National Artists of the

Philippines
and their Contribution
What is the National Artists Award?
It is the highest national
acknowledgment given to Filipino people
who have made noteworthy commitments to
the improvement of Philippine expressions;
in particular, Music, Dance, Theater, Visual
Arts, Literature, Film, Broadcast Arts, and
Architecture and Allied Arts.
What is the National Artists Award?
The request is mutually directed by
the National Commission for Culture and
the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center
of the Philippines (CCP) and given by the
President of the Philippines upon
suggestion by the two organizations.
What is the National Artists Award?
It has a similar glory as the
GAMABA and the National Scientist
Award.
What is the National Artists Award?
The honor is presented at regular intervals
through a thorough consultation and
determination process mutually encouraged by
two significant social workplaces, the National
Commission on Culture and expressions of the
human experience and the social focal point of
the
Philippines.
What is the National Artists Award?
NAA was built up in 1972
under Presidential Decree No.
1001 gave by then President
Ferdinand Marcos.
What is the National Artists Award?
The first was Fernando
Amorsolo, who was presented
the honor after death. Much has
changed since the organization
of the honor.
The Order of National Artists aims to recognize:

1.The Filipino artists who have

made significant contributions to
the cultural heritage of the
country.
The Order of National Artists aims to recognize:

2.The Filipino artistic

accomplishment at its highest
level and to promote creative
expression as significant to the
development of a national cultural
identity.
The Order of National Artists aims to recognize:

2. The Filipino artistic

accomplishment at its highest
level and to promote creative
expression as significant to the
development of a national cultural
identity.
The Order of National Artists aims to recognize:

3. The Filipino artists who have

dedicated their lives to their works
to forge new paths and directions
for future generations of Filipino
artists.
Seven categories under which National Artists can be
recognized:

1. Literature – poetry, fiction,

essay, playwriting, journalism
and/or literary criticism;
Seven categories under which National Artists can be
recognized:

2. Film and Broadcasting /

Broadcast Arts – direction,
writing, production design,
cinematography, editing, camera
work, and/or performance;
Seven categories under which National Artists can be
recognized:

3. Architecture, Design and

Allied Arts– architecture design,
interior design, industrial arts
design, landscape architecture
and fashion design.
Seven categories under which National Artists can be
recognized:

4. Music - singing, composition,

direction, and/or performance
Seven categories under which National Artists can be
recognized:

5. Dance - choreography,
direction and/or performance;
Seven categories under which National Artists can be
recognized:

6. Theater – direction,
performance and/or production
design;
Seven categories under which National Artists can be
recognized:

7. Visual Arts – painting,

sculpture, printmaking,
photography, installation art,
mixed media works, illustration,
graphic arts, performance art
and/or imaging;
The National Artist of the Philippines are based
on a broad criteria:
1. Living artists who have been Filipino
citizens for the last ten years prior to
nomination as well as those who have
died after the establishment of the
award in 1972 but were Filipino
citizens at the time of their death.
The National Artist of the Philippines are based
on a broad criteria:

2. Artists who have helped

build a Filipino sense of
nationhood through the
content and form of their
works.
The National Artist of the Philippines are based
on a broad criteria:

3. Artists who have distinguished

themselves by pioneering in a
mode of creative expression or
style, making an impact on
succeeding generations of artists.
The National Artist of the Philippines are based
on a broad criteria:
4. Artists who have created a
significant body of works and/or have
consistently displayed excellence in
the practice of their art form,
enriching artistic expression or style;
The National Artist of the Philippines are based
on a broad criteria:
5. Artists who enjoy broad acceptance
through prestigious national and/or
international recognition, awards in
prestigious national and/or international
events, critical acclaim and/or reviews of
their works, and/or respect, and esteem
from peers within an artistic discipline.
PABLO S. ANTONIO
National Artist for Architecture (1976)
• His basic design is grounded on simplicity, no clutter.
The lines are clean and smooth, and where there are
curves, these are made integral to the structure. Antonio’s
major works include the following: Far Eastern
University Administration and Science buildings; Manila
Polo Club; Ideal Theater; Lyric Theater; Galaxy Theater;
Capitan Luis Gonzaga Building; Boulevard-Alhambra
(now Bel-Air) apartments; Ramon Roces Publications
Building (now Guzman Institute of Electronics
FEU Administration Building
LEANDRO V. LOCSIN
National Artist for Architecture, 1990
(August 15, 1928 – November 15, 1994)

