What do you think of the brouhaha concerning the recent selection of National Artists?

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: This is a travesty; clearly the arrogance of power at work. Whoever is responsible for this has done a great disservice to our national artists and the Filipino people.

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: Alvarez and Caparas really deserve the award, but its unfortunate that forces on a hate campaign against PGMA are questioning their selection.

Artists are raising their voices in protest

Elsa Mendoza, Quezon City: This brouhaha concerning the recent selection of National Artists is simply all about utter disregard for delicadeza and outright brazenness. But are we ever surprised? After all, this is the ongoing mode of the present dispensation and its minions.

Tony Gomez, Parañaque City: I think the artists have a right to be offended if there are insertions that did not pass the regular process.

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: The National Artist title is awarded to a Filipino who excellently contributed to the development of Philippine arts, such as music, dance, theater, visual arts, literature, film and broadcast arts. I found the list of past awardees and I wonder why the late Lazaro Francisco was awarded only now when he had been recognized as a great writer long before the awards were instituted. Many other great artists, some of whom have passed away, were not on the list while there are so-so artists who have been given the title. It is no wonder that many noted artists have raised their voices in protest. Cecile Guidote-Alvarez deserves to be a National Artist as she has been a known exponent of Filipino arts and culture, but her present position and the standing of her husband, former Senator Sonny Alvarez, in the administration casts her award in a questionable light. The critics of Carlo J. Caparas are well-known personalities in the field of arts and culture; hence, they know what they are saying. It is up to Alvarez and Caparas whether they are returning their awards or not.

Lolong Rejano, Marinduque: I believe political maniacs in Malacañang influenced the selection of National Artists. Presumably, the “weather-weather lang” dictum is the name of the game in this brouhaha.

Dr. Dennis Acop, Baguio City: I think this is just one more example of the corruption and ineptness of PGMA and her continuing misrule and callousness at the pain and suffering of her people. The brouhaha, as you call it, again manifests her complete arrogance and disregard of established rules and procedures just so she can let politics win the day at the expense of entire institutions, even that of National Artists. I cannot believe that she would dip her dirty politics even into supposedly unpolitical duties as the nomination of National Artists. PGMA’s moral corruption knows no bounds. As my friend Cris Acosta has observed, I also think that the brouhaha will alter the near future’s political landscape the National Artists are just the beginning.

Crab mentality and jealousy

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Inggit lang sila. Those complaining elitist groups are envious of Carlo and Cecile; both deserve the award. Can’t those complaining just wait for their turn?

Erwin Espinoza, Pangasinan: Sourgraping lang ang mga critics kuno nina Cecile Alvarez at Carlo Caparas. Pang-masa o mas kilala pa ng mga ordinaryong Pinoy kasi kaysa kanila.

J-Dub Wenceslao, Quezon City: This is a classic case of Filipino crab mentality. It’s a scourge for the artist as well as the Filipino public.

Cris Rivera, Rizal: That’s how most of us react when losing either in an election or a game. Most of us cries the winner is a cheat. Most of us don’t know what’s fair.

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: Inggit lang sila dahil hindi sila ang napiling National Artists.

Angel Sofia Nabong, Quezon City: For me, this may be just another indication of crab mentality and jealousy again by some Filipinos. But first, let me know the criteria a potential awardee should meet. Only then can I decide if Alvarez and Caparas truly deserve their National Artist award.

Can’t please everybody

Gerry del Cano, Muntinlupa City: You cannot please everybody, especially those who are against you.

Benjamin Nillo, Las Piñas City: Those against the selection of Carlo J. Caparas, et al. as National Artists are opposition sympathizers.

Malacañang didn’t observe the rules

Ishmael Q. Calata, Parañaque City: What do I think of it? Well, it’s an example of the usual thing that happens in any selection process in our society today. Kung sino ang malakas sa malakas, siya ang napipili! Many times the rules are not followed.

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: This thing would not have happened if not for the manipulation of unseen hands. The National Artist Award must be given with due respect and accolade.

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: There would be no howling among our artists if Malacañang had observed the process of determining who should be declared National Artists.

Tino Abella, Masbate: Dagdag-bawas has been the best tool by cheaters even in Malacañang or in the Senate.

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: There is no question about the qualifications of those chosen to receive the National Artist Award. The main cause of this brouhaha is the process of selection. After thorough deliberations, investigation, and review, and after spending a lot of time on making sure they did the above within the law, the processing committee finally decided and made a list of awardees for Malacañang’s signature. But this list was only put to waste. People in Malacañang made deductions and additions, wasting the money, time, and effort spent by the processing committee. What is the processing committee for?  

Concepcion Gaspar, Laoag City: The blunder goes both ways. GMA’s failed to follow the right process while the committee failed to acknowledge the achievements of Caparas and Alvarez.

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: If only the process was faithfully followed, there would be no uproar on this year’s selection of the National Artists awardees. What is the use of having a selection committee if its recommendation will be disregarded by the appointing authority? That is another ill-advised use of executive privilege which seems to be a bad habit of PGMA’s regime.

