National artist series 1: Celerio, De Leon, Jose, and De la Rama
National artist series 2: Amorsolo, Valera and Joaquin
The Order of National Artists is the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts (Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film, Broadcast Arts, and Architecture and Allied Arts).
The following outstanding individuals were named National Artist in their respective fields.
Rolando S. Tinio (March 5, 1937 – July 7, 1997)
Rolando Tinio
Rolando Tinio was a brilliant playwright, poet, translator, actor, critic, and teacher. He is best remembered as a great stage director. He embarked original insights into various scripts. According to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA), Tinio took on Teatro Pilipino after staging productions for the Ateneo Experimental Theater. He revived traditional Filipino drama through different old theater forms such as the sarswela.
Prof. Emeritus Antonio O. Mabesa shared his fond memories of his good friend Tinio in an interview. Tinio is the only person he knows who sews costumes while directing. Prof. Mabesa said that Tinio designed and constructed costumes in his production. They became the closest of friends in television and film productions directed mostly by Joel Lamangan.
In the play “Ang Lalaki sa Pisngi ng Buwan,” Tinio wrote a role tailored for him in which he was nominated Best Supporting Actor. He said that Tinio began losing grip of his strength while filming the “Sarah Balabangan Movie”.
Prof. Mabesa remembers calling Tinio to tell him about the successful premiere of his last screenplay “Bayad Puri”. The ailing playwright was pleased to hear good news. He passed away that same afternoon.
Tinio’s excellent works include the following:
- Poetry: Sitsit sa Kuliglig, Dunung – Dunungan, Kristal na Uniberso, A Trick of Mirrors
- Film scripts: Now and Forever, Gamitin Mo Ako, Bayad Puri, Milagros
- Sarswelas: Ang Mestisa, Ako, Ang Kiri, Ana Mar
- Komedya: Orosman at Zafira
- Musical: Larawan
Rolando S. Tinio was awarded National Artist for Theater and Literature in 1997.
Ildefonso Paez Santos, Jr. (September 5, 1929 – January 29, 2014)
Ildefonso Paez Santos, Jr. was more popularly known by his shortened name IP Santos. According to NCAA, he was the pioneer in the practice of landscape architecture. Fellow architects and academe referred to him as the “father of modern Filipino landscape architecture.” He worked on parks, plazas, gardens, and vast outdoor projects.
“His designs took inspiration from the Filipino celebration of free flowing, positive, maaliwalas space. He understood and accommodated Filipino physiological, behavioral and social needs in providing shade, creating opportunities for friendly seating and the sharing of food and laughter in his public spaces,” as partly stated in the citation for the National Artist award.
Aside from being an exemplary architect, IP was an educator and mentor who helped establish the first four-year undergraduate degree program in Landscape Architecture in the University of the Philippines and developed the degree to a Master degree program in Tropical Landscape Architecture.
IP introduced Filipinos to a greener way of shopping by incorporating landscaped walks, fountains and sculptures in shopping areas. One of his great contributions in modern Filipino landscape architecture was the seminal public landscape in Paco Park. His recent projects include Tagaytay Highland Resort, the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa, Batangas, and the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Imus, Cavite.
Ildefonso Paez Santos, Jr. received the National Artist for Architecture in 2006.
He passed away on January 29, 2014 at the age of 84.
Lamberto V. Avellana, (February 12, 1915 – April 25, 1991)
The director for theater and film was considered as one of the pillars of the Philippine industry. He was first recognized as a director for his plays in Ateneo de Manila, where he finished Bachelor of Arts degree in 1938. He put up the Barangay Theater Guild in 1939 with the help of his wife, Daisy Hontiveros, who starred in numerous UP plays. Members of the said guild included Leon Ma .Guerrero and Raul Manglapus.
Avellana was dubbed as “The Boy Wonder of Philippine Movies” as early as 1939.
Carlos P. Romulo, then president of Philippine Films, motivated Avellana to try directing films. His first film “Sakay” was named best picture of 1939 by critics and journalists.
He also won the Grand Prix at the Asian Film Festival in Hong Kong for “Anak Dalita” (1956) and Best Director of Asia award in Tokyo for “Badjao”.
Avellana was the first filmmaker to be featured in the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival for his film “Kandelerong Pilak”. He also directed the films “Sergeant Hasan” (1967), “Destination Vietnam” (1969), and “The Evil Within” (1970) which were released internationally.
He was proclaimed National Artist for Theater and Film in 1976.
Francisca Reyes Aquino (March 9, 1899 – November 21, 1983)
Francisca Aquino
Francisca Reyes Aquino is the pioneer of Folk Dance. She was dubbed “Mother of Philippine Folk Dancing”.
Aquino started doing her research on folk dances in 1920 by visiting remote barrios in Central and Northern Luzon. Her 1926 thesis called “Philippine Folk Dances and Games” opened the eyes of the Filipino people to never-been-recorded forms of local celebration, ritual and sport.
Her work as supervisor of physical education at the Bureau of Education in the 1940’s gave her the opportunity to teach folk dancing to younger Filipinos and help them appreciate their cultural heritage. In 1954, she was awarded the Republic Award of Merit by the late Pres. Ramon Magsaysay.
Aquino published several books including:
- Philippine National Dances (1946)
- Gymnastics for Girls (1947)
- Fundamental Dance Steps and Music (1948)
- Foreign Folk Dances (1949)
- Dances for all Occasion (1950)
- Playground Demonstration (1951)
- Philippine Folk Dances, Volumes I to VI.
Lucrecia R. Kasilag (August 31, 1918- August 16, 2008)
Lucresia Kasilag
She was a celebrated composer, educator, and performing and cultural and arts administrator. People fondly referred to her as “Tita King”. Kasilag was the first to combine Filipino ethnic and Western music. She blended indigenous Filipino instruments with Western orchestra in her award-winning “Toccata for Percussions and Winds, Divertissement and Concertante,” and the scores of the Filiasiana, Misang Pilipino and De Profundis.
The prolific composer is behind more than the 250 compositions for orchestra and chamber which included:
- Love Songs
- Legend of the Sarimanok
- Ang Pamana
- Philippine Scenes
- Sisa
- Awit ng mga Awit Psalms
- Fantasie on a 4-Note Theme
- East Meets Jazz Ethnika
Kasilag was deeply involved with the Cultural Center of the Philippines during the Marcos Regime. She acted as special consultant of the Office of the President for three years under the term of President Corazon Aquino according to NCAA.
Lucrecia R. Kasilag was given the distinction as National Artist in Music in 1989.
Photos: Tinio screencap c/o YouTube; IP Santos from NCAA website; Lamberto Avellano from NCAA website; Lucrecia Kasilag c/o WikiPilipinas, Public domain; Francisca Reyes Aquino c/o WikiPilipinas, Public domain.
Video c/o YouTube.