio C. Edades (December 23, 1895 – March 7, 1985) was a Filipino
painter. He led the revolutionary Thirteen Moderns, who engaged their
classical compatriots in heated debate over the nature and function of art.
He was named a National Artist in 1976.
During his journey to America, he participated in art competitions, one of
which was the Annual Exhibition of North American Artists. His entry The
Sketch (1927) won second prize. When he returned to the Philippines in
1928, he saw that the state of art was "practically dead." Paintings he saw
dealt with similar themes and were done in a limited technique that mostly
followed the works of Fernando Amorsolo, the first Philippine national
artist and the most popular painter of the time. He recognized that there
was no creativity whatsoever, and that the artists of that time were merely
"copying" each other. So in December, Edades bravely mounted a one-
man show at the Philippine Columbia Club in Ermita to introduce to the
masses what his modern art was all about. He showed thirty paintings,
including those that won acclaim in America. It was a distinguished exhibit,
for the Filipino art circle was suddenly shaken by what this young man
from Pangasinan had learned from his studies abroad. Viewers and critics
were apparently shocked and not one painting was sold.
Edades helped organized the University of Sto. Tomas Department of
Architecture in 1930 and was its acting head. In 1935, he was appointed
as Director of the UST College of Architecture and Fine Arts, which he
organized under the wing of Architecture. He was guided by the existing
American curricula when he made the Fi Painting. On February 12, 1977,
UST conferred on Edades the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, Honoris
Causa.
Edades retired to Davao City with his family. There he taught for a time at
the Philippine Women's College and resumed his career as an artist. He
died on March 7, 1985.
o Cesar Legaspi
National artist Cesar Legaspi was recognized as the pioneer of the
Neorealist movement in the country. Legaspi’s art is said to have paved
the way to the birth of modern art in the Philippines. Although he worked
on his paintings as he was operating as a magazine illustrator and as
artistic director in advertising agencies, he was able to create
masterpieces that made “use of the geometric fragmentation technique,
weaving social comment and juxtaposing the mythical and modern into his
 overlapping, interacting forms with disturbing power and intensity,” Tree
Planting, Man and Woman, Reclining Nude, and Gadgets are some of his
notable paintings.
o Vicente S. Manansala
National artist Vicente Manansala was an extraordinary illustrator and
cubist painter. Born in Macabebe, Pampanga, Manansala’s paintings
depicted barrio and the city together and were often characterized,
according to NCCA, as “as visions of reality teetering on the edge of
abstraction.” Manansala trained in Paris and at the Otis School of Drawing
in Los Angeles. His famous masterpiece, the Madonna of the Slums
represents a mother and a child from the country. In his other canvasses
such as the Jeepney and Birdman, he combined the elements of
provincial folk culture with the busy streets of the city.
o Hernando R. Ocampo
Being a self-taught painter did not stop Hernando R. Ocampo from
becoming as National Artist for Visual Arts. He is not just an exceptional
visual artist. Ocampo’s works, as cited, are often praised to have
“provided an understanding and awareness of the harsh social realities in
the country.” Ocampo invented a new mode of perception that
demonstrated the atmosphere and the wildlife of the Philippines. He used
movement and bold colors in his artworks. As a visual artist, someof his
popular works include Nude with Candle and Flower, Ina ng Balon,
Kasaysayan ng Lahi, Man and Carabao, Revelation 8, Ancestors, and
