This lesson will highlight the Philippine artists, both modern/contemporary and traditional, who are

recipients of the Order of the National Artists of the Philippines and the National Living Treasures Award. This will
discuss the significant contributions of each artist in the enrichment and preservation of Philippine Art.

A. Learning Objectives

To do well in this module, you are expected to do the following:

1. Understand the Order of the National Artist

2. Identify National Artists and their specific contributions in Philippine Art.
3. Appreciate the roles of the artists in the development, preservation, and promotion of Philippine
Art.
4. Familiarize themselves with the different art forms, elements, and principles employed by
different artists.

This is the Istana Nurul Iman (Palace of Religious Light) in Brunei. It was designed by a Filipino architect Leandro
V. Locsin.

Lesson 2: National Artist and their Contributions to Particular Areas : Architecture, Design, Allied Arts, and Fashion
Design
Architecture, Design, Allied Arts
Pablo S. Antonio Pablo was known for his simple architectural designs consisting of clean
lines and functional curves. He did not focus much on the aesthetics of
his design but the strength of the architecture. His main considerations in
his structures were austerity and function. Included in his significant
works are Far Eastern University Administration and Science buildings,
and theaters like the Lyric Theater, Ideal Theater, and Galaxy Theater,
among others.
Leandro V. Locsin Leandro Locsin was a remarkable architect who designed numerous
structures including residential and commercial buildings, churches,
government offices, hotels, etc. His architectural designs were
described as original and modern with a touch of Filipino culture and
arts represented by the presence of traditional forms and patterns in his
Contemporary Philippine Arts 12 Page 2 of 5
 works. His grandest work is the Istana Nurul Iman (Palace of Religious
Light). This was the palace of the Sultan of Brunei with 200,000 sqm floor
area. The design of the structure is a mixture of Islamic and Malayan
themes and modern lines.

Juan F. Nakpil The most prominent elements in Juan F. Nakpil’s architectural designs
were their strength, function, and aesthetics. His works were reflections
of the Philippine traditional and cultural heritage. Some of his major
works are the Avenue Theater and Hotel Building, Quezon Institute
Buildings, International Eucharistic Congress Altar, and the renovated
Quiapo Church.

Ildefonso P. Santos Ildefonso Santos was a famous landscape architect known for
landscaping plazas, gardens, hotels, playgrounds, commercial centers,
housing projects, parks, etc. He introduced the outdoor shopping
concept through his design of the Makati Commercial Center where he
incorporated fountains, sculptures, and landscape walks. Among his
projects are Laguna's Caliraya Lake Resort, Loyola Memorial Park,
Eternal Garden Memorial Park, Tagaytay Highland Resort, Lipa,
Batangas’ Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club, and Imus, Cavite’s
Orchard Golf, and Country Club.

Jose Maria V. Zaragoza Jose Marie V. Zaragoza’s architectural structure was a mixture of
modern and traditional designs. Most of his works involved religious
architecture, like churches and convents, since he specialized in
liturgical art and architecture in the International Institute of Liturgical Art
(ILLA) in Rome. IILA honed him to develop new techniques in designing
Catholic Churches in the Philippines. Some of his religious architectures
include the National Shrine of the Nuestra Senora del Santissimo Rosario,
Santo Domingo Church and Convent, St. John Bosco Parish Church, the
Pius XII Center, the Convent of the Pink Sisters, the San Beda Convent,
etc. Aside from liturgical structures, he also designed secular buildings
like hotels, hospitals, commercial and residential buildings, and office
buildings which include the Meralco Building, Philippine Airlines Building,
Philippine Banking Corporation Building, etc. He was also one of the
architects who designed the National Library.
Fashion Design
Ramon Valera Ramon Valera was the fashion designer who innovated the Philippine
terno. He was the one who transformed the components of the
traditional baro’t saya into a single clothing. The most prominent part of
his ankle-long creation were its bell-shaped or butterfly sleeves. Also
included in the innovations he employed in his ternos are the use of
zipper instead of hooks and exclusion of panuelo. Panuelo is the long
scarf wrapped around the shoulders as a symbolism of FIlipina modesty.

Contemporary Philippine Arts 12 Page 3 of 5

Activity 1
Fill in the Venn diagram to show the similarities and differences between the two Filipino architects Jose Maria
V. Zaragoza and Leandro V. Locsin. Write at least 3 similarities and differences for each artist.

Identify the following National artists being described. Write your answer on the space provided.
________________________1. He introduced the outdoor shopping concept through his design of the Makati
Commercial Center with its incorporated fountains, sculptures, and landscaped
walks.
________________________2. He was the one who transformed the components of the traditional baro’t saya
into a single clothing.
________________________3. His architectural designs were described as original and modern with a touch of
Filipino culture and arts represented by the presence of traditional forms and
patterns in his works.
________________________4. His works were reflections of the Philippine traditional and cultural heritage.
________________________5. He did not focus much on the aesthetics of his design but the strength of the
architecture.
________________________6. He specialized in liturgical art and architecture in the International Institute of
Liturgical Art (ILLA) in Rome.
________________________7. His major works are the Avenue Theater and Hotel Building, Quezon Institute
Buildings, International Eucharistic Congress Altar, and the renovated Quiapo
Church.
________________________8. He also designed secular buildings like hotels, hospitals, commercial and residential
buildings, and office buildings which include the Meralco Building, Philippine Airlines
Building,and Philippine Banking Corporation Building.

Contemporary Philippine Arts 12 Page 4 of 5

________________________9. This was the palace of the Sultan of Brunei with 200,000 sqm floor area. The design of
the structure is a mixture of Islamic and Malayan themes and modern lines.
________________________10. His projects are the Laguna’s Caliraya Lake Resort, Loyola Memorial Park, Eternal
Garden Memorial Park, Tagaytay Highland Resort, Lipa, Batangas’ Mt. Malarayat
Golf and Country Club.
________________________11. He was also one of the architects who designed the National Library.
________________________12. It is the long scarf being wrap around the shoulders as a symbolism of FiIipina
modesty.
________________________13. He was a remarkable architect who designed numerous structures including
residential and commercial buildings, churches, government offices, and hotels.
________________________14. It is the most prominent part of his ankle-long creation of Ramon Valera.
________________________15.His prominent elements in his architectural designs were strength, function, and
aesthetic.

Contemporary Philippine Arts 12 Page 5 of 5