He reshaped the urban landscape with a

distinctive architecture reflective of Philippine Art
and Culture. He believes that the true Philippine
Architecture is “the product of two great streams of
culture, the oriental and the occidental… to produce a
new object of profound harmony.” It is this synthesis
that underlies all his works, with his achievements in
concrete reflecting his mastery of space and scale.
LEANDRO V. LOCSIN
National Artist for Architecture, 1990
(August 15, 1928 – November 15, 1994)

Locsin’s largest single work is the Istana

Nurul Iman, the palace of the Sultan of Brunei,
which has a floor area of 2.2 million square feet.
Istana Nurul Iman
Istana Nurul Iman
JUAN F. NAKPIL
National Artist for Architecture, 1973
(May 26, 1899 – May 7, 1986)

An architect, teacher, and civic leader is a

pioneer and innovator in Philippine
architecture. Nakpil’s greatest contribution is
his belief that there is such a thing as
Philippine Architecture, espousing
architecture reflective of Philippine traditions
and culture.
JUAN F. NAKPIL
National Artist for Architecture, 1973
(May 26, 1899 – May 7, 1986)

Among others, Nakpil’s major works are the

Geronimo de los Reyes Building,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 reconstructed Rizal
house in Calamba, Laguna.
Geronimo de los Reyes Building
ILDEFONSO P. SANTOS, JR.
National Artist for Architecture, 2006
(September 5, 1929 – January 29, 2014)

Ildefonso Paez Santos, Jr., distinguished himself

by pioneering the practice of landscape
architecture–an allied field of architecture–in the
Philippines and then producing four decades of
exemplary and engaging work that has included
hundreds of parks, plazas, gardens, and a wide
range of outdoor settings that have enhanced
contemporary Filipino life.
ILDEFONSO P. SANTOS, JR.
National Artist for Architecture, 2006
(September 5, 1929 – January 29, 2014)

Santos, Jr., who grew up in

Malabon, made his first mark with the
Makati Commercial Center where he
introduced a new concept of outdoor
shopping with landscaped walks,
fountains and sculptures as accents.
Tagaytay Highland Resort
LAMBERTO V. AVELLANA
National Artist for Theater and Film (1976)
(February 12, 1915 – April 25, 1991)

Lamberto V. Avellana, director for

theater and film, has the distinction 4 of being
called “The Boy Wonder of Philippine
Movies” as early as 1939. He was the first to
use the motion picture camera to establish a
point-of-view, a move that revolutionized the
techniques of film narration.
LAMBERTO V. AVELLANA
National Artist for Theater and Film (1976)
(February 12, 1915 – April 25, 1991)

Sakay was declared the best picture of 1939 by critics

and journalists alike and set the tone for Avellana’s career in
film that would be capped by such distinctive achievements as
the Grand Prix at the Asian Film Festival in Hong Kong for
Anak Dalita (1956); Best Director of Asia award in Tokyo for
Badjao, among others. Avellana was also the first filmmaker
to have his film Kandelerong Pilak shown at the Cannes
International Film Festival. Among the films he directed for
worldwide release were Sergeant Hasan (1967), Destination
Vietnam (1969), and The Evil Within (1970).
LINO BROCKA
National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts (1997)
(April 3, 1939 – May 22, 1991)

Catalino “Lino” Ortiz Brocka, director for

film and broadcast arts, espoused the term
“freedom of expression” in the Philippine
Constitution.
LINO BROCKA
National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts (1997)
(April 3, 1939 – May 22, 1991)

Brocka took his social activist spirit to the screen

leaving behind 66 films which breathed life and hope
for the marginalized sectors of society — slum-
dwellers, prostitutes, construction workers, etc. He
also directed for theater with equal zeal and served in
organizations that offer alternative visions, like the
Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA)
and the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP).
LINO BROCKA
National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts (1997)
(April 3, 1939 – May 22, 1991)

To name a few, Brocka’s films include the following:

“Santiago” (1970), “Wanted: Perfect Mother” (1970),
“Tubog sa Ginto” (1971), “Stardoom” (1971), “Tinimbang
Ka Ngunit Kulang” (1974), “Maynila: Sa Kuko ng
Liwanag” (1975), “Insiang” (1976), “Jaguar” (1979),
“Bona” (1980), “Macho Dancer” (1989), “Orapronobis”
(1989), “Makiusap Ka sa Diyos” (1991).
ISHMAEL BERNAL
National Artist for Cinema (2001)
(September 30, 1938 – June 2, 1996)

Ishmael Bernal was a filmmaker of the first

order and one of the very few who can be truly
called a maestro. Critics have hailed him as “the
genius of Philippine cinema.”
ISHMAEL BERNAL
National Artist for Cinema (2001)
(September 30, 1938 – June 2, 1996)

