WRITTEN WORK # 4:

DESIGN A MEDAL
What is the greatest accomplishment
you have achieved so far? If you are to
create a medal for this
accomplishment, how will it look like?
What features will it have? What
symbolisms are you going to include?
In the blank template below, you are
to design your own medal for the
accomplishment that you have
identified and then write a brief
explanation beside it.
 May is National Heritage
Month by virtue of Presidential
Proclamation No. 439, which
aims to actively foster
consciousness, respect, and
love for the nation’s culture
and history among Filipinos.
This 2023, the National Heritage Month
the theme “Heritage: Change and
Continuity.” This theme emphasizes the
dynamic nature of both heritage and
heritage preservation as fields that are
constantly changing and innovating. It
also highlights the enduring legacies of
Filipino traditions amidst rapidly
changing national and global contexts.
The National Commission for Culture and
the Arts enjoins all cultural agencies,
national government agencies, schools,
Philippine embassies and consulates,
public libraries, and private institutions
to participate in the month-long string of
activities and festivities, and to lead their
own heritage-oriented initiatives.
PERFORMANCE TASK # 2: DIGITAL POSTER MAKING
CRITERIA FOR GRADING
40% - Originality of Poster
30% - Relevance to the Theme
20% - Content Impact (level on how the
theme’s message is conveyed)
10% - Design/Visual Impact
100% - TOTAL
Send to rayezeusjaiden17@gmail.com
Deadline of Submission: May 29, 2023
 GROUP 1 GROUP 2 GROUP 3 GROUP 4
JONIERIEL AIMIE PRINCESS JOY BEATRIZ

JERIC MICKAELLA KIM MICHAEL ANGELO

ARVIN LAWRENCE ERIK JOHN RIC

PAUL SAMUEL JUSTINE CEDRIC

ALBERTO MARK RUSSELL HANA NICOLE ARLENE

MARY ANGEL RIZA KRINISSA MERY ANN

PRINCESS A LYNZEES MHELY CRISTY

ANGEL LOVELY JESELLE YNA

ALTHIEA DENIECE
FINAL PETA IN CPAR: NEW MEDIA
Task: Create a travel vlog.

Mechanics and Guidelines

❑Video should contain the theme: Welcome to Victoria! that aims
to promote the different art forms in the town of Victoria,
Tarlac.
❑The video shall possess the following specifications:
1. The video must be in the highest quality possible in landscape
format.
2. It must be a 3-5 minutes vlog in Tagalog, English, or Taglish.
3. You can use any editing application or software.
4. Observe the following when using images, sounds, or music.
a. A bibliography or list of references must be included in the
credits of the images, sounds, or music in the video.
b. Follow all applicable copyright laws.
❑Deadline for Submission will be on June 26, 2023
CRITERIA FOR GRADING
Creativity……………………………………………………… 40%
❑Overall concept and storyline
❑Entertainment Quality
❑Clarity of expression
Content…………………………………………………………40%
❑Relevance to the theme
❑Usefulness of Information
❑Social Impact
Technical Quality……………………………………………20%
❑Music, images, sounds
❑Video quality
TOTAL …………………………………...........................100%
 GROUP 1 GROUP 2 GROUP 3 GROUP 4 GROUP 5 GROUP 6

BEA ARABELLA JHANA MARIE CATHERENE ROSE VON RICHMOND MARIA PRINCESS

ARKILIZ KURT COLYN ELENA ERWIN JOHN FAITH ARWEN KRISTINE AIRA

JAY-R SAMUEL JOHN VICTOR JOHN KENNETH MILKY ELLA MAE

JEZELLA MELVENIA JOHN LESTER MARY ANN AARON RODRIGO

JESSA MARICAR ANNCEL ASHLEY ANNE NORILYN JAMAESHA

JILLIAN ANGELICA G KRISTINE G ANGEL LYN IRISH CLAIRE JASMINE

CRISEL ASHLEY NICOLE TREXIE AME ABIGAIL JOY MARY GRACE AIRA KIM

ANGELICA S. IAN SAMANTHA MARIELLE PAULINE CATHERINE JANE ALTHIEA LYN

RONNIELA MHYCA MARIA NICOLE ANNIE ROSE ANGELICA V.

❑
❑
❑
❑
 Philippine art and culture reveal a society with
diverse cultural influences and traditions. You
have learned in your Social Studies classes
since grade school that the early peoples of our
country had contacts with traders who
introduced Chinese, Indian, and Islamic
influences, which later on evolved as modern
aspects of life were introduced by the foreign
rule of Spain and the United States.
Although Filipino artists were profoundly
influenced by Western forms, Filipino
painters, writers, and musicians have
come to infuse the cultural richness of
the archipelago in all its diversity, and
have shaped a sense of national identity
in their works.
 Given the very large and vigorous artistic
community of the Philippines — larger than any
other Southeast Asian nation because of its
cultural heritages (Asian, European, Mexican and
American), it is only proper to showcase the works
of our talented local artists as they have set the
foundation for other artists to develop their craft.
More importantly, it is high time that we learn to
give them due credit for their significant
contributions to the development of Philippine
culture and arts.
 The Order of National Artist (ONA)
Also called the Orden ng Pambansang Alagad ng
Sining, the ONA is the highest recognition given by
the Republic of the Philippines to Filipinos who
have made significant contributions to the
development of Philippine arts. This award was
created through the Presidential Proclamation No.
1001 , s. 1972 of the late President Ferdinand E.
Marcos
 The Order of National Artist (ONA)
1) Filipino artist who has made significant contributions
to the cultural heritage of the country;
2) Filipino artistic accomplishment at its highest level
and to promote creative expression as significant to
the development of national cultural identity; and
3) Filipino artists have dedicated their lives to their
works to forge new paths and directions for future
generations of Filipino artists.
 The Order of National Artist (ONA)
In short, the ONA is given to individual citizens who exemplify the country’s
highest ideals in the field of humanities and aesthetic expression, specifically in the
following categories: architecture and allied arts (architecture, interior design,
landscape architecture and urban design), dance (choreography, direction,
performance), design (industrial design and fashion design), film and broadcast
arts (direction, writing, production design, cinematography, editing, animation,
performance and new media), literature (poetry, fiction, essay, literary/art
criticism), music (composition, direction, performance), theater (direction,
performance, production design, light and sound design and playwriting) and
visual arts (painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, installation art, mixed
media works, illustration, graphic arts, performance art, imaging).
 The Order of National Artist (ONA)

