Contemporary

Philippine Arts from

the Regions

Lesson 4
Significant Contemporary
Artists from the Regions
Learning Competencies:

Explain Filipino artists’ roles

and identify their contribution
to contemporary arts
Learning Objective:

 Identify various GAMABA (National Living Treasures) /

National Artists (Orden ng Gawad Pambansang Alagad
ng Sining) based on their location and artistic field
 Display an appreciation to GAMABA (National Living
Treasures) national artists’ contribution in his
community and the contemporary field of arts
 Create a poem, spoken poetry or song expressing
feelings of gratitude and inspiration for national
artists.
Direction: Complete the chart below by providing
the missing information. Historical overview: What
are the dominant art forms during the following
periods in Philippine History?
Read the article then answer the follow-up
questions: (Critical thinking)
National Artists: Nora Aunor excluded anew
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang released yesterday
the list of seven new National Artists, but actress Nora
Aunor was not among them.
The artists will be feted today during the conferment
ceremony of this year’s National Artist Awards to be led by
President Duterte, a media advisory sent by Malacañang
yesterday said.
The new batch of National Artists is composed of
Francisco Mañosa (architecture), Eric de Guia also known
as “Kidlat Tahimik” (film), Ramon Muzones and Resil
Mojares (literature), Ryan Cayabyab (music), Amelia
Lapeña Bonifacio (theater) and Lauro “Larry” Alcala (visual
arts).
Duterte will also confer the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan or National Living Treasure Award to Ambalang
Ausalin, Estelita Bantilan and Yabing Masalon-Dulo.
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) project coordinator
Sabrina Tan said Aunor was automatically nominated to become National
Artist because she was included in the previous shortlist of nominees.
In 2014, former president Benigno Aquino III said he removed Aunor from
the list of awardees because of issues linking her to illegal drug use.
“Sa aking pananaw yung national artist binibigyan natin ng honor na ito,
puri na ito ay malaki ang ambag sa lahing Pilipino at dapat tularan (In my
opinion, the national artist is an honor given to Filipinos who can become
role models),” Aquino said at a press conference in Pampanga on July 1,
2014.
“Ang naging problema ko lang dun ay alam naman natin lahat…na-convict
po sya sa drugs (My only problem is we all know she was convicted for
drugs),” he added.
Claire Espina, the lawyer who handled Aunor’s case in California, had denied that the
actress was convicted.
Malacañang has not issued a statement on why Duterte, who is known for his tough
stance on narcotics, excluded Aunor from the list of awardees.
Nevertheless, some quarters from the film industry are questioning Aunor’s being left out
again.
Aunor’s name was submitted to Malacañang since she was already elected in the previous
selection in 2014. “She should have been included but unluckily, was not included again,”
said Teddy Co, NCCA commissioner for the arts, who was privy to the selection process.
Director Brillante Mendoza, who has worked with Tahimik and Aunor, told The STAR,
“She’s an institution for what she has achieved. But I think it’s a matter of timing, and I
think a person shouldn’t be judged for the life she lived because what we are recognizing
is the craft and also her contribution to the industry. I don’t know, maybe it’s not the time
yet but she deserved it as well. I even thought there were two awardees for film.”
The arts community has been waiting with bated breath for the announcement of the
2018 National Artists since July.
But it seems worth the wait, as the “arts community is happy, no questionable names,”
said Co.
He said that the current administration has been hands off with the selection process.
“Wala naman. I think they understand what happened before, which created so much
controversy, so hands-off sila dyan,” he said, referring to the controversial proclamation as
National Artists of four individuals via presidential prerogative of then president Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, when the four had not been nominated by the selection committee.
That controversial proclamation was brought before the Supreme Court, which ruled that the
President may remove names submitted by the NCCA and Cultural Center of the Philippines
(CCP) but not add names that did not go through the selection process.
“I assure this batch went through the proceedings. It’s a very impressive batch. Major
achievers lahat. Lahat dumaan sa process, unlike in 2009. All of them are very deserving.”
The selection goes through a tedious process of three rounds, which starts with a
nomination, Co revealed. “It’s a panel of experts in the first round, which is different from the
panel of experts in the second round. First round, the peers from each discipline, for
example for visual arts, the ones who are going to vote are experts in visual art. Those that
make it to the second round, they will be voted on by another panel of experts, three per
discipline but all of them will be voting across all the arts, so they don’t need to vote only for
film or music, they can vote for anybody in the arts. Pagdating sa third round, the voting
panel consists of the joint boards of the CCP and the NCCA board, plus all the living
National Artists.”
According to the NCCA website, recipients are entitled to the following
privileges: the rank and title of National Artist; gold-plated medallion
minted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and citation; and a
lifetime emolument and material and physical benefits comparable in
value to those received by the highest officers of the land.
Living awardees get a minimum of P200,000 cash award, net of taxes;
minimum lifetime personal monthly stipend of P50,000; and medical
and hospitalization benefits not exceeding P750,000 per year; life
insurance policy by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
and or/ private insurance companies from date of conferment of the
award, in the event that the National Artist is insurable; a state
funeral; a place of honor at state functions, national commemoration
ceremonies and all other cultural presentations. Posthumous awardees
get a one-time minimum cash award of P150,000.
1. What were the reasons why Nora Aunor was
considered as a candidate for the National Artist
award?
2. What reasons hindered her from being a
“legitimate” candidate for the award?
3. Do you believe Nora Aunor deserves to be a
candidate for the National Artist Award? Why or
why not?
THE NATIONAL ARTISTS AWARD
The Order of National Artists (Orden ng mga
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 (NCCA)
and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and
conferred by the President of the Philippines upon
recommendation by both institutions.
 Selection Criteria for the National Artists of the
Philippines
For a person to be considered in the selection of the
National Artists Order of the Philippines, he or she must
possess the following qualities, according to the Official
Gazette:

Must be a Filipino citizen;

 Work has contributed to nation-building;
 Their distinctive style and pioneering works impacts succeeding generations of
artist;
 There is excellence in the practice of their art form;
 Their art form enriches artistic expression or style; and
 Their work is prestigious national and international recognition.
LEANDRO V. LOCSIN National
Artist for Architecture, 1990
Locsin 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
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.
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. The CCP Complex (inserted,
right) itself is a virtual 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).
Francisco T. Mañosa National Artist for Architecture and
Allied Arts, 2018
For all of his more than 60 years of architecture life, Ar. Bobby
Mañosa designed Filipino. From the 1960s in his landmark
design of the Sulo Hotel until his retirement about 2015, he
courageously and passionately created original Filipino forms,
spaces with intricate and refined details. But what is most
valuable is that Mañosa was in the heart and soul of a Philippine
architectural movement. He has developed a legacy of Philippine
architecture, which is essential to our Filipino identity and at the
same time, deeply appreciated and shared in our world today
Major Works:
• San Miguel Building, Ortigas Center, Pasig City (designed
with the Mañosa
Brothers)
• Chapel of the Risen Lord,
Las Piñas City
• Our Lady of Peace Shrine,
EDSA, Quezon City
• World Youth Day Papal
Altar, Quirino Grandstand,
Manila, 1995
• Metrorail Transit System
Stations for LRT 1,
circa 1980s
• Quezon Memorial Circle

Development Plan
Lanao del Norte Provincial Capitol, Tubod, Lanao del Norte
• Tahanang Pilipino (Coconut Palace), CCP Complex,
Manila
• Amanpulo Resort, Palawan
• Pearl Farm Resort, Samal Island, Davao, completed 1994
• La Mesa Watershed Resort and Ecological Park, La Mesa
Dam, Quezon City
LINO BROCKA National Artist for
Film and Broadcast Arts, 1997
Catalino “Lino” Ortiz Brocka, director
for film and broadcast arts, espoused
the term “freedom of expression” in
the Philippine Constitution. 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...
FERNANDO AMORSOLO National
Artist for Visual Arts
The country had its first National Artist
in Fernando C. Amorsolo. The official
title “Grand Old Man of Philippine Art”
was bestowed on Amorsolo when the
Manila Hilton inaugurated its art center
on January 23, 1969, with an exhibit of
a selection of his works.This light, Nick
Joaquin opines, is the rapture of a
sensualist utterly in love with the earth,
with the Philippine sun, and is an
accurate expression of Amorsolo’s own
exuberance.
National Museum of the Philippines
collection; Planting Rice (1946)-UCPB
collection (inserted, left) ; Sunday
Morning Going to Town (1958)-Ayala
Museum Collection.
After the second world war, Amorsolo
resumed painting idyllic scenes
depicting the countryside. In 1953, he
created The Bathers, which is a
representative of one of Amorsolo’s
favorite themes: maidens in the water.
CARLOS “BOTONG”
FRANCISCO National
Artist for Painting (1973)
Carlos “Botong” Francisco,
the poet of Angono, single-
handedly revived the
forgotten art of mural and
remained its most
distinguished practitioner
for nearly three decades.
GUILLERMO TOLENTINO National
Artist for Sculpture (1973)
Guillermo Estrella Tolentino is a
product of the Revival period in
Philippine art. Returning from Europe
(where he was enrolled at the Royal
Academy of Fine Arts, Rome) in 1925,
he was appointed as professor at the UP
School of Fine Arts where the idea also
of executing a monument for national
heroes struck him. The result was the
UP Oblation that became the symbol of
freedom at the campus. Acknowledged
as his masterpiece and completed in
1933, The Bonifacio Monument in
Caloocan (photo below) stands as an
enduring symbol of the Filipinos’ cry for
freedom.
ABDULMARI ASIA IMAO National
Artist for Visual Arts (2006) 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. 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.
 Mother and Child, 1967