Among his notable films are “Pahiram ng Isang

Umaga” (1989), “Broken Marriage” (1983), “Himala”
(1982), “City After Dark” (1980), and “Nunal sa
Tubig” (1976). He was recognized as the Director of
the Decade of the 1970s by the Catholic Mass Media
Awards; four-time Best Director by the Urian Awards
(1989, 1985, 1983, and 1977); and given the ASEAN
Cultural Award in Communication Arts in 1993.
FERNANDO POE, JR.
National Artist for Cinema (2006)
(August 20, 1939 – December 14, 2004)

Ronald Allan K. Poe, popularly known

as Fernando Poe, Jr., was a cultural icon of
tremendous audience impact and cinema
artist and craftsman–as actor, director, writer
and producer.
HERNANDO R. OCAMPO
National Artist for Visual Arts (1991)
(April 28, 1911 – December 28, 1978)

He is a self-taught painter and was a

leading member of the pre-war Thirteen
Moderns, the group that charted the
course of modern art in the Philippines.
HERNANDO R. OCAMPO
National Artist for Visual Arts (1991)
(April 28, 1911 – December 28, 1978)

His works provided an understanding

and awareness of the harsh social realities
in the country immediately after the
Second World War and contributed
significantly to the rise of the nationalist
spirit in the post-war era.
HERNANDO R. OCAMPO
National Artist for Visual Arts (1991)
(April 28, 1911 – December 28, 1978)

Ocampo’s acknowledged masterpiece

Genesis served as the basis of the curtain
design of the Cultural Center of the
Philippines Main Theater.
Genesis
ABDULMARI ASIA IMAO
National Artist for Visual Arts (2006)
(January 14, 1936 – December 16, 2014)

A native of Sulu, Abdulmari Asia

Imao is a sculptor, painter, photographer,
ceramist, documentary filmmaker,
cultural researcher, writer, and articulator
of Philippine Muslim art and culture.
ABDULMARI ASIA IMAO
National Artist for Visual Arts (2006)
(January 14, 1936 – December 16, 2014)

Through his works, the indigenous

ukkil, sarimanok and naga motifs
have been popularized and instilled in
the consciousness of the Filipino
nation and other peoples as original
Filipino creations.
GUILLERMO TOLENTINO
National Artist for Sculpture (1973)
(July 24, 1890 – July 12, 1976)

Guillermo Estrella Tolentino is a product of

the Revival period in Philippine art. The result
was the UP Oblation that became the symbol of
freedom at the campus.
GUILLERMO TOLENTINO
National Artist for Sculpture (1973)
(July 24, 1890 – July 12, 1976)

The Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan stands as an

enduring symbol of the Filipinos’ cry for freedom
Other works include the bronze figures of President
Quezon at Quezon Memorial, life-size busts of Jose
Rizal at UP and UE, marble statue of Ramon
Magsaysay in GSIS Building; granolithics of heroic
statues representing education, medicine, forestry,
veterinary science, fine arts and music at UP.
UP Oblation
FRANCISCO ARCELLANA
National Artist for Literature (1990)
(September 6, 1916 – August 1, 2002)

Francisco Arcellana, writer,

poet, essayist, critic, journalist, and
teacher is one of the most important
progenitors of the modern Filipino
short story in English.
FRANCISCO ARCELLANA
National Artist for Literature (1990)
(September 6, 1916 – August 1, 2002)

Arcellana’s published books are Selected Stories

(1962), Poetry and Politics: The State of Original
Writing in English in the Philippines Today (1977),
The Francisco Arcellana Sampler (1990).
EDITH L. TIEMPO
National Artist for Literature (1999)
(April 22, 1919 – August 21, 2011)

A poet, fictionist, teacher and literary critic,

Edith L. Tiempo is one of the finest Filipino
writers in English.
EDITH L. TIEMPO
National Artist for Literature (1999)
(April 22, 1919 – August 21, 2011)

Her works are

characterized by a remarkable
fusion of style and substance,
of craftsmanship and insight.
EDITH L. TIEMPO
National Artist for Literature (1999)
(April 22, 1919 – August 21, 2011)

Her poems are intricate verbal

transfigurations of significant
experiences as revealed, in two of
her much-anthologized pieces, “The
Little Marmoset” and “Bonsai”.
BIENVENIDO LUMBERA
National Artist for Literature (2006)