The order is bestowed by the President of the

Philippines upon the joint recommendation of
the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
(NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines
(CCP).
 The Order of National Artist (ONA)
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
(Adapted from ncaa.gov.ph)
Upon the announcement of the National Artists
Award Secretariat composed of the NCCA and
the CCP that the nominations for the said award
have been opened, the nominees should meet
the following criteria:
 The Order of National Artist (ONA)
1. Living artists who are Filipino citizens at the time of
nomination and at the awarding, 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 to building a Filipino sense of
nationhood.
 The Order of National Artist (ONA)
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.
 The Order of National Artist (ONA)
5. Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through:
a. Prestigious national and/or international recognition
,such as the Gawad CCP para sa Sining, CCP Thirteen
Artists Award, and NCCA Haraya Awards (Alab and
Dangal)
b. Critical acclaim and/or reviews of their works
c. Respect and esteem from peers
 The Order of National Artist (ONA)
The screening and selection process will go through a
set of deliberation based on the guidelines set forth,
where qualified nominees will be evaluated and
reviewed by the NCCA and CCP. The final list of
nominees shall be submitted to the President of the
Republic of the Philippines for confirmation,
proclamation, and conferral in accordance to the
Supreme Court Ruling G.R. 189028.
 The Order of National Artist (ONA)
HONORS AND PRIVILEGES
(Adapted from ncaa.gov.ph)
The following privileges are provided to those
conferred with the Order of National Artist:
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;
 The Order of National Artist (ONA)
HONORS AND PRIVILEGES
(Adapted from ncaa.gov.ph)
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) Living Awardees:
❑ A minimum cash award of Two Hundred Thousand
Pesos(PhP200,000.00), net of taxes;
 The Order of National Artist (ONA)
HONORS AND PRIVILEGES
❑ A minimum lifetime personal monthly stipend of
Fifty Thousand Pesos (PhP50,000.00);
❑ Medical and Hospitalization benefits not exceeding
PhP750,000.00 per year;
❑ Coverage by a life insurance policy by the
Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
 The Order of National Artist (ONA)
HONORS AND PRIVILEGES
and or/ private insurance companies from date of
conferment the award, in the event that the National
Artist is insurable, the premiums for which shall be paid
by the National Government or by donation from any
governmental or private entities;
❑ A State Funeral, the arrangements for and the
expenses of which shall be borne by the
Government, upon the death of the National Artist;
 The Order of National Artist (ONA)

HONORS AND PRIVILEGES

b) Posthumous Awardees:
A one-time minimum cash award of One Hundred Fifty
Thousand Pesos (PhP150,000.00), net of taxes, payable
to the legal heir/s.
 The Order of National Artist (ONA)