VICENTE MANANSALA National Artist for Painting

(1981)
Vicente Manansala‘s paintings are described as
visions of reality teetering on the edge of abstraction.
As a young boy, his talent was revealed through the
copies he made of the Sagrada Familia and his
mother’s portrait that he copied from a photograph.
AMADO V. HERNANDEZ
National Artist for Literature
Amado Hernandez is a poet,
playwright, and novelist, which
is among the Filipino writers
who practiced “committed art.”
In his view, the function of the
writer is to act as the
conscience of society and to
affirm the greatness of the
human spirit in the face of
inequity and oppression..
CARLOS P. ROMULO National
Artist for Literature (1982) Carlos
P. Romulo‘s multifaceted career
spanned 50 years of public service
as an educator, soldier, university
president, journalist, and diplomat.
It is common knowledge that he was
the first Asian president of the
United Nations General Assembly,
then Philippine Ambassador to
Washington, D.C., and later
minister of foreign affairs.
Essentially though, Romulo was
very much into writing: he was a
reporter at 16, a newspaper editor
by the age of 20, and a publisher at
32.
HONORATA “ATANG” DELA RAMA
National Artist for Theater and
Music (1987) Honorata “Atang” Dela
Rama was formally honored as the
Queen of Kundiman in 1979, then
when she was already 74 years old
singing the same song (“Nabasag na
Banga”) that she sang as a 15-year
old girl in the sarsuela Dalagang
Bukid. Atang firmly believes that
sarswela and kundiman express best
the Filipino soul, and even performed
kundiman and other Filipino songs
for the Aetas or Negritos of Zambales
and the Sierra Madre, the Bagobos of
Davao and other Lumad of
Mindanao.
Francisca Reyes Aquino National
Artist for Dance (1973)
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. Her
research on the unrecorded forms of
local celebration, ritual, and sport
resulted into a 1926 thesis titled
“Philippine Folk Dances and Games,”
and arranged specifically for use by
teachers and playground instructors in
public and private schools.
Levi Celerio
National Artist for Literature & Music,
1997
Levi Celerio is a prolific lyricist and
composer for decades. He effortlessly
translated/wrote a new the lyrics to
traditional melodies: “O Maliwanag Na
Buwan” (Iloko), “Ako ay May Singsing”
(Pampango), “Alibangbang” (Visaya) among
others.
Born in Tondo, Celerio received his
scholarship at the Academy of Music in
Manila that made it possible for him to join
the Manila Symphony Orchestra, becoming
its youngest member. He made it to the
Guinness Book of World Records as the
only person who was able to make music
using just a leaf.
 NATIONAL LIVING TREASURES / GAWAD
SA MANLILIKHA NG BAYAN
In April 1992, the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or
the National Living Treasures Award was
institutionalized through Republic Act No. 7355. The
National Commission for Culture and the Arts
(NCCA), the highest policy-making and coordinating
body for culture and the arts of the State was tasked
with the administration and implementation of the
award.
How does one become a Manlilikha ng
Bayan?
To become a “Manlilikha ng Bayan”, the candidate must
possess the following qualifications:
a. He/she is an inhabitant of an indigenous/traditional
cultural community anywhere in the Philippines that
has preserved indigenous customs, beliefs, rituals and
traditions and/or has syncretized whatever external
elements that have influenced it.
b. He/she must have engaged in a folk art tradition that
has been in existence and documented for at least fifty
(50) years.
c. He/she must have consistently performed or
produced over a significant period, works of superior
and distinctive quality.
d. He/she must possess a mastery of tools and
materials needed by the art, and must have an
established reputation in the art as master and
maker of works of extraordinary technical quality.
e. He/she must have passed on and/or will pass on
to other members of the community their skills in the
folk art for which the community is traditionally
known.
A traditional artist who possesses all the qualities of a Manlilikha
ng Bayan candidate, but due to age or infirmity has left him/her
incapable of teaching further his/her craft, may still be
recognized if:
a. He/she had created a significant body of works and/or has
consistently displayed excellence in the practice of his/her art,
thus achieving important contributions for its development.
b. He/she has been instrumental in the revitalization of his/her
community’s artistic tradition.
c. a. He/she has passed on to the other members of the
community skills in the folk art for which the community is
traditionally known.
d. His/her community has recognized him/her as master and
teacher of his/her craft.
Some of the GAMABA Awardees:
Uwang Ahadas, musician
Yakan musical instruments
are not the easiest or most
affordable to maintain, but
Uwang Ahadas of Lamitan,
Basilan made it his life’s work
to master them.
At age 20, he broke tradition
by reaching excellence in
playing the kwintangan, an
instrument typically played
by a woman.
Magdalena Gamayo, textile weaver
Based in Pinili, Ilocos Norte,
Magdalena Gamayo took up weaving
when she was 16, guided by her
aunt’s patterns. She received her
first loom from her father three years
later, which she would end up using
for 30 years. She taught herself
traditional patterns, such as kusikus
(whirlwind), marurup (Milky Way),
and sinan paddak ti pusa (cat’s
pawprint), building on the more
common inuritan (geometric design)
and sinan-sabong (flowers).
Eduardo Mutuc,
metalsmith and artist
He uses wood, silver, and
bronze to create
exquisitely detailed and
lifelike pieces of varying
sizes: altars, mirrors,
retablos, and even
carosas. Mutuc is based in
Apalit, Pampanga. He was
awarded in 2004.
Teofilo Garcia, gourd casque “tabungaw”
maker
Garcia was able to introduce the tabungaw plant
as a good and sturdy material for functional,
elegant, and protective hats. He produces
everything he needs — planting and harvesting
the gourds, splitting and refining rattan for the
lining, and weaving nito and bamboo for accents
himself — and usually takes seven days to finish
a hat. Awarded in 2012, he continues to
experiment and work on new designs.
Lang Dulay, textile weaver
In Lang Dulay’s family, the weaving of the
t’nalak (a fine abaca cloth) took place before
or after farm work, when the weather was
cool and the conditions were better for the
product.
As demand grew for new designs, she
persisted and kept working with traditional
patterns, even though they were harder to
complete — she knew around a hundred,
including bulinglangit (clouds), kabangi
(butterfly), crocodiles, and flowers.
Masino Intaray, chanter and
musician
A member of the Pala’wan tribe,
musician and epic chanter Masino
Intaray was a master of the basal,
a gong music ensemble played
during rice cooking (tambilaw)
and sharing (tinapay) rituals,
which gather the community as
they serve offerings to Pala’wan
rice god Ampo’t Paray.
Darhata Sawabi, textile weaver
Darhata Sawabi’s mission was to
lead young women towards
making a living out of her craft.
The Parang, Sulu-based textile
weaver’s primary creation was the
headpiece pis siyabit — pis stands
for the pattern, which is said to be
derived from India’s mandala,
depicting spirituality through
geometric forms, and siyabit refers
to the hook and technique.
Triple Matching: Complete the table by filling
in the correct idea. (Critical Thinking)
1.How do awards like NAA and GAMABA aid in
the preservation of our country’s cultural
heritage and national identity? How does it
help future artists?
2.Can you name some of the GAMABA awardees?
What category of folk arts did they belong?
Where are they from?
3.How is their location related to the kind of art
they were producing/performing?
 The National Artist Award is the highest national recognition given to
Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the development of
Philippine arts and letters. It was created through Presidential
Proclamation No. 1001 on April 27, 1972.
 Jointly administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
(NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the award is
conferred by the Philippine President upon recommendation by both
institutions.
 In 1992, the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) began
selecting and honoring recipients of the National Living Treasures Award,
also known as Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA), through
Republic Act No. 7355.
The lives and work of these Filipinos exhibit a dedication to craftsmanship
and excellence that are unparalleled. Through their passion, abilities, and
tenacity in passing down their heritage to the youth, many cultural practices
of indigenous communities were preserved.
List down three terms that characterize
the following key words from the lesson.
(Critical thinking)
Complete the sentence below.

