Cayabyab, Mañosa named National Artists
SEVEN Filipinos will be conferred the Order of National Artist by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang today.
Leading the honorees is musician Ryan Cayabyab, whose sentimental compositions such as “Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika” and Smokey Mountain’s “Paraiso” have defined original Filipino music.
The other awardees are Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa for architecture, director Eric de Guia or “Kidlat Tahimik” for Film, historian Resil Mojares for literature, and children’s theater advocate Amelia Lapeña Bonifacio for theater.
The award will also be conferred posthumously on Ilonggo writer Ramon Muzones for literature and cartoonist Larry Alcala for visual arts.
The National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCAA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) recommend the bestowal of
the honors and the President makes the final decision.
A living national artist receives a cash award of P100,000 while the heirs of a posthumous awardee get P75,000. Benefits include a monthly life pension, life insurance, medical and hospitalization assistance, a place of honor at national state functions and a state funeral at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
The awardee is given the title of national artist, an insignia, a citation, a lifetime emolument, as well as benefits, honors and privileges afforded to the highest officials of the country.
None for Nora Aunor
Film superstar Nora Aunor, whose supporters had mounted a strong lobby for her declaration as national artist in previous years, was bypassed.
Sabrina Tan, NCCA project coordinator, said Aunor was automatically renominated since she was a previous nominee.
“There’s no proclamation yet from Malacañang. There’s no official list from Malacañang, so we will not comment on her non-inclusion,” Tan said.
In 2014, Aunor was among the final nominees for the award, but was omitted from the final list signed by then President Beningo Aquino 3rd, who later said it was the actress’ history with illegal substances that cost her the title.
The Order of National Artists was established under Proclamation No. 1001 (s. 1972) to give appropriate recognition and prestige to Filipinos who have distinguished themselves and made outstanding contributions to Philippine arts and letters.
The President is also proclaiming three folk artists — weavers Estelita Bantilan of Sarangani, Ambalang Ausalin of Basilan and Yabing Dulo of South Cotabato — as Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan or National Living Treasures.