INSIGNIA OF THE ORDER OF NATIONAL ARTISTS

The prestigious award for the Order of National Artists
is composed of a Grand Collar that features circular
links portraying the arts, and an eight-pointed
conventionalized sunburst suspended from a
sampaguita wreath in green and white enamel.
The Order of National Artist (ONA)
 Amorsolo is from Paco, Manila and
is the first to be recognized as a
National Artist, four days after his
death. Known for his portraitures,
his paintings of Filipino women
rejected the ideals of the West,
basing the faces of his subjects on
1 members of his family.
According to him:
"[The women I paint should have] a rounded face, not of the
oval type often presented to us in newspapers and magazine
illustrations. The eyes should be exceptionally lively, not the
dreamy, sleepy type that characterizes the Mongolian. The nose
should be of the blunt form but firm and strongly marked. ... So
the ideal Filipina beauty should not necessarily be white
complexioned, nor of the dark brown color of the typical
Malayan, but of the clear skin or fresh colored type which we
often witness when we met a blushing girl.]"
Amorsolo is also best known for his rural landscapes which often
represented Filipino customs and traditions, Amorsolo was successful
in the formation of Filipino national identity. He is best known for his
technique of using natural light in his paintings and developed the
backlighting technique, which later on became his trademark and his
greatest contribution to Philippine painting. Among his famous works
are: Maiden in a Stream(1921) - GSIS collection; El Ciego (1928) -
Central Bank of the Philippines collection; Dalagang Bukid (1936) –
Club Filipino collection; The Mestiza (1943)–National Museum of the
Philippines collection; Planting Rice (1946)-UCPB collection; Sunday
Morning Going to Town (1958)-Ayala Museum Collection.
 Dubbed as the “Poet of Angono,
Rizal,” he single-handedly brought
back the art of mural painting in
Philippines. He was the second
Filipino to receive the title of
National Artist in Painting. Botong
was best known for his historical
pieces.
2
He was one of the modernist artists together with Galo
Ocampo and Victorio Edades known as " The
Triumvirate," who broke away from the romanticism
style of Amorsolo's Philippine Scenes. His major
masterpiece is the mural for Bulwagang Katipunan of
the Manila City Hall. Among his major works include: the
Portrait of Purita, The Invasion of Limahong, Serenade,
Muslim Betrothal, Blood Compact, First Mass at
Limasawa, The Martyrdom of Rizal, Bayanihan,
Magpupukot, Fiesta, Bayanihan sa Bukid and Sandugo.
 Edades emerged as the “Father of Modern
Philippine Painting.” A native of Dagupan,
Pangasinan, he is known for his paintings of
distorted human figures in rough, bold impasto
strokes. He believed in his own advocacy and
practice of what he called “creative art.”
Unlike Amorsolo’s bright, sunny, cheerful hues,
Edades’ colors were dark and somber with
subject matter or themes depicting laborers,
3 factory workers or the simple folk in all their
dirt, sweat and grime.
In the 1930s, Edades taught at the University of Santos Tomas and
became dean of its Department of Architecture where he stayed for 30
years. It was during this time that he introduced a liberal arts program
that offers subjects such as art history and foreign languages that will
lead to a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. This development brought
about a first in Philippine education since art schools then were
vocational schools. When he retired from teaching at age 70, the
university conferred on Edades the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts,
honoris causa, for being an outstanding “visionary, teacher and artist.”
Among his works are The Sketch, The Artist and the Model, Portrait of
the Professor, Japanese Girl, Mother and Daughter, The Wrestlers, and
Poinsettia Girl.
 A Pride of Macabebe, Pampanga, Manansala
expressed his visions of reality through his paintings
using concepts from the rural and urban settings. His
talent was revealed as a young boy when he made
copies of the Sagrada Familia and his mother’s
portrait that he copied from a photograph. He ran
away from home after finishing Fine Arts from the
University of the Philippines and later found himself
as an Illustrator at the Philippines Herald. There he
met Hernando R. Ocampo, Cesar Legaspi, and Carlos
Botong Francisco, the latter being the first he
4 admired most.
❑ A UNESCO scholar, he was granted a scholarship to study for six months
at École des Beaux-Arts in Banff and Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1949
and in 1950, he received a nine-month scholarship from the French
Government to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
❑ Best known as a cubist painter, he developed transparent cubism with
the use of delicate colors and tones, and patterns and shapes on top of
another. Manansala’s technique was founded on Cezanne and Picasso
whom he says have achieved a balance of skill and artistry. His works
include: A Cluster of Nipa Hut, San Francisco Del Monte, Banaklaot, I
Believe in God, Market Venders, Madonna of the Slums, Still Life with
Green Guitar, Via Crucis, Whirr, Nude. Manansala’s “transparent and
translucent” technique is imposed in his composition of Kalabaw
(Carabao) in 1979.
A versatile artist from Antique, being both a
proficient painter and sculptor, J. Elizalde Navarro
has devoted 40 years of his life to the visual arts
ranging from drawing, printmaking, graphic
designing, to painting and sculpting. His masks
carved in hardwood merge the human and the
animal; his paintings consist of abstracts and figures
in oil and watercolor; and his assemblages fuse
found objects and metal parts. Inspired by the
Balinese art and culture, his figurative works showed
his power as a master of colors. 5
A Navarro sampler includes a large four-panel work, The
Seasons, which is part of the Prudential Bank Collection.
Among his works include his ’50s and ’60s fiction
illustrations for This Week of the Manila Chronicle, and
the rotund, India-ink figurative drawings for Lydia
Arguilla’s storybook, Juan Tamad. Three of his major
mixed media works are I’m Sorry Jesus, I Can’t Attend
Christmas This Year (1965), and his Homage to Dodjie
Laurel (1969: Ateneo Art Gallery collection), and A Flying
Contraption for Mr. Icarus (1984: Lopez Museum).
What sets Joya different from other abstract
artists is his ability to create an authentic Filipino
abstract that has transcended the influences of
the West. Joy’a’s paintings were mirrors of the
Philippine landscapes that depicted green rice
fields and golden fields of harvest. A remarkable
artist from Manila, he also introduced another
technique that has become a common
characteristic of folk art - he used rice paper in
creating collages to show a transparent effect. 6
He also advocated gestural paintings where paint is applied
naturally, in bold and heavy brush strokes, or is directly squeezed
from the tube and splashed across the canvas. Joya was an
