On Cecile Guidote Alvarez

The proclamation of certain National Artists has triggered angry howls and actions of protest like rallies, press releases and press conferences. The protestors, including distinguished National Artists, have their reasons for objecting to current presidential choices, and their charges may be ventilated to a higher forum. I am concerned about the seeming diminution of the status of a questioned awardee whose accomplishments are outstanding and unsurpassed: Cecile Guidote Alvarez. Without a doubt, Cecile has contributed tremendously to the advancement of theater arts.

A good number of articles have been written about Cecile as early as May, two months ago, before the controversy exploded. (Look for Philippine STAR columns of former Education Secretary and a National Artist in Literature Alejandro Roces (May 12, 2009), and Isagani Cruz (May 14, 2009). For those who may not have read them, let me offer some facts about Cecile and her accomplishments.

She received the Ramon Magsaysay Outstanding Asian Award for Public Service through the Arts, the youngest at age 28 to be honored. She was given a Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) award in 1989, a UNESCO Artist for Peace Award, a Benigno Aquino Nationalism Award, and a Carlos P. Romulo Award for International Understanding.

While in exile in the United States during the Marcos regime, she received a UN Human Rights Day Award for Cultural Innovation from the Fund for Free Expression, and the Outstanding Political Theatre Award Off-Broadway. Her direction of numerous cultural-political productions won her recognition in various countries and citations from international women’s and theatrical organizations. I believe countless people have been reached and enriched by Cecile’s involvement in theatrical concerns.

In 1967, she founded the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), its preamble declaring that theater should not only be a place for “public entertainment nor a forum for intellectual beliefs, but a stream where flows the country’s heritage, enriched by the current of contemporary thought, concepts and beliefs.” With her guidance, PETA branched out into radio and television, and led in efforts to coordinate networking among theater groups in developing countries. Three months ago, Radyo Balintataw on DZRH and Sining Gising at NBN 4 were given awards for outstanding media work that promotes effectively the Philippine national language.

While in exile, she continued to help PETA furtively by arranging visits of foreign artists and teachers and linking the group with theater festivals abroad. She also organized the Philippine Educational Arts League (Petal) which would win the coveted Outstanding Political Theater Award, together with the world-famous Bread and Puppet theater group.

She organized the DREAMS Academy based at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife, devoted to development, rehabilitation and education through arts, media, science and sports. Then she put up the Earthsavers Dreams Ensemble, a theater company composed of disabled, disadvantaged and indigenous youth. The ensemble was recognized by UNESCO by naming it Artists for Peace in October 2003.

In 2004, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed her Presidential Assistant on Culture and executive director of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

On May 13, Cecile wrote the new NCCA chairperson, Dr. Vilma Labrador, that she had told the latter several times that she wanted to leave government service. “It has been most rewarding when we see how much has been accomplished through our synergy with the changes and the transformation that has occurred. Yet, it is truly stressful, as I know it is also for you.” Cecile did not mention returning the National Artist award to the President. We shall see what happens in the next few days. Should she return the award which she deserves?

Dr. Labrador replied the same day: “You can’t abandon your post now. June is such a busy month. There is an Independence Day Program. You are in charge of Baler. There is a succession of ASEAN-COCI meetings. Last week of June, you are the chair of the Tagaytay Meeting, Cultural Committee. There is an Experts Meeting on Intellectual Property Rights for Indigenous People’s Month and the ASEAN Culture Capital City designation of the Philippines. There is the UNESCO General Conference and the UN MDG Campaign. . . .”

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 Rina Lopez-Bautista, president and executive director, and co-founder (with Carlo Katigbak), of Knowledge Channel, talked the other evening at a celebration party (heading the guest list was Education Secretary Jesli Lapus) about the strides made by the program during the last ten years.

Knowledge Channel now serves over 2,000 schools nationwide and is viewed by around 2 to 3 million students everyday. To date, it remains the only channel that delivers 14 hours of educational content in the country. “Not only have we been reaching more and more students, we, too, have been helping improve their performance,” Rina said.

In 2002, the UP School of Statistics reported that the achievement scores of students who regularly watch Knowledge Channel has shown an increase of 2.3 percent. Student attendance has increased among recipient schools and community support for education has also grown in areas where KC serve.

“From as far north as Itbayat in Batanes to Sitangkal, Tawi-Tawi in Muslim Mindanao, we have brought the gift of knowledge even in the remotest of places,” Rina said.

Together with USAID, KC has produced modules on peace education and livelihood, and continued to connect 150 public schools in Basilan, Salu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, Zamboanga Sibugay, and other surrounding areas. It has now entered the Cordillera Autonomous Region through its installations at Mayoyao and Alfonso Lista in Ifugao.

KC, said Rina, is now developing content that will help students develop 21st century skills. It has come up with a theme song, “May K Ako,” composed by Yeng Constantino and the KC staff that will inspire students to learn and value the concept of helping others. It has also established a Volunteer Management Group to build and maintain a pool of volunteers to help KC through its journey onwards.

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