The late Filipino painter Jose Joya, stage designer Salvador Bernal, poet and literary critic Virgilio Almario, and multi-awarded director Eddie Romero were also formally elevated to the rank of National Artist.
They join 45 other Filipino artists who have received the honor since Proclamation 1001 was issued in 1972. The first National Artist award was given posthumously to painter Fernando Amorsolo.
The National Artist award is the highest national recognition given every two years to honor Filipinos who have distinguished themselves and made outstanding contributions to Philippine arts and letters.
The President, in ceremonies at Malacañang yesterday, gave each of the new National Artists a gold medallion, an official citation, and a P100,000 check.
The National Artists will also receive a monthly life pension of P20,000; medical and hospitalization expenses; life insurance coverage for awardees who can still be insured; and a place of honor at state functions, national commemoration ceremonies and other cultural events.
Upon the death of a National Artist, the government arranges and covers the expenses to hold a state funeral.
Mrs. Arroyo did not give a speech but the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philippine Madrigal Singers and Fil-Am Broadway star Jose Llana performed an excerpt from National Artist Lucio San Pedro’s "Alamat ng Lahi." The President signed Proclamations 383 to 387 on May 26, 2003 conferring the rank of National Artist to the five awardees who were screened, evaluated and recommended to her by the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
It took a while for the President to approve the final list, as there were some objections to certain nominations, including that of Roces, Palace sources earlier revealed.
After careful deliberations, Roces, 78, who served as education secretary during the term of Mrs. Arroyo’s father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, was elevated to the rank of National Artist.
In a brief acceptance speech, Roces thanked the President, saying his lifetime work of stories, some of which are taught in school, "will now become part of public heritage" of the country.
Roces said he plans to turn his collection of short stories into a "musical comedy to prove that Filipino national artists could also be international artists."
Roces was honored for his important contributions in enriching the country’s literature with his outstanding works like, "Something to Crow About," a collection of short stories on cockfighting, a favorite Filipino pastime. The book was recently used as a basis for a zarzuela (Filipino musical play). He also wrote the book "Fiesta" and produced the films La Campana de Baler (The Bell of Baler) and El Legado (The Legacy), which won awards at the Conde de Foxa film festival in Spain in the 1960s.
National Artists Lucrecia Kasilag (music), Nick Joaquin (literature), Napoleon Abueva (visual arts), Leonor Goquingco (dance), and Arturo Luz (visual arts) attended yesterday’s conferment rites.
Josefa Joya-Baldovino, who received the award on behalf of her late brother, announced that her brother’s heirs will donate the cash reward to three art institutions, including Art Association of the Philippines, the University of the Philippines-Visayas College of Fine Arts, and the Association for Philippine-China Understanding. Joya was twice nominated in the past.
Hailed as the "New Balagtas," Almario has undertaken critically acclaimed translations of the works of national hero Jose Rizal. He now helps hone the skills and improve the knowledge of the country’s young writers as the director of the University of the Philippines’ Creative Writing Institute.
Romero has received several local awards and international accolades for films produced under his direction, such as the movie Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? and other exemplary cinematic opuses.
Bernal has worked extensively in stage design for theater and dance productions both locally and abroad, establishing theater design not only as a legitimate profession but also as an art form. He has authored a book of poems and teaches at the Ateneo de Manila.