inspiration for younger artists as well. By exploring the potentials
of multimedia, he also made art on ceramic vessels, plates and
tiles. Indeed, his fineness in completing a large body of work has
won the admiration of artists, here and abroad. His major works
include Granadean Arabesque, Makiling Interlude, Beethoven
Listening to the Blues, Space Transfiguration, Hills of Nikko,
Abstraction, Dimension of Fear, Naid, Torogan and Cityscape.
From Tondo, Manila, Legaspi is a
known pioneer of Neo-Realism in
the country and is remembered for
his remarkable achievement of
refining cubism in the Philippine
context.
1
With his distinctive geometric fragmentation technique,
merging social comment and placing alongside the
mythical and modern into his overlapping, interacting
forms by means of disturbing power and intensity, his
daring themes contributed significantly to the advent and
eventual acceptance of modern art in the Philippines.
Among his major works are Gadgets I, Gadgets II, Diggers,
Idols of the Third Eye, Facade, Ovary, Flora and Fauna,
Triptych, Flight, Bayanihan, Struggle, Avenging Figure,
Turning Point, Peace, The Survivor, and The Ritual.
A self-taught painter from Sta. Cruz Manila,
Ocampo was a leading member of the pre-
war Thirteen Moderns, the group that
charted the course of modern art in the
Philippines. His works presented an
awareness of the harsh social realities in
the country immediately after World War II
and contributed significantly to the rise of
nationalist spirit in the post-war era. 2
Through his abstract works, the Philippine modern art became
known as his canvases evoked the abundant Philippine
landscape, its flora and fauna, under the sun and rain in fierce and
bold colors. He also played a pivotal role in sustaining the
country’s first Philippine Art Gallery. Ocampo’s masterpiece
called, “Genesis” served as the basis of the curtain design of the
Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater. His other major
works include Ina ng Balon, Calvary, Slum Dwellers, Nude with
Candle and Flower, Man and Carabao, Angel’s Kiss, Palayok at
Kalan, Ancestors, Isda at Mangga, The Resurrection, Fifty-three
“Q”, Backdrop, Fiesta.
Celebrated as a painter, sculptor, and
designer for more than 40 years, Luz,
coming from Manila, created
masterpieces that exemplify an ideal
of sophisticated simplicity in
expression and form, elevating the
Filipino aesthetic vision to new
heights. 3
Through the Luz Gallery that he established, he has set a prestigious influence
over generations of Filipino artists, and inspired and developed a Filipino
artistic community that nurtures impeccable designs such as those with playful
lines portraying a minimalist, geometric abstract. This technique is what he
referred to as true Asian modernity that shows the modernist virtues of
competence, order and elegance. Among his other significant paintings are
Bagong Taon, Vendador de Flores, Skipping Rope, Candle Vendors, Procession,
Self-Portrait, Night Glows, Grand Finale, Cities of the Past, Imaginary
Landscapes. His mural painting Black and White is displayed in the lobby of the
CCP’s Bulwagang Carlos V. Francisco (Little Theater). His sculpture of a
stainless steel cube is located in front of the Benguet Mining Corporation
Building in Pasig.
Born to immigrant Chinese parents
Vicente Ang and Chin Lim, Ang Kiukok
from Davao Cityis one of the most vital
and dynamic figures who emerged
during the 60s. He initiated a formal and
iconographic path of his own through
expressionistic works of high visual
impact and compelling meaning. He
crystallized in vivid, cubistic figures the
terror and angst of the times. 4
Shaped in the furnace of the political turmoil of those times,
Ang Kiukok pursued an expression imbued with nationalist
fervor and sociological agenda. Some of his works include
Geometric Landscape (1969); Pieta, which won for him the
bronze medal in the 1st International Art Exhibition held in
Saigon (1962); and the Seated Figure (1979), auctioned at
Sotheby’s in Singapore. Reports say that his his works can be
found in many major art collections, among them the Cultural
Center of the Philippines, National Historical Museum of
Taipei, and the National Museum in Singapore.
Born in Malabon, Cabrera uses
“Bencab” as his signature in his
works. Initially a lyrical expressionist
in the mid-60s exercising decorative
color in his art, he is best known for
his solitary figures of scavengers
that aim to move the social
conscience about poverty and
delinquency 5
His most popular figure, whom he named,
“Sabel,” symbolizes despair, inequality and
isolation as evident in the Philippine society.
Among his selected works include Madonna
with Objects, Studies of Sabel, People
Waiting, The Indifference, Waiting for the
Monsoon.
A native of Siasi, Sulu, Imao is the
first Filipino Muslim to receive the
title of National Artist. A native of
Sulu who is primarily known as a
sculptor, Imao is also painter,
photographer, ceramist,
documentary film maker, cultural
researcher, writer, and articulator of
Philippine Muslim art and culture. 6
By adapting the indigenous motifs and subjects of
the South, he was able to popularize the ukkil
(sinuous relief woodcarving tradition found in
houses and boats), sarimanok (mythical bird with
fish) and naga (sea serpent), infusing in the
Filipino consciousness what is considered to be an
original and unique Filipino concept.
Imao’s monumental sculptures of Muslim and regional heroes
and leaders paved the way for him to inculcate faith and
confidence among cultural groups for a more just and humane
society. His major works include Industry Brass Mural
(Philippine National Bank, San Fernando, La Union), Mural
Relief on Filmmaking (Manila City Hall), Industrial Mural
(Central Bank of the Philippines, San Fernando, La Union), Sulu
Warriors (status of Panglima Unaid and Captain Abdurahim
Imao, Sulu Provincial Capitol).
Another renowned artist from Sta. Cruz,
Manila, Alcuaz is fond of signing his
works using Aguilar Alcuaz. Known
mainly for his gestural paintings in acrylic
and oil, he also sketches in ink,
watercolor and pencil. Aside from
rendering abstract and figurative works
in ceramics and tapestries, he is also
known for his relief sculptures made of
paper and other materials which he
called “Alcuazaics”.
7
❑ Alcuaz was taking up Fine Arts at UP Diliman and at the
same time, taking up his pre-law course at San Beda
College. Because art was really his passion, he would join
and win art competitions and even put-up several solo
exhibits after graduating from San Beda.
❑ To give-in to his father’s wish, he obtained his law degree
at the Ateneo de Manila but after applauded in an exhibit
at the Philippine Art Gallery, he was acknowledged by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Spain and received a
fellowship to study at the Academia de Bellas Artes de San
Fernando in Madrid.
He furthered his stay in Europe to train himself with the art
and culture of Europe and eventually had exhibits in Madrid
and Barcelona, where he met his future wife Ute Schmidt.