Presidential prerogative is within the rules

Dave Velasco, Marinduque: The selection of artists was a halo-halo scheme participated in by the National Center for Culture and the Arts and topped with presidential prerogative, well within the rules.

Dave Velasco, Marinduque: Objectively, the selection of artists is done within a set of rules, but we have to face the fact that presidential prerogative is provided for in the rules.

The masses find Caparas worthy

L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: Politics is everywhere. The recent National Artists’ selection that has ruffled the feathers of those in the snooty, rarified circle of artists is no exception. So, does Carlo J. Caparas deserve the award? The masa thinks so, but the gods of Mt. Olympus say, na-massacre, oops, na dagdag-bawas pala ang selection.

Eddie Yap, Kabankalan City: If we believe that the judges in the selection of National Artists are reliable and credible, we need not complain about their decision unless, of course, there was a dagdag-bawas anomaly involved. I believe komiks king Celso Caparas is irreproachable for receiving the award. I know that he is a prolific writer and a competent director whose bulk of followers belongs to the masa who faithfully read his komik masterpieces. However, this kind of art is never read by the supposedly cognoscenti in the field of literature. Nevertheless, they have brought immense pleasure to thousands of komik readers in the country.

Loi Castillo, Davao City: If the criteria for a National Artist are that he was able to mount an art exhibit or perform in the elitist venue of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, which has wealthy patrons and benefactors, definitely it’s not for Carlo J. Caparas. Sa masa pa, puwede.

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: The criteria for selecting national artists are vague. In 1978, Elpidio “Boy” Perez, the eccentric artist who pioneered functional environmental art, and I went to the museum of Philippine Art hoping to put up his one-man show there. The curator told him he was not qualified to do so. Apparently, you have to be active in the arts for at least 30 years and you must have made important contributions to the local art scene. I am now 42 and I started drawing when I was two. Eh di overqualified pa ako. I have three kids, all artists. Di ba contribution ‘yun sa arts? Carlo J. Caparas deserves to be a National Artist. If my guru Paramahansa Yogananda taught cosmic consciousness, Caparas brought Pinoys comics consciousness.

Rex Earlou Calmerin, Iligan City: I am very proud of Caparas for retaining his honor despite questions regarding his qualifications. People like him should fight for what it takes to become National Artist.

There are more deserving artists

Imee Aglibot, Rizal: I have great respect for Carlo J. Caparas, but his being picked as National Artist is an insult to other many qualified artists. We have plenty of them and comics, for me, doesn’t deserve to be on top of the list. Oh well, why this kind of weather in our country? I just don’t get it; things are just going down so miserably.

Vir Lauzon, Gen. Santos City: I don’t think Carlo J. Caparas and Guidote-Alvarez should be proclaimed National Artists. Caparas’ works are no classics.

Juan Deveraturda, Subic, Zambales: The selection of Carlo Caparas as a National Artist is a big mistake. It has cheapened the prestigious recognition of Filipino artists. There are more deserving artists who should be chosen for such recognition. If the PGMA administration is sensitive to public opinion, it has to correct the error to restore the prestige of such title.

Sahlee Reyes, Las Piñas City: This is a travesty to the prestigious and noble distinction. I certainly am against the nomination of the NCAA executive director Cecilia Guidote-Alvarez for obvious reasons: Breach of protocol. She should have graciously turned down the nomination out of delicadeza. Pitoy Moreno should be considered a National Artist because he has consistently displayed excellence in artistic expression and style in the field of fashion and has enjoyed broad acceptance here and abroad. I also wonder why Comedy King Dolphy was overlooked. Was politics involved? On Carlo Caparas, bakit?!

Mel Caparas, Manila: If only PGMA chose Nora Aunor, there would be no protest. Ms. Aunor is the most deserving for film. No one can equal her achievements in Philippine cinema.

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: Many quarters are against selecting Caparas who is famous for his comic books. Actually, comic books are important readings for children. I remember those Classic Illustrated comics that broadened my imagination as a child. Comics and other illustrated books are a child’s first step in appreciating reading. I would prefer that the award be given to real authors, though. There are many who deserve the award. Somebody will always cry foul when they or their candidates are bypassed. I cry foul that Malacañang did not nominate Lea Salonga as National Artist this year. 

Alvarez, Caparas are deserving

Jimmy Donton, Puerto Princesa City: The time has come for existing criteria in choosing National Artists to be revised. The likes of Alvarez and Caparas deserve the awards bestowed on them by the President.

Too much ado over nothing

M. Sunico, Caloocan City: This is too much ado over nothing. First, if there is presidential prerogative to veto whatever the committee recommends, nobody can do anything about it. The previously declared National Artists have no right unless they are expressly given it as a benefit to act as knowledgeable judges or to veto the veto of the President. All that these people have to do is accept whatever the President declares, or have this useless National Artists Awards suspended forever. Awards don’t make awardees better persons.

Aldo Apostol, Quezon City: Remove this category; it doesn’t benefit our country, only the artists themselves.

Elizabeth Oximer, Negros Occidental: This is a waste of time. Let us put our energy on other more productive endeavors.