Fiesta.
o Fernando C. Amorsolo
Fernando Amorsolo is the country’s first national artist, heralded as the
“Grand Old Man of the Philippine Art.” He started his art education as an
apprentice at age 13 and formally enrolled at the Art School of the Liceo
de Manila and then in the University of the Philippines. A study grant
provided by business tycoon Enrique Zobel de Ayala enabled Amorsolo to
study at the Academia de San Fernando in Madrid. National artist for
Literature Nick Joaquin described Amorsolo’s work as “the rapture of a
sensualist utterly in love with the earth, with the Philippine sun…” Most of
Amorsolo’s works depicted the rich rural landscape of the Philippines.
Some of Amorsolo’s famous works include Rice Planting, Defence of a
Filipina Woman’s Honor, Planting Rice (1946), and Sunday Morning Going
to Town (1958).
o Carlos “Botong” V. Francisco
More commonly known as ”Botong”, Carlos Francisco was a muralist from
Angono, Rizal. He became famous because of his massive murals and for
 his outstanding depiction of historical pieces. Botong’s artistic genius is in
his ability to turn “fragments of the historic past into vivid records of the
legendary courage of the ancestors of his race.” Francisco’s impressive
works include Blood Compact, Bayanihan sa Bukid, First Mass at
Limasawa, Magpupukot, The Martyrdom of Rizal, and Fiesta.
o Arturo “Art” R. Luz
Arturo Rogerio Luz was a prominent printmaker, sculptor, and art
administrator who was named as a national artist for visual arts in 1997.
Luz was a minimalist and he used geometric abstracts that “exemplify an
ideal of sublime austerity in expression and form.” Luz also pioneered the
professionalization of the art galleries that “set a prestigious influence over
generations of Filipino artists.”
Credited to his name are some of the country’s best masterpieces such as
Bagong Taon, Man with a Guitar, Self-Portrait and Cities of the Past. His
Black and White mural can be viewed in the hall of CCP’s Bulwagang
Carlos V. Francisco (Little Theater).
o J. Elizalde Navarro
Born in Antique, Jerry Elizalde Navarro is both a painter and sculptor
whose works, aside from painting and sculpture, include graphic design,
printmaking, and mask-making in hardwood which “merge the human and
the animal.” He represented the country at the Sao Paolo Biennale in
Brazil for sculpture.
Some of his illustrious works are I’m Sorry Jesus, I Can’t Attend Christmas
This Year; Homage to Dodjie Laurel; A Flying Contraption for Mr. Icarus;
Singkil; Is He the Man?; and The Seasons.
o Guillermo E. Tolentino
In 1973, Guillermo Estrella Tolentino was named as National Artist for
Visual Arts for his countless contributions in Philippine sculpture that are
iconic and truly a pride of the Filipino people. He was a master in classical
sculpture, having been “a product of the Revival Period in the Philippine
Art.” Tolentino was trained and educated in the Royal Academy of Fine
Arts in Rome. Many of his brilliant sculptures include Oblation, Bonifacio
Monument (in Caloocan), the figures of Jose Rizal (in UP), President
Quezon (in Quezon Memorial) and President Magsaysay (in GSIS
Building). Tolentino also designed themedals for the Ramon Magsaysay
Award and the seal of the Republic of the Philippines.
o Jose T. Joya
A former dean of the College of Fine Arts in UP, Jose T. Joya initiated
abstract expressionism in the country. Abstract expressionism is the use
of the abstract style to convey strong emotional or expressive content. His
 master pieces showed “dynamic spontaneity” and “quick gestures” of
action painting. Majority of his works were strongly influenced by the
tropical landscapes of the country’s beautiful islands. Some of his inspiring
masterpieces are Nanking, Hills of Nikko, Mariveles, Beethoven Listening
to the Blues, Cityscape, Granadean Arabesque, and Biennial.
