SEVEN artists were feted Wednesday, October 24, during the conferment rites of this year's National Artist Awards led by President Rodrigo Duterte at Malacañan Palace.
The new batch of National Artists is composed of Cebuano writer-scholar Resil Mojares and Hiligaynon writer Ramon Muzones (literature), composer Ryan Cayabyab (music), architect Francisco Mañosa (architecture), filmmaker Eric "Kidlat Tahimik" de Guia (film), dramatist-puppeteer Ameial Lapeña-Bonifacio (theater), and cartoonist Lauro Alcala (visual arts).
"To this year's awardees, I laud you for the passion and dedication to your chosen craft," Duterte said in a keynote speech.
"In today's fast-paced, highly-technological ad modern world, it is imperative to do our part in preserving and promoting our homegrown talent," he added.
The National Artist Award, created through Proclamation 1001 issued on April 27,1972, is the highest national recognition given to Filipinos who have made significant and outstanding contributions to the development of Philippine arts, namely music, dance, theater, visual arts, literature, film, broadcast arts, and architecture and allied arts.
Renowned painter Fernando Amorsolo was the first recipient of National Artist for Literature Award in 1972.
The award is jointly administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and conferred by the Philippine government upon recommendation by both institutions.
To date, there are a total of 78 national artists, including those newly proclaimed.
Every national artist receives gold-plated medallion and citation; P200,000 net of taxes; a monthly life pension worth P50,000; medical and hospital benefits worth P750,000 every year; life insurance coverage; a place of honor in state functions and arrangements for and expenses of state funeral, according to the guidelines approved by the NCCA board in April 2017.
A one-time cash award of P150,000, net of taxes, would be given to the deceased awardees.
The President also conferred Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or National Living Treasure Award on Yakan weaver Ambalang Ausalin from Lamitan, Basilan; B'laan mat weaver Estelita Bantilan from Malungon, Sarangani; and B'laan ikat-weaver Yabing Masalon-Dulo from Polomok, South Cotabato.
Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or the National Living Treasures Award is the highest Presidential recognition given to individuals who excel in various indifenous arts, customs, and traditional practices.
The three weavers were chosen based on the excellence of their crafts and their ability to transfer the skills in their varying mediums to younger members of their communities.
Also honored were Rizal Park Hotel (Adaptive Reuse Awardee), local government of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte (Heritage Education and Interpretation Awardee), local government of Angeles City (Heritage Program Support Awardee), and local government of Magalang, Pampanga (Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage Awardee). (SunStar Philippines)