An Overview of the National Artist of the Philippines controversy

• R.E. de Leon is a first time novelist and freelance writer with a Master’s Degree in Communication for Social Change from the University of the Philippines.  His column for Words from The Land of Juan has been coming out on the wrong day of the week lately, but he tries his best to be able to keep up.

With President Aquino’s passing last Saturday,   I tried to acquiesce one of my fellow Land of Juan columnist Ilia Uy’s request to write down my thoughts on how the last five Philippine presidents have influenced the Filipino citizen’s understanding of who he is and of his place in our national narrative – how they have influenced what I refer to in my lectures as “the epic Filipino.”

Throughout the wake, however, I have been taking time to take stock of Cory’s public life, such that the article has started to evolve. While I am excited to see it in it’s final form, I think I would do a disservice if I rushed it.

In the meantime, however, I’ve had to pay attention to another matter significant to the shaping of our National consciousness – the controversy regarding four of Mrs. Arroyo’s recent appointments to the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ng Sining, with four names added to the ranks of our National Artists without having been recommended by the usual selection committee comprised of their peers.

While I do take a specific side on the matter, I feel that we can pick up a lot of insight from by paying attention to what our artists, Pambansang Alagad or otherwise, have to say about the matter.  In an effort to organize my thoughts, I came up with an article summing up the controversy and uploaded it on another site.  For what it’s worth, I’d like to share that article here.

Two caveats: First, it’s still rather rough, and I expect to tinker with it on both sites, so this is not quite final.  Second, since the article is long in itself, I will save my comments for a later piece.

But I hope that even in this form, the reader from The Land of Juan will find it useful.

– R. E. de Leon

The 2009 National Artist of the Philippines controversy refers to the controversial proclamation as National Artists of the Philippines of four individuals via the Presidential prerogative of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, when the four had not been nominated by the selection committe, comprised of representatives from National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).[1][2]

The 2009 National Artist of the Philippines controversy refers to the controversial proclamation as National Artists of the Philippines of four individuals via the Presidential prerogative of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, when the four had not been nominated by the selection committe, comprised of representatives from National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)

“The title National Artist of the Philippines,” explains the relevant entry in Wikipedia, “is given to a Filipino who has been given the highest recognition for having made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts. Such Filipinos are announced, by virtue of a Presidential Proclamation, as National Artist, having been conferred membership in the Order of National Artists.”[11]  Benefits enjoyed by National Artists from that point on include a monthly pension, medical and life insurance, arrangements for a state funeral, a place of honor at national state functions, and recognition at cultural events.[2]

Controversy

President’s prerogative

The controversy began when conferred the Order of National Artists to seven individuals in July, 2009.[3] Controversy arose from the revelation that musician Ramon Santos had been dropped from the list of nominees short-listed in May that year by the selection committee, and four other individuals had been nominated to the title via “President’s prerogative” [1][2]:

• Cecilla Guidote-Alvarez (Theater),
• Magno Jose “Carlo” Caparas (Visual Arts and Film),
• Francisco Mañosa (Architecture), and
• Jose “Pitoy” Moreno (Fashion Design)

Members of the Philippine art community, including a number of living National Artists of the Philippines, protested that the proclamation politicized the title of National artist, and made it “a way for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to accommodate her allies.”[1]

Film director Eddie Romero, himself a National Artist for Film and the Broadcast Arts, explained in an interview that the rules allow the President to pick a National Artist. He noted, however, that[1]:

“It seems it’s the first time the presidential prerogative was used to declare four artists. It’s like a wholesale declaration.”

National Artist for literature chairman of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines Bienvenido Lumbera, said[1] that in the 2009 nominations, there was

“heavy campaigning because the government wanted to ensure the selection of four people.”