❑ His works are recognized for being refined and with

European flair, coupled with the ease and pleasure carried
by his choice of light, color and composition. Among his
major works are Reveries of Love, Still Life with
Landscape, Abstract in Blue and Black, Tap Room, Tres
Marias, and Manila 1968.
Our next National Artist hailed from Buting,
Pasig. Aside from being a comic book writer,
Coching was also an illustrator. In fact, he
was distinguished in the field of Filipino
comics, earning the name, “The King of
Komiks” and the “Dean of Filipino
Illustrators.” For four decades, he was able
to combine his love of storytelling and
expertise in illustration in his popular art
form of comics, fascinating both the reading
public and his fellow artists, cartoonists and
writers. 9
Founded on the Philippine culture of the 19th century up to the 1960s,
his works tackled heroism and expose the racial and class conflict as
seen in the country’s colonial society, a theme that was also manifested
in Philippine cinema. In his comics, he depicted Filipino men in the image
of the indigenous and strong physique of Lapu-Lapu and portrayed
women as beautiful and gentle, but strong and warrior-like as in
Marabini (Marahas na Binibini). Even when he featured fantastical
characters like vampires and witches, Coching’s illustrations and stories
appeared realistic. Among his works are Sagisag ng Lahing Pilipino,
Haring Ulopong, Movie Fan, Pusakal, Dimasalang, El Vibora, Talipandas,
Gigolo, Maldita. Indeed, his comics paved the way for the practice of
popular art and has posed a lasting influence on younger cartoonists.
A product of Malolos, Bulacan, Tolentino
is a prominent sculptor of historical
figures that are grand and monumental
After returning from Europe where he
studied at the Royal Academy of Fine
Arts in Rome, he became known as a
respected professor at the UP School of
Fine Arts, where he got the idea of
creating a monument for national
heroes.
1
Among Tolentino’s famous works are the UP Oblation, which
serves as the symbol of freedom at the campus, and the
Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan, as an enduring symbol of the
Filipinos’ cry for freedom. His other works include the bronze
figures of the late President Quezon at Quezon Memorial, life-
size statues of Jose Rizal at UP and UE, marble statue of the late
President Ramon Magsaysay in GSIS Building, the gold and
bronze medals for the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the seal of the
Republic of the Philippines, and the statues of heroic and political
personalities, including those that represent education, medicine,
forestry, veterinary, science, fine arts and music at UP.
This native of Bohol was the youngest
recipient of the National Artist Award.
Coined as the “Father of Modern Philippine
Sculpture”, Abueva is recognized for his non-
representational sculptures showing modern
abstract and using a variety of media raning
from hard wood (molave, acacia, langka
wood, ipil, kamagong, palm wood and
bamboo) to adobe, metal, stainless steel,
cement, marble, bronze, iron, alabaster,
coral and brass.
2
With his introduction of the “buoyant sculpture” (a sculpture that is
meant to be appreciated from the surface of a placid pool) in 1951, he
has shaped the local sculpture scene to what it is now. His works have
been installed in different museums here and abroad and one of which is
The Sculpture at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. His
major works include Kaganapan, Kiss of Judas, Thirty Pieces of Silver, The
Transfiguration, the Eternal Garden Memorial Park, UP Gateway, Nine
Muses, UP Faculty Center, Sunburst in Peninsula Manila Hotel, the
bronze figure of Teodoro M. Kalaw in front of the National Library, and
the marble murals at the National Heroes Shrine in Mt. Samat, Bataan
 WRITTEN WORK # 5
SHORT ESSAY. Read and analyze each question.
1.What do you think is the common denominator
among the recognized National Artists?
2.If you are to revisit the criteria for choosing the
National Artists, what would you add? What
would you delete?
3.If you are to nominate a National Artist of your
time, who would it be? Why?
Aquino is a celebrated Folk Dance Pioneer
from Bocaue, Bulacan. Through her efforts in
doing research on folk dances that started in
the 1920s, visiting the remote areas of
Central and Northern Luzon, she was able to
complete a thesis entitled, “Philippine Folk
Dances and Games” in 1926. This paper
narrated the unrecorded forms of local
celebration, rituals and sports. - the content
of which was used by teachers and
playground instructors in both private and
public schools in the 1940s. 1
Later on, she became the Supervisor of Physical Education at the
Bureau of Education, embedding the teaching of folk dancing as a
means to raise awareness about the Filipino cultural tradition. Then
in 1954, she was granted the Republic Award of Merit by the late
President Magsaysay for her “outstanding contribution toward the
advancement of Filipino culture.” Her works include books on
Philippine National Dances, Gymnastics for Girls, Fundamental
Dance Steps and Music, Foreign Folk Dances, Dances for all
Occasions, Playground Demonstrations, and Philippine Folk Dances
(Volumes I to VI).
Born in Jolo, Sulu, Goquingco was named the
“Trailblazer”, “Mother of Philippine Theater
Dance” and the “Dean of Filipino Performing
Arts Critics.” She was the Honorary Chair of
the Association of Ballet Academies of the
Philippines (ABAP) and was a founding
member of the Philippine Ballet Theater.
Goquingco is a premier choreographer who
combined ballet with folk and Asian dance,
having made first-of-a-kind choreographies
— all original and mostly narrating stories
that she wrote on her own. 2
Among these include “TREND: Return to Native,” “In a Javanese
Garden,” “Sports,” “VINTA!,” “In a Concentration Camp,” “The Magic
Garden,” “The Clowns,” “Firebird,” “Noli Dance Suite,” “The
Flagellant,” and “The Creation”. Considered as her most ambitious
work is the dance epic entitled, “Filipinescas: Philippine Life, Legend
and Lore,” which became the foundation of native folk dance,
reflecting the evolution of the Philippine culture from pagan to
modern times, up to it highest stage of development. This
performance has traveled around the world from 1961 to 1970,
introducing Philippine dance to the globe.
A local of Iloilo, Urtula was a
choreographer, dance educator, and
researcher. She spent almost four
decades studying Philippine folk and
ethnic dances. Through her findings, she
was able to preserve and develop the
ethnic dance culture, making way for
new choreographies such as mountain
dances, Spanish-influenced dances, and
Muslim pageants and festivals.
3
❑ These regional variations and dances were performed by
the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company, earning praise
and significant reviews around the world.
❑ Among her critically acclaimed dances were: Singkil, a
Bayanihan signature number based on a Maranao epic
poem; Vinta, a dance honoring Filipino sailing prowess;
Tagabili, a tale of tribal conflict; Pagdiwata, a four-day
harvest festival condensed into a six-minute breath-taking
spectacle; Salidsid, a mountain wedding dance; Idaw, Banga
and Aires de Verbena.
Obusan is Camarines Norte’s pride in
terms of being a dancer, choreographer,
stage designer and artistic director.
Through his efforts in doing cultural
research, he was able to develop and
deepen the Filipino understanding of
traditional dance. He also established the
Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group who
performed authentic Filipino folk dance
that brought about cultural appreciation
of the art of dance. 3
Among his choreographies are: Vamos a Belen! Series
(Philippine Dances Tradition), Noon Po sa Amin (tableaux of
Philippine History in song, drama and dance), Obra Maestra
(a collection of Ramon Obusan’s dance masterpieces),
Unpublished Dances of the Philippines, (Series 1 to 4), Water,
Fire and Life, Philippine Dances and Music (A Celebration of
Life Saludo sa Sentenyal), Glimpses of ASEAN (Dances and
Music of the ASEAN-Member Countries), Saplot (Ramon
Obusan Folkloric Group); Philippines Costumes in Dance.
Another pride of Manila has become a
significant contributor of the
development and promotion of
Philippine dance. Reyes is a dancer,
choreographer, teacher and director,
who has made a lifelong influence on
contemporary dance in the country,
leaving a legacy among various dance
