NEWLY conferred National Artist for cinema, Kidlat Tahimik has been lauded by the city.

The entire City Council, in a move by Councilor Leandro Yangot, has prepared a resolution commending the artist for being accorded the status of National Artist.

Kidlat was conferred the prestigious award by President Rodrigo Duterte last week.

Other awardees were Francisco Mañosa (Architecture and Allied Arts), Ramon Muzones and Resil Mojares (Literature), Raymundo “Ryan” Cayabyab (Music), Amelia Lapeña Bonifacio (Theater), and Lauro “Larry” Alcala (Visual Arts).

Kidlat (Eric de Guia) was born on October 3, 1942 in Baguio City, where he resides and manages arts spaces VOCAS and Ili Likha.

The Baguio boy Kidlat started his film career with the making of his independent film, Perfumed Nightmare, which won in the Berlin film Festival.

He is fondly called "Tatay" and is recognized as the "Father of Philippine Independent Cinema.”

Duterte, together with National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chair Virgilio Almario, administered the awarding of the 2018 Philippine Heritage Awards and Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA).

Among the honorees were Rizal Park Hotel Chair Simon Paz, San Nicolas Vice Mayor Edistio Valdez of Ilocos Norte, Angeles City Vice Mayor Bryan Nepomuceno of Pampanga, Magalang Vice Mayor Norman Lacson of Pampanga, Ambalang Ausalin from Lamitan City in Basilan, Estelita Bantilan from Malapatan in Sarangani, and Yabing Masalon Dulo from Polomolok in South Cotabato.