Revilla Sr. as national artist? House panel agrees

MANILA, Philippines — A House panel has approved a measure endorsing the nomination of the late former senator Ramon Revilla Sr. for national artist.

In a meeting last Thursday, the committee on basic education and culture has adopted Resolution 1176 “expressing the sense of the House” to nominate Revilla for national artist award for film in recognition of his contributions to the Philippine entertainment industry.

The measure, introduced by 24 congressmen led by Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, cited Revilla’s decades of work as “entertainment icon, actor, producer, writer and director, and a public servant.”

It also listed the late actor’s awards, including those for Best Actor and Box Office King, as well as his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Catholic Mass Media Awards.

“Through the years, he has contributed immensely in the development of Philippine art. His movies depicted not only Filipino way of life, but also our unique culture and strong ideals. His contributions to Philippine society in general and to Philippine entertainment in particular should not go unrecognized as he is a genuine gem who has contributed much to the proliferation and appreciation of the arts of our country,” read the resolution.

Revilla, father and namesake of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., passed away in June last year at 93 years old after surviving a stroke in 2008.