o Benedicto “Bencab” R. Cabrera
Also known as “BenCab,” this national artist is a brilliant painter who has
“upheld the primacy of drawing over the decorative color.” Bencab’s first
experience of the arts transpired through his elder sibling Salvador, who
was already a recognized artist. As a lyrical expressionist, BenCab
represented Philippine society through Sabel, a symbolic scavenger which
he describes as “a melancholic symbol of dislocation, despair and
isolation – the personification of human dignity threatened by life’s
vicissitudes, and the vast inequities of Philippine society.”
o Abdulmari Asia Imao
A native of Sulu, this national artist was a remarkable sculptor, painter,
ceramist, photographer, writer and cultural researcher. National Artists
Guillermo Tolentino and Napoleon Abueva had mentored him to become
the artist that he was. Imao incorporated in this works native motifs and
designs such as the sarimanok, the naga, and the ukkil which has helped
develop among ethnic groups trust and confidence essential for the
development of a civilized society. The Industry Brass Mural and Mural
Relief on Filmmaking in Manila City Hall are some of his notable works.
o Francisco Coching
Francisco Coching is a comic book creator with 53 comic book novels to
his name. Unable to finish his studies, he took on an apprenticeship at
Liwayway magazine under Tony Velasquez. His works include the
following: Hagibis, El Indio, Don Cobarde, Pagano, Dumagit, Lapu-lapu,
Bulalakaw, Waldas, Talipandas, Palasig, Movie Fan, Gat SIbasib, and
Satur.
 National Artists for Dance
o Francisca Reyes Aquino
Francisca Reye Aquino is one of the pioneers of Filipino folk dances. She
is a teacher, nationalist, and the first Filipina to be awarded the Order of
the National Artists for Dance. In the 1920s, Aquino conducted research
on Filipino dances by visiting secluded districts and neighborhoods in the
island of Luzon. Her 1926 thesis entitled “Philippine Folk Dances and
Games” has been a thorough guide to many educators and students in
understanding the different dances in the country.
o Leonor O. Goquingco
 Also known as Cristina Luna, Leonor has been dubbed as the Trailblazer,
Mother of Philippine Theater Dance, and Dean of Filipino Performing Arts
Critics. Goquingco was gifted with many talents that included piano
playing, scene and costume design, sculpture, acting, direction, dance
and choreography. She has pioneered the blending of folk dance and
ballet, making the latter more viable,
o Ramon Obusan
National artist Ramon Obusan is a dancer, choreographer, stage designer
and artistic director. In 1972, equipped with valuable amount of research
and artifacts, Obusan established the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group
(ROFG), a dance company that reflects the culture of Filipinos in dance
and music. The ROFG performed dance productions and rituals from
ethnolinguistic and indigenous groups including those from the nnatives of
Cordillera, the Bagobo, the Aeta, the Meranaw/Maranao, and the T’boli.
 National Artists for Music
o Antonino Buenaventura
Antonino Ramirez Buenaventure’s legacy to Philippine music, according to
NCCA, is a musical career “that spanned seven decades of unwavering
commitment to advancing the frontiers of Philippine music.” He
popularized folksongs by creating music based on the wide array of
folksongs from various ethnic groups in the Philippines. His notable works
include Ode to Freedom, Echoes of the Past, Echoes from the Philippines,
History Fantasy, and Triumphal March.
o Jovita Fuentes
In 1976, Jovita Fuentes made Philippine history by being given the honor
as the first female National Artist for Music. Trained to play the piano at
the age of five, famous Italian singer Salvina Fornari mentored her to be a
star. Before Lea Salonga became a Broadway and West End superstar,
