NATIONAL Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) chairman and Cultural Center of the Philippines president Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso received the Fernando Poe Lifetime Achievement Award on the 38th Annual Film Academy Awards spearheaded by Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) headed by Director General Vivian Velez on December 7, 2020.
In a letter signed by Director General Velez, she personally informed Chairman Lizaso of the award to receive. “This is in recognition of your countless contribution and devotion to the film and arts industry and your tireless effort in creating a better tomorrow for industry workers, as a whole,” Director General Velez said.
Lizaso is a renowned actor, director and producer who have been working in the industry for more the 60 years. He has been involved in theater since his college days, thus, he founded the University of the East Dramatic Guild. Lizaso also co-founded the Philippine Educational Theatre Association with Cecile Guidote-Alvarez.
Lizaso is one of the founding members of the Kapisanan ng mga Direktor ng Pelikulang Pilipino, the first Directors’ Guild in the Philippines with National Artists for film Fernando Poe, Jr., Lino Brocka, and Ishmael Bernal. He later served as president of the guild from 1983 to 1985.
Among the films Lizaso directed were “Anak ng Dilim,” “Ulo ng Gapo,” “Flor de Liza,” “Markadong Anghel,” among others.
In 2009, he was also the only Asian invited to be part of the jury for the 6th International Student Theatre Festival held in Belarus, where he also conducted workshops on Voice Performance for Theatre.
The full awarding ceremony of the 38th Annual Film Academy Awards will be aired over UNTV Channel 37 at 7 p.m.