companies, teachers, choreographers
and even the Filipino modern dance
repertoire of today. 4
Her passion for classical ballet and successful training in folk dance under
the Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company, coupled with her
education in modern and jazz dance in the United States led her to
establish Ballet Philippines. Since then, she has produced a contemporary
dance that is uniquely Filipino, as a result of combining her state-of-the-
art and creative movements and styles with indigenous dance, modern
dance, and classical ballet. Her masterpiece includes Amada, Itim-Asu,
and Bayanihan Remembered, which she utilized to promote the
distinctive aspects of Philippine arts, culture, and heritage. Subsequently,
she initiated the popularization of modern dance in the country. By
promoting outreach tours, performances, programs, training, and
workshops, she was able to strengthen the foundation for Ballet
Philippines and modern dance in the country
A renowned poet, playwright, and novelist
from Hagonoy, Bulacan, Hernandez believed
that his art should act as the conscience of
society, raising awareness about inequality
and oppression, in order to act accordingly
when faced with inequality and oppression
and to amend what is needed. His writing
style, which uses colloquial language instead
of flowery lingo, paved the way for the
development of Tagalog prose.
1
While in prison, he wrote Mga Ibong
Mandaragit, the first Filipino socio-political
novel that exposes the ills of society in relation
to the agrarian problems of the 1950s. His other
works include Bayang Malaya, Isang Dipang
Langit, Luha ng Buwaya, Muntinlupa and
Magkabilang Mukha ng Isang Bagol.
An acclaimed contemporary poet from
Singalong, Manila is Jose Garcia Villa, most
commonly known as Doveglion (Dove, Eagle,
Lion). He used this as his penname because
these are the very characters that he
attributed to himself—the very same ones
that e.e. cummings used in his poem for Villa
(Doveglion Adventures in Value). He is
recognized as the first to introduce reversed
consonance rhyme scheme and the use of
punctuation marks, especially the comma, in
his poems. 2
His poem entitled, “Have Come, Am Here,” was highly
praised in New York in 1942 and from then on, more
recognitions, honors and fellowships were awarded to
him. His works have been collected and published in the
following books: Footnote to Youth, Many Voices, Poems
by Doveglion, Poems 55, Poems in Praise of Love: The Best
Love Poems of Jose Garcia Villa as Chosen By Himself,
Selected Stories, The Portable Villa, The Essential Villa, Mir-
i-nisa, Storymasters 3: Selected Stories from Footnote to
Youth, 55 Poems: Selected and Translated into Tagalog by
Hilario S. Francia.
Born in Paco, Manila, this distinguished writer
has enriched the English language with his
baroque Spanish-flavored English writing. As
critics put it; Nic Joaquin’s reinvented English
based on Filipinisms is named
“Joaquinesque.” His works depict the Filipino
consciousness under the Spanish regime that
brought about social changes in the society, as
demonstrated in his stories such as Doña
Jeronima, Candido’s Apocalypse and The
Order of Melchizedek.
3
From essays, novels, poems, and short stories, to
reportage and journalism (with Quijano de Manila as
his penname), Joaquin was regarded as a writer of
the “highest skill and quality”. Among his works are:
The Woman Who Had Two Navels; A Portrait of the
Artist as Filipino; Manila, My Manila: A History for
the Young; The Ballad of the Five Battles; Rizal in
Saga; Almanac for Manileños; and Cave and
Shadows
Carlos P. Romulo of Camiling, Tarlac is our next
National Artist for Literature. Although he is
known to be the first Asian President of the
United Nations General Assembly, then
Philippine Ambasador to Washington, D.C.,
and later on Minister of Foreign Affairs, he
also served the public as an educator,
diplomat, journalist, soldier, and a university
president. In essence, Romula was also a
writer. In fact, he was the only Asian to receive
a Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for his forecast
about the second World War. 4
Aside from publishing 18 books, he also wrote literary
works that include: The United (novel), I Walked with
Heroes (autobiography), I Saw the Fall of the Philippines,
Mother America, and I See the Philippines Rise (wartime
memoirs). Meanwhile, his associations with the United
Nations-led him into writing his memoirs entitled, “Forty
Years: A Third World Soldier at the UN”, and “The
Philippine Presidents”, his oral history of his experiences
serving all the Philippine presidents
Born in Sta. Cruz, Manila, Arcellana is a critic, essayist,
journalist, poet, teacher and writer. He is recognized as
one of the originators of modern Filipino short stories
written in English, pioneering new literary forms such as
the lyrical-prose poetic form in his expression of the
Filipino ideals. His excellent works are widely part of the
college syllabi in the country and among his published
books are Selected Stories, Poetry and Politics: The
State of Original Writing in English in the Philippines
Today, and The Francisco Arcellana Sampler. Some of
his short stories include Frankie, The Man Who Would
Be Poe, Death in a Factory, Lina, A Clown Remembers,
Divided by Two, The Mats, and his poems being The
Other Woman, This Being the Third Poem This Poem is
for Mathilda, and To Touch You and I Touched Her
5
Better known as N.V.M. Gonzalez, he was a writer
who specialized in fiction, depicting the Filipino
character in rural and urban settings. He was a multi-
awarded literary artist from Romblon and was much-
admired for using the English language in his works
to reflect and shape the Philippine culture and
Philippine sensibility. His major works include: The
Winds of April, Seven Hills Away, Children of the Ash-
Covered Loam and Other Stories, The Bamboo
Dancers, Look Stranger, on this Island Now, Mindoro
and Beyond: Twenty-One Stories, The Bread of Salt
and Other Stories, Work on the Mountain, The Novel
of Justice: Selected Essays 1968-1994, A Grammar of
Dreams and Other Stories. 6
Quirino, who is a native of Vigan, Ilocos Sur, was the
first recipient of the National Artist Award for
Historical Literature, a new category in the National
Artist Awards created by former President Fidel V.
Ramos in 1997. Acknowledged as a biographer, he
has written one of the earliest biographies of our
National Hero, Jose Rizal. entitled The Great
Malayan. Moreover, he has also written books and
articles about Philippine culture and history ranging
from Bonifacio’s trial to Aguinaldo’s biography, from
Philippine cartography to culinary arts, from cash
crops to tycoons and president’s lives, among several
other themes.
7
Notable among his accomplishments was when he
became the very first Filipino correspondent for the
United Press Institute. His best book is titled, Maps and
Views of Old Manila while his other books include
Quezon, Man of Destiny, Magsaysay of the Philippines,
Lives of the Philippine Presidents, Philippine
Cartography, The History of Philippine Sugar Industry,
Filipino Heritage: The Making of a Nation, Filipinos at
War: The Fight for Freedom from Mactan to EDSA.
Rolando S. Tinio was National Artist for Theater and
Literature. His career as a prolific writer and
playwright. He was a critic, a poet, a translator, and a
thespian who gave way to creative artistic plays and
productions that revived the sarswela and modern
Western Dramas. His productions as a stage director
were instrumental in making theater a recognized art
form in the Philippines. His poetry collections include
Sitsit sa Kuliglig, Dunung-Dunungan, Kristal na
Uniberso, A Trick of Mirrors. Among his films were:
Now and Forever, Gamitin Mo Ako, Bayad Puri,
Milagros; and his major theater works include: Ang
Mestisa, Ang Kiri, Ana Maria, Orosman at Zafira and
Larawan 8
A National Artist for Literature and Music from
Tondo, Celerio was a scholar at the Academy of
Music in Manila which enabled him to join and
become the youngest member of the Manila
Symphony Orchestra. He was a prolific lyricist and
composer for decades, having authored more
than 4,000 songs. He was also recognized by the
Guinness Book of World Records as the only
person to make music by just using a leaf. Many of
his songs were used for local movies which is why
the Film Academy of the Philippines awarded him
the Lifetime Achievement Award. 9
He is credited for writing the lyrics of traditional