Jovita Fuentes performed roles in major productions such as Mimi in
Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme, and Princess Yang Gui Fe in Li Tai Pe.
Her role in the New York production of Madama Butterfly was one of her
proud moments.
o Lucio D. San Pedro
An educator, master conductor, and a brilliant composer, national artist
Lucio Diestro San Pedro through his works “evoked the folk elements of
the Filipino heritage.” Coming from a family of musicians, he started his
musical career at a young age following the footsteps of grandfather who
was the organist at the local church. San Pedro led local bands such as
the Banda Angono Numero Uno, the San Pedro Band of Angono, and the
Peng Kong Grand Mason Concert Band as master conductor.
 o Levi Celerio
Levi Celerio was a highly talented lyricist, with more than 4000 songs
under his name. the volume of lyrics is perhaps Celerio’s contribution
which has greatly enriched the Philippine music for no less than two
generations and has appealed to all social classes. He was also known as
an excellent leaf player, using a leaf to create music as cited by the
Guinness Book of World Records. He is also famous lyricist for love songs
such as “Saan Ka Man Naroroon” and “Ikaw”. He also wrote some of the
most well-liked Christmas songs such as “Misa de Gallo” and “Pasko na
Naman.”
 National Artists for Theater
o Daisy Avellana
Daisy Avellana is considered to be the First Lady of Philippine Theater.
Born in Roxas City, Capiz in 1917, Avellana was not only a notable
actress but was a passionate director and writer. Her contributions to
Philippine theater, as cited, had brought “a new level of excellence by
staging and performing in breakthrough productions of classic Filipino and
foreign plays.” Her advocacy and efforts had also brought about profound
reformation in dramatic and theatrical practice in the country “by
encouraging the establishment of performing groups and the
professionalization of Filipino theater.” Her performances were exquisite
and alluring, taking in roles in productions such as Othello, Macbeth in
Black, Casa de Bernaba Alba, and Tatarin.
o Honorata “Atang” de la Rama
When the Philippines was still under the American rule, Atang de la Rama
battled for the supremacy of the kundiman. She popularized the song
“Mutya ng Pasig” by Deogracias Rosario and Nicanor Abelardo. In 1987,
former President Corazon C. Aquino declared her as a National Artist for
Theater and Music. Atang has been crowned as the Queen of the
Kundiman, as she began her career in music and performance at the early
age of seven. She staerred in zarzuelas such as Marina, Mascota, and
Sueño de Un Vals. For Atang, the zarzuela and kundiman “express best
the Filipino soul.” Not only was de la Rama a stage performer, she was
also credited to have penned the zarzuelas Anak ni Eba, Aking Ina, and
Puri at Buhay.
o Rolando S. Tinio
Rolando Santos Tinio was a director, actor, educator, critic, translator,
poet and dramatist. This national artist was also known for translating
western classics into Tagalog, including the works of Shakespeare (The
Merchant of Venice), Arthur Miller (Death of a Salesman), Samuel Beckett
 (Waiting for Godot), and August Strinberg (Miss Julie). Tinio’s work as a
director is well remembered as someone “whose original insights into the
scripts he handled brought forth productions notable for their visual impact
and intellectual cogency.” Perhaps the highlight of Tinio’s colorful career
was when he became the artistic director of the CCP’s resident theater
company, Tanghalang Pilipino. His legacy as Teatro Pilipino’s artistic
director is his laborious efforts to revitalize Filipino drama through the
revival of traditional works which is described with “excellence and beauty
of his practice that claimed for theater a place among the arts in the
Philippines,” according to NCCA.