1. For me, the national artists are

2. I can promote the works of

GAMABA awardees through

3. As a Filipino youth, I can pass on

the legacy of the National Artists by
Choose one of the following art
forms to express your feelings of
gratitude and inspiration to the
national artists.
A. Poem
B. Spoken Poetry
c. Song
Art Analysis
Create your own analysis of the featured artwork by one of our National Artists.
You may refer to the art analysis guide below.

I. Description

Pure description of the object without value judgments,

analysis, or interpretation. It answers the question, "What do you see?"
II. Analysis

Determining what the features suggest and deciding why the artist used such features
to convey specific ideas. It answers the question, "How did the artist do it?"
o Determination of subject matter
o Selection of most distinctive features or characteristics whether line, shape, color,
texture, etc.
o Analysis of the principles of design or composition, e.g., stable, repetitious,
rhythmic, unified, symmetrical, harmonious, geometric, varied, chaotic, horizontal or
vertically oriented, etc.
o Use of color, light, balance and proportion
Interpretation

Establishing the broader context for this type of art, it

answers the question, "Why did the artist create it and
what does it mean?”

Judgment

Judging a piece of work means giving it rank in relation

to other works and of course considering a very
important aspect of the visual arts; its originality.
Therefore answering the question: “Is it a good artwork?”