In addition, specific protests were raised regarding the nomination of NCCA executive director Guidote-Alvarez, because it was purportedly a breach of protocol and delicadeza, and of Carlo Caparas, because protestors assert that he is not qualified to be nominated under either the “Visual Arts” or “Film” categories in which he was proclaimed to the order.[1]

Alvarez. Lumbera, who happened to be a member of the combined “final selection committee” of the NCAA and CCP, noted that[1]:

“It was Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, as executive director of the NCCA, who had insisted on the President’s right to add names that were not discussed in the committee.”

Calling the situation “outrageous”[1], he said that [1][2]:

“She should have not allowed herself to be named as national artist. She’s close to the President. Nobody in the committee thought that she deserved to be named.”

Alvarez heads the NCAA secretariat that receives nominations for national artists.

Caparas. Complaints regarding Caparas’ proclamation centered on the complaints that he did not illustrate the comic books he wrote and was therefore not qualifed for the honor under visual arts[1][4], and that his work in Film is supposedly sub-par, being comprised largely of “pito-pito”(“seven-seven”) films rush-finished in seven days, and “massacre films” that whose focus was sensational crimes.[5] [6]

Bienvenido Lumbera remarked that Caparas’ nomination was twice rejected by two NCAA panels[2]:

“[Caparas] was first proposed as a nominee for literature, but the committee rejected him. He was again proposed as nominee for visual artist but the panel again turned him down.”

Film Academy of the Philippines director general Leo Martinez[2][7] noted that “He was obviously added by Malacañang.” Caparas is known as a vocal supporter of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.[5]

Committee-shortlisted nominees

Protestors, however, were careful to note that three of the individuals proclaimed as National Artist in 2009[3] were in fact recommended by the selection committee[1]:

• Manuel Urbano a.k.a Manuel Conde (Film and Broadcast),
• Lazaro Francisco (Literature), and
• Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (Visual Arts, Painting, Sculpture and Mixed Media).

Prominent protestors

Living National Artists of the Philippines who have protested the proclamation of the four new National Artists include:

• Eddie Romero[1]
• F. Sionil Jose[8],
• Arturo Luz[8],
• Bienvenido Lumbera[1],
• Virgilio Almario[8],
• BenCab[8][9], and
• Salvador Bernal[8]

Other prominent critics include prominent Filipino Comic Book artist Gerry Alanguilan[1][4], multiple Palanca Award laureate Lourd de Veyra[1][6], and Film Academy of the Philippines Director General Leo Martinez[7], who had played a part in the original nomination process.[1]

Defense

Arroyo Administration

The Arroyo administration was quick to defend its choices of individuals to be named to the Order of National Artists. Acting Executive Secretary and Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio told reporters that[5]:

“I think we can defend [their] track record and qualifications and reasons [for their selection].”

He aslo said the administration would “stand by the qualifications, qualities, track record and reputation of those named as National Artists.[5]”

Carlo J. Caparas

Caparas defended his proclamation, saying that other aspirants to the honor ought to wait their turn.[10]

“Ganyan talaga kung may something for grabs. E, iisa lang ang pipiliin. Sana, maghintay na lang sila ng tamang panahon sa gusto nilang manalo. Hindi naman ito palakasan.”(That’s the way it is whenever something is for grabs. Only one person can be selected. They ought to wait for the right time for them if they want to win. It’s not as if this were a case of sucking up.)

“Kaya wag mag-alala ang mga critics ko, may pagkakataon pa sila o ang mga manok nila na manalo in the future. (So my critics shouldn’t worry, they or their fighting cocks still have opportunities to win in the future.) They cannot take the award from me anymore.

“Baka ang nasa isip nila ay bata pa ako. Pero hindi naman ‘yon ang basehan. Sino naman ang ko-contest sa decision ng Cultural Center, ng NCCA at ng Malacañang tungkol sa award na ito? Mabuti na nga at ngayon pa lang ay ibinibigay na ang ganitong award sa mga taong nandito. Ang akala kasi nila ay sa matatanda o sa beterano o sa mga patay na ibinibigay ang ganitong award.” (Maybe they think I’m too young. But that’s not a valid basis [for a choice]. Who would contest the decision of the Cultural Center, the NCCA, and Malacañang regarding this award? It’s a good thing they’re giving this award to someone who’s still here. They think awards like this should only be given to the old, to veterans, or to the dead.)