folk melodies namely O Maliwanag Na Buwan
(Ilocano folk song), Ako ay may Singsing
(Kapampangan folk song), and Alibangbang
(Visayan folk song) among others. His major works
include: Pasko Na Naman, Ang Pasko ay Sumapit,
Kahit Konting Pagtingin, Dungawin mo Hirang,
Tinig ng Bayan, Basta’t Mahal Kita.
An esteemed English writer of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya,
Tiempo is distinguished for her remarkable blending of
perception, style, and substance in her works. As a poet,
her writing technique is described as complex with verbal
metamorphoses; as a fictionist, she is known to be morally
profound and meticulous in the use of language and
details. Her influence on Philippine literature in English is
remarkable. She even founded, together with her late
husband, Edilberto K. Tiempo, the Silliman National Writers
Workshop in Dumaguete City which has shaped some of
the best writers in the country. Her novels include: A Blade
of Fern, The Native Coast, The Alien Corn; among her
poetry collections are: The Tracks of Babylon and Other
Poems, The Charmer’s Box and Other Poems; and her
short story collection is: Abide, Joshua, and Other Stories. 10
Well-known as F. Sionil Jose, this lecturer, publisher,
and writer from Rosales, Pangasinan is recognized
for his works that were described as “epic.” by many
critics. His consistent promotion of the Filipino hope
for national sovereignty and social justice is a
certification that his works are of high value - as in
the case of his Rosales saga comprising of 1) The
Pretenders, 2) Tree, 3) My Brother, My Executioner,
4) Mass, and 5) Po-on. This five-novel masterpiece
does not only reflect Philippine history but the social
struggles of the Filipino nation as well. As a result,
this and his many other short stories have been
published in different languages. 11
A poet, literary historian and critic from San
Miguel, Bulacan, Almario is known to have
revived the traditional Filipino poetic forms
and practiced the modernist styles as well.
His diverse works under his pen name Rio
Alma range from lyrical to satirical to epic,
from dramatic to incantatory — often
examining oneself and the society, exposing
hypocrisies, injustices and untruths, among
others.
12
Aside from his 12 books of poetry and 10 books of criticisms and
anthologies, which were all published, he also founded literary
workshops such as the Galian sa Arte at Tula (GAT) and the
Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) to mentor Filipino
literalists. To add to these contributions, he likewise had a go
with children’s literature through the Aklat Adarna series,
exposing children to literature at an early age. Among his
famous works are: Makinasyon, Peregrinasyon, Doktrinang
Anakpawis, Mga Retrato at Rekwerdo, Muli, Sa Kandungan ng
Lupa, Ang Makata sa Panahon ng Makina, Balagtasismo versus
Modernismo, Walong Dekada ng Makabagong Tula Pilipino,
Mutyang Dilim and Barlaan at Josaphat.
Born in Manila, Roces is a dramatist, an essayist,
and a short story writer, and is regarded as the
country’s best writer of comic short stories. He is
mostly recalled for his widely anthologized “My
Brother’s Peculiar Chicken.” He reveals the
abandoned aspects of the Filipino culture in his
newspaper columns, bringing back to popularity
the beautiful local fiestas of the Philippines such as
the Ati-Atihan and the Moriones. He was one of
the advocates of the campaign to change the
country’s Independence Day from July 4 to June
12. 13
He also initiated to change in the language of some of the country’s
documents from English to Filipino as in the case of the country’s
stamps, currency, and passports and was a catalyst in the recovery of
Jose Rizal’s manuscripts when they were stolen from the National
Archives. His unwavering love for his country piloted him to become a
guerilla during World War II and to defy martial law under the opposition
against dictatorship. Among his major works are: We Filipinos are Mild
Drinkers, Of Cocks and Kites and Other Short Stories, Fiesta, and
Something to Crow About Short Stories. His contributions to the
development of the Philippine culture and the defense of its democracy
have earned him various national and international awards, including
several decorations from various governments.
Hailing from Lipa City in Batangas, Lumbera is
a multi-awarded poet, librettist, and scholar.
He is acknowledged for introducing Bagay
poetry to Tagalog literature, which imprinted
an aesthetic tendency to change the
vernacular poetic tradition. His works include
Likhang Dila, Likhang Diwa (which are poems
in English and Filipino), Balaybay, Mga Tulang
Lunot at Manibalang, Sa Sariling Bayan, Apat
na Dulang May Musika, Agunyas sa Hacienda
Luisita, and Pakikiramay 14
As a librettist, he was credited for his creative fusion of fine arts
and popular imagination. As a scholar, his major books include
Tagalog Poetry, Tradition and Influences in its Development,
Philippine Literature: A History and Anthology, Revaluation:
Essays on Philippine Literature, and Writing the Nation/Pag-akda
ng Bansa. Notable among his contributions is the establishment
of quite a few literary organizations such as the Philippine
Comparative Literature Association, Pamana ng Panitikan ng
Pilipinas, Kalipunan para sa mga Literatura ng Pilipinas, Philippine
Studies Association of the Philippines, and Manunuri ng
Pelikulang Pilipino. These groups were influential in bringing back
democracy after Martial Law.
An award-winning writer from Orani, Bataan,
Francisco’s works embody his commitment to
nationalism, tackling issues about oppression
among tenants, exploitation of deceitful landlords
and foreign tyranny. He ranked among the finest
novelists of the country in the early 20th century
and gained fame not only as a writer for social
conscience but also for his “masterful handling of
the Tagalog language”, making him the “Master of
the Tagalog Novel.” He has written 12 novels
published in episodes in the weekly Tagalog
magazine called “Liwayway.” 15
 His literary outputs in Tagalog were instrumental in the
enrichment of the Filipino language and as an advocate of
the national language, he established the Kapatiran ng mga
Alagad ng Wikang Pilipino (KAWIKA) in 1958. Among his
reputable novels are: Ama, Bayang Nagpatiwakal, Maganda
Pa Ang Daigdig, and Daluyong. These works have put him
in an eminent place in Philippine Literature where he was
cited as the “foremost Filipino novelist of his generation”
and “champion of the Filipino writer’s struggle for national
identity.”
Regarded as the foremost Filipino writer of his generation,
Bautista is a poet, fictionist and essayist. Other than his
literary works, his lasting legacy will be his acts of bringing
literature closer to the people by holding workshops and
trainings all over the country, and teaching updated
techniques and trends in literature to the youth. He believed
in the importance of training writers at an early age which is
why he pioneered several writing groups in the Philippines
such as the Philippine Literary Arts Council in 1981, the Iligan
National Writers Workshop in 1993, and the Baguio Writers
Group. Among his major works include: Summer Suns, The
Trilogy of Saint Lazarus, Believe and Betray: New and
Collected Poems, Stories, Galaw ng Asoge , Breaking Signs:
Lectures on Literature and Semiotics, and Words and
Battlefields: A Theoria on the Poem. 16
Antonio is known as the Pioneer for modern Philippine
architecture. His basic design is founded on simplicity,
believing that buildings should be simple and stable
forever as the aim of true architecture. He pointed out,
“For our father, every line must have a meaning, a
purpose. For him, function comes first before elegance
or form“. His designs are characterized with the
maximum use of natural light and cross ventilation. His
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). 1
From Negros Occidental, Locsin was
known for his distinctive and
unmistakable style of combining the
extremes (the aesthetics of the north
and south, the oriental and the
occidental) as evident in his use of
concrete, reflecting his mastery of space
and scale. Every Locsin Building is original
and depicts the theme of a floating
volume, and the duality of light and 2
heavy.
From 1955 to 1994, Locsin has produced 75 residences and 88
buildings, including 11 churches and chapels, 23 public buildings,
48 commercial buildings, six major hotels, and an airport terminal
