The National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines (Filipino: Pambansang

Komisyon para sa Kultura at mga Sining, Cebuano: Nasodnong Komisyon alang sa Budaya ug mga
Arte),

- is the official government agency for culture in the Philippines.

The NCCA logo is the Alab ng Haraya (The Flame of Imagination), which
symbolizes the spring of Filipino art and culture. It is composed of two basic elements – the
fire and the censer. The fire is a stylized character "ka" of the Philippine indigenous script
Baybayin, that stands for kadakilaan or greatness. The fire represents the highest level of
imagination and emanates from a three-tiered censer. The three tiers stand for organization,
economic support, and an orientation rooted on a thorough grasp of tradition and history, which
the NCCA provides. It is done in gold to symbolize the immense wealth of Philippine culture.

Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is the premiere showcase of the arts in the Philippines.
Founded in 1969, the CCP has been producing and presenting music, dance, theater, visual arts,
literary, cinematic and design events from the Philippines and all over the world for more than
forty years.

The Order of National Artists (Orden ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining) is the highest national
recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the
development of Philippine arts, namely: Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film,
Broadcast Arts, and Architecture and Allied Arts. The order is jointly administered by the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines and conferred by
the President of the Philippines upon recommendation by both institutions.

WHAT IS A NATIONAL ARTIST?

A National Artist is a Filipino citizen who has been given the rank and title of National Artist in
recognition of his or her significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts and
letters.

The rank and title of National Artist is conferred by means of a Presidential Proclamation. It
recognizes excellence in the fields of Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film and
Broadcast Arts, and Architecture or Allied Arts.
The insignia of the Order of the National Artists is composed of a Grand Collar featuring circular
links portraying the arts, and an eight-pointed conventionalized sunburst suspended from a
sampaguita wreath in green and white enamel. The central badge is a medallion divided into
three equal portions, red, white, and blue, recalling the Philippine flag, with three stylized letter
Ks—the “KKK” stands for the CCP’s motto: “katotohanan, kabutihan, at kagandahan” (“the
true, the good, and the beautiful”), as coined by then first lady Mrs. Imelda Romualdez Marcos,
the CCP’s founder. The composition of the Grand Collar is silver gilt bronze. In place of a rosette
there is an enameled pin in the form of the insignia of the order.

CRITERIA FOR THE ORDER OF NATIONAL ARTISTS

1. Living artists who are 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;

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 work and/or consistently
displayed excellence in the practice of their art form thus enriching artistic expression or style;
and

5. Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through:

• prestigious national and/or international recognition, such as the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining,
CCP Thirteen Artists Award and NCCA Alab ng Haraya;

• critical acclaim and/or reviews of their works;

• respect and esteem from peers.

A member of the Order of National Artists are granted the following honors and privileges:

1. The rank and title of National Artist, as proclaimed by the President of the Philippines;

2. The insignia of a National Artist and a citation;

3. A lifetime emolument and material and physical benefits comparable in value to those
received by the highest officers of the land such as:

a. a cash award of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) net of taxes, for living awardees;

b. a cash award of Seventy Five Thousand Pesos (P75,000.00) net of taxes, for posthumous
awardees, payable to legal heir/s;

c. a monthly life pension, medical and hospitalization benefits;

d. life insurance coverage for Awardees who are still insurable;

e. a state funeral and burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani;

f. a place of honor, in line with protocular precedence, at national state functions, and recognition
at cultural events.