Caparas said that instead of criticizing his award, entertainment people “should unite and work together to revive the ailing movie and komiks industry.”[10] He attributed his win to the fact that he managed to cross over from comic books to film and television, and saying that his triumph was significant because he was a National Artist who came from the working class. “I am a National Artist who came from the masses,” the Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted him as saying. “I work and struggle with them.” He said it was time for a National Artist “who the masses can identify with—someone who walks beside them, someone who can inspire them.” Noting that some Filipinos did not even know the National Artists he said “Hopefully, since I am still active in TV and in the movies, this will encourage our countrymen to learn more about our National Artists.”[1]

Cecilla Guidote-Alvarez

Guidote-Alvarez also defended her qualifications for recieving the award:

“Before you make a judgment, read my achievements first as an artist. Was I an idiot before I became a national artist?”[2]

As proof of her achievements, she cited previous awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay public service award for the arts, the CCP Gawad Sining Award for Literature, and the Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Services award. She asserted that the President had the prerogative to name national artists who were not named in the selection committeee’s shortlist, and denied lobbying for the award, saying that President Arroyo had “never talked to [her] about it.”[2]

References

1. Alave, Kristine L. and Bayani San Diego Jr (2009 August 1). “Palace choices of 4 nat’l artists protested”. Philippine Daily Inquirer. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090801-218247/Palace-choices-of-4-natl-artists-protested.
2. Sabangan, Annie Ruth C. (2009-08-01). “Fury over Arroyo’s choice of national artists”. GMANews.tv: The Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/168807/Fury-over-Arroyos-choice-of-national-artist.
3. Burgonio, TJ. (2009 July 29). “Arroyo names 7 National Artists for ‘09”. Philippine Daily Inquirer. http://services.inquirer.net/mobile/09/07/29/html_output/xmlhtml/20090729-217787-xml.html.
4. Alanguilan, Gerry. (2009). “Bottom Line: Carlo J. Caparas is NOT Qualified” (in English) (html). Komikero Comics Journal. Komikero Comics Journal. http://gerry.alanguilan.com/archives/1659. Retrieved on 2009-08-04.
5. GMA News TV (2009). “Palace defends Carlo J’s inclusion in National Artist award” (in English) (HTML). GMA News and Public Affairs. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/168769/Palace-defends-Carlo-Js-inclusion-in-National-Artist-award. Retrieved on 2009-08-05.
6. de Veyra, Lourd Ernest. (2009). “Carlo J. All the Way” (in English) (html). http://www.spot.ph. http://www.spot.ph/2009/08/01/carlo-j-all-the-way/. Retrieved on 2009-08-03.
7. Martinez, Leo (2009). ““National Artist Award a Joke,” says Leo Martinez, Film Academy Head” (in English) (html). SPOT.PH: The Feed. SPOT.PH. http://www.spot.ph/2009/08/01/national-artist-award-a-joke-says-leo-martinez-film-academy-head/. Retrieved on 2009-08-04.
8. Godinez, Bong (2009). “Artists to stage protest against PGMA’s appointed National Artist awardees” (in English) (html). pep.com. Philippine Entertainment Portal. http://www.pep.ph/news/22690/Artists-to-stage-protest-against-PGMAs-appointed-National-Artist-awardees. Retrieved on 2009-08-04.
9. Cabrera, Benedicto. “Statement from BenCab on the National Artist Brouhaha” (in English) (html). SPOT.PH: The Feed. SPOT.PH. http://www.spot.ph/2009/07/31/spot-scoop-statement-from-bencab-on-the-national-artist-awards-brouhaha/. Retrieved on 2009-08-04.
10. Villasanta, Boy (2009). “Caparas airs side on Nat’l Artist Award” (HTML). ABS-CBN News Online. http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/07/31/09/caparas-airs-side-natl-artist-award. Retrieved on 2009-08-05.
11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Artist_of_the_Philippines