Rey Onate, Palayan City: It is a clear manifestation of our culture: Walang natalo, dinaya lang. National Artists, walang humanism, ang kakapal. Scrap the selection!

Exceptional artists should be honored

Dino Monzon, Caloocan City: I agree with Mr. Lumbera and company: The National Artist award should be given to artists in the caliber of Dolphy and Mars Ravelo, not to abecedarians like Carlos Caparas.

Lucas Banzon Madamba II, Laguna: The selection of National Artists is just appropriate. National Artists should be given due honor and recognition for their exceptional work and achievements that have benefited society, country, humanity, and, most of all, God.

Franco “Cap” Romero, Parañaque City: I really don’t think Carlo J. Caparas deserves to be named a National Artist. His works are not even considered masterpieces. They are all for the sake of making money. True art doesn’t fade. Dolphy deserves to be called National Artist ahead of Caparas, who should just keep doing his projects to entertain the people. You never know if one day, he’ll deserve the accolade. It ain’t his time at the moment.

Protesters should just go to court

Norberto Robles, Taguig: Protesters should file a case in court or else the public will perceive that their primary motivation is political in nature, considering that some faces are well-known GMA bashers.

Rod Villar, Iriga City: I think the brouhaha generated concerning the recent selection of National Artists is just a product of malicious intrigue. It is an issue blown out of proportion. I understand there are rules and regulations to be followed in the selection process and there is an authorized person duly mandated by law to confirm or approve the selected deserving artists. If everybody is talking at the same time and no one is listening, we would not understand the issue. Bringing it to the attention of media will not resolve it either. A friendly advice to those who think they were bypassed in favor of somebody else, please bring the issue to the proper court of justice so we can all prevent overzealous, irresponsible politicians from riding on the issue for their own personal interest.

Palace can’t seem to do anything right!

C.K. Yeo, Iloilo City: It seems that the Palace can’t do anything right that even its selection of National Artist awardees is being questioned. Don’t they have guidelines for these? Maybe Malacañang is experiencing a streak of bad luck. The $20K dinner, Cory’s death outshining GMA’s Obama meeting, etc. When it rains, it pours!

What a shame!

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: It’s plain and simple hubris on the part of those who protested, believing that they, and they alone are worthy of the accolade. Parang nakakahiya yata!

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: Wearing a pig mask and protesting? Frankly speaking, they can be more artistic than that.

Noel Banias, Makati City: Simply put, it was an outrageous deed by people concerned. What’s the use of having the NCCA screen nominees only to find its recommendations almost ignored? I have no quarrel with those added to the original list, but what about those taken off it? Also, it is in the Charter of the NCCA that anybody active in government service is not qualified in the selection. With the recent results, an active government functionary was among the awardees, ignoring the Charter prohibition.

Transactional politics at work

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: It starkly shows that the tentacles of government corruption have not spared even the NCCA. If a government is about to end, it isn’t concerned about its legacy.

Elpidio Que, Vigan City: Those against the selection of Cecile Alvarez and Carlo Caparas as this year’s National Artists wardees have valid reasons to shout out their dismay and discontent. Who are these two? They are PGMA sycophants and they were inserted because after 2010, they would not have their chance.

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: It shows how political accommodation can destroy the integrity of a selection process, for a single signature from PGMA can ruin the entire process.

Chaley Lazaro Jr., Ilocos Norte: The brouhaha only shows that everything in this country is politicized. Ang malapit sa palayok ang siyang nauulingan.

Miguelito Herrera, Metro Manila: The controversy regarding the national artist fiasco is far from over. GMA is just shameless. It’s all about transactional politics. I wouldn’t be surprised if she also meddled in the Filmfest, Famas and Film Academy awards. Her choice of Caparas really gave me heart palpitations. It’s difficult for me to comprehend what makes him a national artist.

The selection committee erred

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: That’s what my daughter and I were discussing. How can the committee overlook the more senior and deserving candidate artists for that prestigious award? Guidote-Alvarez and Caparas are deserving, too, but it is so early for them to be awarded. The selection committee erred; they are to blame for this brouhaha.

Nothing we can do

Leonard Villa, Batac City: Simply put, it’s another brouhaha that stains the integrity and further erodes the credibility of the Arroyo government. It’s a blatant display of arrogance of power.

Rose Leobrera, Manila: GMA did it again; she tampered with the choices to give favors to her bata. The artists are intelligent people; they would not protest if they the results were judged fairly and if GMA did not interfere with the process. If I were Alvarez, though I know she has done a lot for theater, too, out of delicadeza, I would not be happy receiving the award as many people question its validity. And Caparas? He has made a name in the movie industry, but his achievements are too far behind those of, say, Dolphy. Unfortunately, the results are out. May magagawa pa ba tayo?

Let’s not meddle

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: It’s nothing but artistic expression in a democratic space. Let the artists settle their differences amicably.

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: These artists live and breath their whole life perfecting their trade. It’s almost beyond our understanding. Let’s not meddle and leave them alone.

Romeo Caubat, Masbate: To those not selected as national artists: Be good sports, accept defeat graciously. Stop complaining. Someday, you’ll get selected.

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