MODULE FOUR: NATIONAL LIVING TREASURES AND CONTEMPORARY ART

PRODUCTION

In this new millennium, the indigenous and tribal cultural and artistic heritage of
the Philippines is threatened by modernization and globalization. Many members of
Philippine tribal and indigenous communities move to the city to seek better economic
opportunities. Thus, they leave behind the rich and unique language and practices that
have thrived for many years.

In response to this pressing concern of art and cultural preservation, the

Philippine government in 1992 enacted Republic Act 7355. This institutionalized the
National Living Treasures Award or the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan. Through this
law the NCCA “conducts the search for the finest traditional artists of the land, adopts a
program that will ensure the transfer of their skills to others, and undertakes measures
to promote a genuine appreciation of and instill pride among our people about the
genius of the Manlilikha ng Bayan.”

 Qualifications of the Manlilikha ng Bayan

1. He or she is an inhabitant of an indigenous/traditional cultural community
anywhere in the Philippines that has preserved indigenous customs, beliefs,
rituals and traditions and/or has syncretized whatever external elements that
have influenced it.
2. He or she must have engaged in a folk art tradition that has been in existence
and documented for at least 50 years
3. He or she must have consistently performed or produced, over a significant
period, works of superior and distinctive quality.
4. He or she must possess a mastery of tools and materials needed by the art,
and must have an established reputation in the art as master and maker of
works of extraordinary technical quality.
 5. He or she must have passed on and/or will pass on to other members of the
community their skills in the folk art for which the community is traditionally
known.
 Qualifications of the Manlilikha ng Bayan (Candidates who are deteriorating
and unable to teach his/her craft)
1. He or she had created a significant body of works and/or has consistently
displayed excellence in the practice of his or her art, thus achieving important
contributions for its development.
2. He or she has been instrumental in the revitalization of his or her community’s
artistic tradition
3. He or she has passed on to the other members of the community skills in folk
art for which the community is traditionally known.
4. His or her community has recognized him or her as master or teacher of his
or her craft

 Recipients of the National Living Treasures Award

Artist Occupation and Place of Origin
Ginaw Bilog Poet
Hanunuo Mangyan
Panaytayan, Oriental Mindoro
Masino Intaray Musician and Storyteller
Pala’wan
Brookes Point, Palawan
Samaon Sulaiman Musician
Magindanao
Mamasapano, Maguindanao
Lang Dulay Textile Weaver
T’boli
Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
Salinta Monon Textile Weaver
Tagabawa Bagobo
Bansalan, Davao del Sur
Alonzo Saclag Musician and Dancer
Kalinga
Lubugan, Kalinga
Federico Caballero Epic Chanter
Sulod – Bukidnon
Calinog, Iloilo
Uwang Ahadas Musician
Yakan
Lamitan, Basilan
Darhata Sawabi Textile Weaver
Tausug
 Parang, Sulu
Eduardo Mutuc Metalsmith
Kapampangan
Apalit, Pampanga
Haja Amina Appi Mat Weaver
Sama
Tandubas, Tawi-tawi
Teofilo Garcia Casque Maker
Ilocano
San Quintin, Abra
Magdalena Gamayo Textile Weaver
Ilocano
Pinili, Ilocos Norte

MODULE FIVE: PHILIPPINE POPULAR ART

Philippine popular art is the art that is followed or accepted by the Filipino masses.
Looking at Philippine society, most of the art forms that the general public consumes
and advocates are those that are for entertainment such as songs, dances, telenovelas,
and movies. Philippine popular art is around you: listen to the chart topping music hit,
watch the latest dance craze, or view several box-office hits.

Literature

The komiks is considered to be one of the most read forms of literature in the
country. Serialized komiks have brought to life memorable characters of heroism and
goodness in the works of Mars Ravelo’s Darna, Captain Barbel, and Dyesabel, and
Carlo J. Caparas’s Ang Panday. For many decades, these iconic characters have been
portrayed in television and film. Comic strips have also entertained many Filipinos in
years with the humor and wit of Pol Medina’s Pugad Baboy and Washington’s Pupung.

Because Filipinos are romantic at heart, romance novels in paperback editions

have proliferated in bookstores and have acquired many readers. Recently, some love
stories from these paperbacks published by local companies such as Precious Hearts
have been adapted as a TV series. These stories show how romantic Filipinos are. The
Internet publishing site Wattpad has recently been a platform for aspiring Filipino writers
to publish and for readers to read new materials. Some stories published in Wattpad
have been turned into movies and TV series such as Ang Diary ng Panget,She’s Dating
a Gangster, and Talk Back and You’re Dead.

Music
 Original Pinoy Music, or OPM, is a strong force in the Philippine arts. The
musical talent and prowess of Filipinos shine bright in the country’s local music scene.
From the traditional harana, OPM is still dominated by balladeers that show our
romantic inclinations. Well-known performers include Gary V., Martine Nievera, Ogie
Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, and Sarah Geronimo. Filipino pop music has tried to mimic
foreign musical genre. Examples of these artists include rock bands such as Rivermaya
and Eraserheads, and rappers such as Francis M., who pioneered the musical genre in
the country, and even bossa nova part of Filipino Music.