Bienvenido Lumbera, is a poet, librettist,

and scholar. As a poet, he introduced to
Tagalog literature what is now known as
Bagay poetry, a landmark aesthetic
tendency that has helped to change the
vernacular poetic tradition.
VIRGILIO S. ALMARIO
National Artist for Literature (2003)

He is also known as Rio Alma, is a poet,

literary historian, and critic, who has
revived and reinvented traditional Filipino
poetic forms, even as he championed
modernist poetics. In 34 years, he has
published 12 books of poetry.
RAMON L. MUZONES
National Artist for Literature (2018)
(20 March 1913-17 August 1992)

Ramon Muzones was a Hiligaynon

poet, essayist, short story writer,
critic, grammarian, editor,
lexicographer, and novelist who
authored an unprecedented 61
completed novels.
RAMON VALERA
National Artist for Fashion Design (2006)
(August 31, 1912 – May 25, 1972)

The contribution of Ramon Valera,

whose family hails from Abra, lies in the
tradition of excellence of his works, and
his commitment to his profession,
performing his magical seminal
innovations on the Philippine terno.
CARLOS QUIRINO
National Artist for Historical Literature (1997)
(January 14, 1910 – May 20, 1999)

Carlos Quirino, a biographer,

has the distinction of having
written one of the earliest
biographies of Jose Rizal titled
The Great Malayan.
FRANCISCA REYES AQUINO
National Artist for Dance (1973)
(March 9, 1899 – November 21, 1983)

Francisca Reyes Aquino is

acknowledged as the Folk-Dance Pioneer.
This Bulakeña began her research on folk
dances in the 1920s making trips to
remote barrios in Central and Northern
Luzon.
RAMON OBUSAN
National Artist for Dance (2006)
(June 16, 1938 – December 21, 2006)

Ramon Obusan was a dancer, choreographer,

stage designer, and artistic director. He achieved
phenomenal success in Philippine dance and
cultural work. He was also acknowledged as a
researcher, archivist and documentary filmmaker
who broadened and deepened the Filipino
understanding of his own cultural life and
expressions
LEONOR OROSA GOQUINGCO
National Artist for Dance
(July 24, 1917 – July 15, 2005)

• Dubbed the “Trailblazer”, “Mother of Philippine

Theater Dance” and “Dean of Filipino
Performing Arts Critics”, Leonor Orosa
Goquingco, pioneer Filipino choreographer in
balletic folkloric and Asian styles, produced for
over 50 years highly original, first-of-a-kind
choreographies, mostly to her own storylines.
ANTONINO BUENAVENTURA
National Artist for Music (1988)
(May 4, 1904 – January 25, 1996)

Buenaventura composed songs,

compositions, for solo instruments
as well as symphonic and orchestral
works based on the folksongs of
various Philippine ethnic groups.
JOSE MACEDA
National Artist for Music (1997)
(January 31, 1917 – May 5, 2004)

Jose Maceda, composer, musicologist,

teacher and performer, explored the
musicality of the Filipino deeply. Maceda
embarked on a life-long dedication to the
understanding and popularization of
Filipino traditional music.
RYAN CAYABYAB
National Artist for Music (2018)

Mr. C is the most accomplished

composer, arranger, and musical director
in the Philippine music industry since this
bloomed beginning 1970s. His learned,
skillful, and versatile musical style spans
a wide range of genres
DAISY H. AVELLANA
National Artist for Theater (1999)
(January 26, 1917 – May 12, 2013)

She elevated legitimate theater and dramatic

arts to a new level of excellence by staging
and performing in breakthrough productions
of classic Filipino and foreign plays and by
encouraging the establishment of performing
groups and the professionalization of Filipino
theater.
ROLANDO S. TINIO
National Artist for Theater and Literature (1997)
(March 5, 1937 – July 7, 1997)

Tinio’s chief distinction is as a stage

director whose original insights into
the scripts he handled brought forth
production’s notable for their visual
impact and intellectual cogency.
HONORATA “ATANG” DELA RAMA
National Artist for Theater and Music (1987)
(January 11, 1902 – July 11, 1991)

Honorata “Atang” Dela Rama was

formally honored as the Queen of
Kundiman in 1979, then already 74 years
old singing the same song (“Nabasag na
Banga”) that she sang as a 15-year old
girl in the sarsuela’s Dalagang Bukid.
Poster Making / Poem Composition
“A Tribute to National Artist”
Nowadays, some students lack appreciation
to our National Artists. They tend to idolize
more of the foreign artists.This output will make
an awareness to the people about the Filipino
National Artist that we have. This activity also
will make the student enhance their creativity
and be discovered that he/she have a talent.