The National

Artist Award

Prepared by: Mr. Andrew B. Megano

U n i v e r s i t y o f S a n t o To m a s
Senior High School

Images courtesy of Business World and NCCA

 • It bestows the highest form of
the recognition to Filipino artists for
their significant contributions in
NATIONAL the arts and letters.

ARTIST • It shares the same prestige as the

GAMABA.
AWARD
• Established in 1972, under the
Presidential Decree No. 1001
issued by Former President
Ferdinand Marcos.
 National • Recognizes the recipients of
GAMABA and the National
Commission Artist’s Award.

for • Conducts the search for the finest

artists of the land.
Culture • Adapts a program that will ensure
the transfer of their skills to others
and the and,

Arts • Undertakes measures to promote a

genuine appreciation and instill
(NCCA) pride among our people about the
genius of the Manlilikha ng Bayan.
 HOW DOES ONE BECOME
a NATIONAL ARTIST?

Painting by Benedicto Cabrera (image courtesy of Philippine Tatler)

• Applies to living artists who have been Filipino citizens for
the last ten (10) 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.

• Artists who have helped build a Filipino sense of nationhood

through the content and form of their works.

• Artists who have distinguished themselves by pioneering in a

mode of creative expression or style, making an impact on
succeeding generations of artists.
 HONORS AND
PRIVILEGES

Painting by Benedicto Cabrera (image courtesy of Philippine Tatler)

• Gold-plated medallion made by the Bangko Sentral
ng Pilipinas
• A minimum cash award of P200,000.00 net if alive,
and P150,000.00 net if already dead.
• A minimum lifetime personal monthly stipend of Thirty
Thousand Pesos (P30,000.00)
• A State Funeral benefit not exceeding P500,000.00.
• burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani
 II. NATIONAL ARTISTS
OF THE PHILIPPINES

“Fruit Pickers Under the Mango Tree” by Fernando

Amorsolo. Photo courtesy of The Book Appetite
a. visual arts
 FERNANDO AMORSOLO y
CUETO
• AWARDED IN 1972
• First National Artist of the
Philippines
• Most of his paintings portrayed
the Filipino culture, tradition,
and customs like Fiestas.
• Became popular because of his
illuminated landscapes and his
historical paintings on which
you can see the real reflection
of a Filipino soul.
Image courtesy of NCCA
Image courtesy of Artnet and Ayala Museum
BENEDICTO CABRERA
• Awarded as National
Artist for Visual Arts in
2006.
• “Arguably the best
selling painter of his
generation of Filipino
artists”.
• Works of BenCab can
be seen at the Bencab
Image courtesy of Inquirer Lifestyle
Museum in Baguio.
Images courtesy of Phlippine Tatler
Images courtesy of Phlippine Tatler
 GUILLERMO
TOLENTINO
• National Artist for
Sculpture.

• He was awarded in 1973.

• His most notable works

are “Oblation” and the
“Bonifacio Monument”
Image courtesy of Artes de las Filipinas
Image courtesy of medium.com
 NAPOLEON ABUEVA
• known as the "Father of
Modern Philippine
Sculpture“
• He is known also as a
master of both the
academic
representational style
and modern abstract.
• Youngest recipient of
Image courtesy of ABSCBN
National Artist Award.
Images courtesy of NCCA and bienvenidotours.com
b. architecture
 LEANDRO LOCSIN
• A Filipino architect, artist,
and interior designer known
for his use of concrete,
floating volume and
simplistic design in his
various projects.
• Proclaimed a National Artist
of the Philippines for
Architecture in 1990 by the
late President Corazon C. Image courtesy of the Cultural Center of the Philippines
Aquino.
Images courtesy of Rogue
FRANCISCO MAÑOSA
• Known for pioneering
vernacular architecture in
the Philippines.

• Proclaimed a National
Artist of the Philippines
for Architecture in 2018
by president Rodrigo
Duterte. Image courtesy of the Cultural Center of the Philippines
Images courtesy of Manosa & Associates;and Philippine Tatler
c. fashion
 RAMON VALERA
• The only National Artist
for Fashion Design
• He led the innovation of
the Philippine Terno.
• His timeless designs
show the quality of his
craftsmanship and his
pride in being a Filipino.
Image courtesy of Center for Campus Art
Images courtesy of Rappler
 d. music,
theatre & dance
 LEVI CELERIO
• A Filipino composer and lyricist,
he was a prolific songwriter
with over 4,000 songs to his
credit.
• He is perhaps best known for
being a leaf-player, a feat for
which he was put into
the Guinness Book of World
Records.
• In 1997, he was
named National Artist of the Image courtesy of Esquire Philippines
 FRANCISCA REYES
AQUINO
• Designated as a National Artist
for Dance in 1973
• She was recognized for her
outstanding contribution
towards the advancement of
Filipino Culture through her
tremendous research on the
local folk dances and games in
Central and Northern Luzon.
Image courtesy of NCCA
HONORATA “Atang” DELA
RAMA

• Designated as a National
Artist for Theater and
Music in 1987.
• Considered as the Queen
of Kundiman
• Initially starring in
zarsuelas, she was a
singer and
Bodabil performer who
became the
Image courtesy of Prof. Xiao Chua
first Filipina film actress.
e. film & cinema
RONALD ALLAN K. POE
• Posthumous recipient of the
National Artist Award for Film
and Cinema in 2006
• Cultural icon of tremendous
audience impact and cinema
artist and craftsman – as actor,
writer, director, and producer.
• His long career as an action
film star earned him the
nickname "King of Philippine
Movies” or “Da King”
Image courtesy of ABSCBN
 LINO BROCKA
• One of the most influential Filipino
Filmmakers of the late 20th Century.
• Famous for symbolic, socio-political
films that tackle issues that were
prevalent in our society during his
time.
• His notable films include:
• Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (1974)
• Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag
(1975)
• Insiang (1976)
• Orapronobis (1989)
Image courtesy of NCCA