THE 7 NEWLY

AWARDED
NATIONAL
ARTISTS
 Seven giants in Philippine art and culture
National Artists has been awarded on October 24
2018, in a ceremony in Malacañang.
The Order of National Artists is the highest
recognition given by the government to Filipinos
who have made significant contributions to the
development of Philippine arts. The Philippine
president names them based on the
recommendations of the National Commission
for Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Center of
the Philippines (CCP).
 Larry Alcala
National Artist for Visual Arts

Editorial cartoonist and illustrator Alcala’s pen brought to life the cartoon
series Slice of Life in the Weekend Magazine, Mang Ambo in the Weekly
Graphic, and Kalabog en Bosyo, the first comic strip where characters spoke in
Taglish. His many works portrayed the idiosyncracies of the Filipino, especially
our ability to laugh at ourselves in the face of great adversity, as personified in
the character of Mang Ambo. The two detectives in Kalabog en Bosyo were
brought to the big screen and played by comedians Dolphy and Panchito in a
film by Sampaguita Pictures. Alcala died in 2002 at the age of 75.
 Amelia Lapeña Bonifacio
National Artist for Theater

For her work in writing plays, promoting children’s theater, and

puppetry, Bonifacio has been called the “Grande Dame of
Southeast Asian Children’s Theater.” She has penned 40 plays,
20 books, and 30 stories, according to panitikan.ph, and was
chairperson of the University of the Philippines’ Creative Writing
Program. She founded Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, a children’s
theater and puppetry troupe based in UP and she’s also known as
“Grand lady of Philippine Puppet Theater”.
 Ryan Cayabyab
National Artist for Music

“Mr C” is perhaps the most famous Filipino composer in recent history. He has
composed musical scores for award-winning films, 10 full-length Filipino
musicals, full-length ballets, a major opera, and a plethora of songs, including
beloved classics like “Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka” and “Da Coconut Nut.”
A force for original Pilipino music, he has spearheaded the Philippine Popular
Music Festival and served as judge in talent shows, like Philippine
Idol and Philippine Dream Academy. He leads the 7-member Ryan Cayabyab
Singers.
 Francisco ‘Bobby’ Mañosa
National Artist for Architecture

If Mañosa is a name unknown to you, the same likely cannot be said of his
iconic works. The architect known for his modern interpretation of Philippine
architectural design and use of indigenous materials is behind the Coconut
Palace, world-famous Amanpulo Resort in Palawan, Pearl Farm in Samal
Island, Shangri-La Hotel in Mactan, and the San Miguel building in
Mandaluyong, among others. For his pioneering vision and promotion of
indigenous Filipino architecture, Mañosa has garnered many accolades, both
locally and internationally.
 Resil Mojares
National Artist for Literature

Mojares is a multi-awarded writer, historian, and literary critic. His

works include Origins and Rise of the Filipino Novel, The War Against
the Americans, and books about eminent Filipinos, such as Vicente
Sotto, Pedro Paterno, Isabelo delos Reyes, and Trinidad Pardo de
Tavera. He has won several National Book Awards from the Manila
Critics Circle and founded the Cebuano Studies Center, a library and
research center dedicated to Cebuano culture and history.
 Ramon Muzones
National Artist for Literature

Muzones is the preeminent name in West Visayan fiction. He is best known for his
Hiligaynon novel Margosatubig: The Story of Salagunting, about a fictional Muslim
state in Mindanao and the struggles of its hero, Salagunting, to wrest it from the
clutches of usurpers. A tale that combines intrigue, romance, pre-colonial lore,
fantasy, and adventure, it unfolded as a series in the Hiligaynon magazine Yuhum.
In 1989, he received the Gawad CCP para sa Sining, an award given every 3 years to
artists whose works have enriched their art form. His proclamation as National
Artist is posthumous as Muzones died in 1992.
 Kidlat Tahimik
National Artist for Cinema

Widely regarded as the father of independent Philippine cinema, Kidlat Tahimik

(real name: Eric de Guia) is known for creating films that humorously but
evocatively critique neocolonialism. A native of Baguio City, Tahimik has garnered
numerous international and local awards for his films. His first, Perfumed
Nightmare (1977), won the International Critics Award at the Berlin Film Festival.
He has gone on to inspire generations of Filipino filmmakers to forge on with their
independent vision, regardless of commercial considerations. In 2009, he received
the UP Gawad Plaridel Award, the University of the Philippines’ highest award
recognizing achievements in media.
 GAWAD SA
MANLILIKHA NG
BAYAN
The 3 female weavers given the Gawad
sa Manlilikha ng Bayan award or named
National Living Treasures in 2017 have
also received their reward.
 Yabing Masalon
DuloB’laan ikat weaver

Yabing Dulo, also known as Fu Yabing, is a master of the craft of

Mabal Tabih, a craft belonging to the B’laan tribe in Polomolok, South
Cotabato. She learned the craft at the age of 10. Tabih is a woven
textile made from abaca and natural dyes. Spiritually important to
the B’laan, Tabih is used to make blankets, traditional skirts, and
long-sleeved blouses. It makes use of designs inspired from nature or
dreams.
 Ambalang Ausalin
Yakan weaver

Apuh Ambalang, as she is called, is famous in her hometown of

Lamitan and beyond for her mastery of even the most intricate of
Yakan weaving styles. She is particularly unique for her seputangan
creations. Seputangan is a special cloth placed on the shoulders of
brides and grooms during weddings and boasts intricate designs.
Apuh Ambalang can execute even the smallest designs, from the
dawen-dawen (leaf-like) to the dinglu or mata (diamond/eye)
patterns.
 Estelita Bantilan
B’laan mat weaver

Bantilan, who hails from Sarangani, is recognized for her

exemplary execution of B’laan mat or igem weaving
techniques. B’laan mats, created using only deft hands,
feature brilliantly-colored geometric designs and patterns
made from dyed leaf strips.
THANK YOU!