building. The CCP Complex itself is a Locsin Complex with all five
buildings designed by him — the Cultural Center of the
Philippines, Folk Arts Theater, Philippine International Convention
Center, Philcite and The Westin Hotel (now Sofitel Philippine
Plaza). His 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.
Santos is the pioneer of an allied field of architecture in
the Philippines called landscape architecture. For four
decades, he has produced hundreds of exemplary and
engaging parks, plazas, gardens, and a wide range of
outdoor settings that have enhanced contemporary
Filipino life. He 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. His major contribution to
modern Filipino landscape architecture was the seminal
public landscape in Paco Park. Among his most recent
projects were the Tagaytay Highland Resort, the Mt.
Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa, Batangas, and
the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Imus, Cavite. 3
Zaragoza is known for being a pillar of modern
architecture in the Philippines producing modern
ecclesiastical edifices and structures in the service of
God and humanity. He graduated from UST in 1936 and
became the 82nd architect of the Philippines. He
specialized in religious architecture that is why he also
studied at International Institute of Liturgical Art in
Rome in the late 1950s,. His training paved the way for
innovative approaches and designs of mid-Century
Catholic churches in the country including the Sto.
Domingo Church, Our Lady of Rosary in Tala, Don Bosco
Church, the Convent of the Pink Sisters, the San Beda
Convent, Villa San Miguel, Pius XII Center, the Union
Church, and the controversial restoration of the Quiapo
4
Church, among others.
A National Artist for Architecture and Allied Arts, Mañosa
passionately created original forms, and spaces with elaborate
and sophisticated details that is truly Filipino in identity like his
landmark design of the Sulo Hotel. His major works include the:
San Miguel Building; Ortigas Center in Pasig City which was
designed with the Mañosa Brothers; Chapel of the Risen Lord in
Las Piñas City; Our Lady of Peace Shrine in EDSA, Quezon City; the
World Youth Day Papal Altar used in Quirino Grandstand, Manila
in 1995; the Metrorail Transit System Stations for LRT 1 in 1980s;
the Quezon Memorial Circle Development Plan; the Lanao del
Norte Provincial Capitol in Tubod, Lanao del Norte; the Tahanang
Pilipino (Coconut Palace) in CCP Complex, Manila; the famous
Amanpulo Resort in Palawan; the Pearl Farm Resort in Samal
Island, Davao, which was completed in 1994 and the La Mesa
Watershed Resort and Ecological Park in La Mesa Dam, Quezon
City. Truly, these works have recognized the country in terms of
5
the intricate and refined details of Philippine architecture.
Recognized as the first Filipino National Artist in Theater and Film,
Avellana was known as the Boy Wonder of the Philippine Movies,
which his film debut of “Sakay” in 1939, a biopic on the 20th
century Filpino revolutionary Macario Sakay. He was the first to
use the motion picture camera, a medium that revolutionalized
film techniques and narration to establish a point of view.
Through his efforts, he was able to establish a Filipino theater,
forming the Barangay Theater Guild, where other famous national
artists were members of. Among his distinctive achievements
were: Grand Prix at the Asian Film Festival in Hong Kong for Anak
Dalita, and Best Director of Asia Award in Tokyo for Badjao. Aside
from these, his fim Kandelerong Pilak was also shown in Cannes
International Film Festival. He also directed films that were
released worlwide like Sergeant Hasan in 1967, Destination
Vitenam in 1969 and the Evil Within in 1970. Avellana’s
demonstration of visual rhythm did establish a new filmic
1
language in the country
Also known as “Gerry,” this National Artist for Cinema
was exposed to the arts at an early age. His family was
into the theater business and was already a piano player
in high school at Cine Moderno in Quiapo where he
provided accompaniment to silent movies. Although he
finished Medicine, his passion in arts later translated to
films. His directorial debut was “Ama’t Anak” starring
himself and his brother Tito Arevalo. From then on, he
directed other movies that are now considered as
Filipino classics In the Philippine cinema. His major
works include: “Ang Maestra”, which is his biggest pre-
war hit, “Dyesebel”, “Banaue”, “Daigdig ng mga Api”,
“Noli Me Tangere”, “El Filibusterismo”, “Sisa”, and
many more. 2
Catalino “Lino” O. Brocka is a National Artist
for Film and Broadcast Arts. He was a director
for film, theater and broadcast arts. His
masterpieces that portray the less-than-
glamorous part of the society like the
construction workers, prostitutes, the
disadvantaged that live in the slums, etc.,
paved the way for the term “freedom of
expression” in the Philippine Constitution. In
truth, his more than 60 films gave hope for the
marginalized, giving the masses characters
that they can relate to with dignity. 3
Brocka’s legacy founded on his social activist spirit
was recognized by various award-giving bodies
here and abroad, including the Cannes Film
Festival. Among his films include: “Santiago”,
“Wanted Perfect Mohter”, “Tubog sa Ginto”,
“Stardoom”, “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang”,
“Maynila: Sa Kuko ng Liwanag”, “Insiang”,
“Jaguar”, “Bona”, “Orapronobis”, and Makiusap
Ka Sa Diyos”.
Dubbed as “the genius of the Philippine
cinema”, Bernal was also named as “maestro”
for his films that show the realites behind the
struggles and social injustices that the Filipinos
face. His artistic style as a filmmaker made the
audience reflect about oppression, women
empowerment and morality, and at the same
time, entertained. Among his notable films
that are considered as classics are “Pahiram ng
Isang Umaga”, “Broken Marriage”, “Himala“,
“City After Dark”, “Nunal sa Tubig”, “Pinulot
Ka Lang sa Lupa”. 4
Throughout his career, he received numerous awards
here andabroad and among these notable recognitions
include four (4) Best Director awards by the Urian
Awards, Most Outstanding Fillmaker of the Decade from
the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, Director of the
Decade from the Catholic Mass Media Awards, the
Bronze Hugo Award at the Chicago International Film
Festival in 1983 for his film, “Himala”, and the ASEAN
Cultural Award at Communication Arts in 1993.
Romero was an influential filmmaker whose career
spanned over 30 years. As a director, producer, and
screenwriter, his films were critiqued as grandiose,
realistic but utterly simple, and never predictable.
Like any other National Artist for Cinema, his films
were devoted to portraying the lives of the Filipinos
i.e. during the Spanish Revolution, and American
colonization, during the prehistoric Philippines
concentrating on folklores, the turmoil in the late
1960s under the corrupt politics, and many more.
Among his major works are “Ganito Kami
Noon...Paano Kayo Ngayon?”, “Aguila”,
“Kamakalawa”, “Banta ng Kahapon” and “Noli Me
Tangere”. 5
Popularly known as Fernando Poe Jr. or FPJ for short,
Poe was named as the “King of Philippine Movies.”
Though he was an actor, he was also a director,
producer, and a writer leaving behind more than 200
films. “The King” was well-loved by the Filipino
audiences for his roles as the underdog who would
later climb back up and take revenge against his
oppressors. His movies inspired the Filipino masses
who felt hopeless in life. Among his major works are:
“Apollo Robles”, “Batang Maynila”, “Mga Alabok sa
Lupa”, “Ako ang Katarungan”, “Tatak ng Alipin”,
“Asedillo”, “Partida”, “Ang Probinsyano”, “Ang
Alamat”, “Ang Pagbabalik ng Lawin”, and “Panday”
Series (1980, 1981, 1982 and 1984). 6
Popularly known as Fernando Poe Jr. or FPJ for short,
Poe was named as the “King of Philippine Movies.”
Though he was an actor, he was also a director,
producer, and a writer leaving behind more than 200
films. “The King” was well-loved by the Filipino
audiences for his roles as the underdog who would
later climb back up and take revenge against his
oppressors. His movies inspired the Filipino masses
who felt hopeless in life. Among his major works are:
“Apollo Robles”, “Batang Maynila”, “Mga Alabok sa
Lupa”, “Ako ang Katarungan”, “Tatak ng Alipin”,
“Asedillo”, “Partida”, “Ang Probinsyano”, “Ang
Alamat”, “Ang Pagbabalik ng Lawin”, and “Panday”
Series (1980, 1981, 1982 and 1984). 6