Dance

Dance is an important social activity in the Filipino community. A barangay or

town fiesta is not complete without a morning parade or caracol and the evening bayle.
Although dance crazes in the country have foreign origins such as the Spaghetti Dance
and “Otso-otso”, Filipino dance groups such as the Philippine All Stars Dance Crew,
Jabbawockeez, and El Gamma Penumbra have made Filipino talent known worldwide.

Movies

The Filipino movie industry is still thriving despite the dominance of Hollywood-
produced blockbusters. At present, Filipino movies being produced today are romantic
comedies (rom-coms), comedies, and horror films. Rom-coms are staples featuring
popular love teams. Although stories are patterned after existing formulas of boy meets
girl, rich girl falls in love with a poor boy, or the love triangle, fans still patronize these
films. Slapstick comedies of Vice Ganda, Ai AI Delas Alas, and Vic Sotto still make
moviegoers laugh. Horror movies such as the Shake, Rattle and Roll series, still
manage to entertain the Filipino audience.

MODULE SIX: PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENT CINEMA

The year 1977 was the birth of Philippine independent cinema. Baguio-based
filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik won the International Critics’ Prize in the Berlin Film Festival
for his film Mababangong Bangungot (Perfumed Nightmare). The Experimental Cinema
of the Philippines (ECP) was created through Executive Order No. 772 in 1982. Though
this government-owned corporation was created to promote the local film industry in
general, it was instrumental in the funding of art films such as Peque Gallaga’s Oro,
Plata, Mata, and Ishmael Bernal’s Himala. The ECP, however, was dissolved in 1896.

Independent or indie films are a break from the mainstream, highly budgeted
productions of established movie production companies such as Star Cinema and
Regal Films. Independent films are also characterized by their unconventional
narratives, experimentation on style and technique, and their artful treatment of
material. The demand of independent films to be an unconventional genre of film
pushes filmmakers and artists to innovate and push the filmmaking practice into greater
heights. Today, more indie films are being produced than mainstream movies.

MODULE SEVEN: EMERGING ARTISTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

When it comes to creativity, Filipinos are unparalleled. Philippine artists who

have immensely influenced the Philippine culture and society include Fernando C.
Amorsolo and Victorio Edades for visual arts and painting. But our focus now in this
module is the new generation of emerging Filipino artists.

In choosing a vocation, art is not exactly the career choice for most people in the
country. However, there are still outstanding individuals who exhibit passion and world-
class artistry in their craft. These artists have proven that arts and culture in the country
is very much alive.

 Some Emerging Filipino Artists

o Ronald Ventura
o Kiko Escora
o Annie Cabigting
o Angeli Bayani
o Joshua Lim So
o Ed Lacson
o Sophia Lee

MODULE EIGHT: INTEGRATIVE ART AS APPLIED IN CONTEMPORARY ART

The Pennsylvania State University defines integrative art as a multidisciplinary

approach in the study of art using “vocational, scholarly, and creative interest in the arts
and design” within and outside the scope of traditional art practice. Integrative art is a
learning method that utilizes the fine and performing arts as principal pathways to
education. It is quite different from conventional arts education because the former use
both art disciplines and traditional subjects as elements of learning.

The objective of integrative art is to expand people’s understanding of a general

subject are, while simultaneously developing a larger extend of understanding and
appreciation of both fine and performing arts.

Here are several ways how integrative art can be applied in contemporary or
modern art:

 New Media Art

 Digital Storytelling
 Using Music and Performing Arts in Education
MODULE NINE: CONTEMPORARY ART PRACTICES AND PRODUCTION

Contemporary art, unlike traditional art, is an active part of the society as it

represents and mediates social conditions with human aspirations. According to
Michelle Watts, an art educator, the following are characteristics of contemporary art
practices:

1. Changes to Accepted Tradition and Accepted Taste

2. Understanding of a Multiplicity of Viewpoints
3. Issues and Ideas about the Role of Objects in Space and Relationships
between Objects
4. Use of Everyday Materials
5. Employment of Contemporary Technology

Prepared by:

MARIA ANGELICA R. BIADO

SHS Teacher