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Artists offer black roses for the "death" of the National Artist awards
by Paul Mata posted on August 7, 2009  STATS: 718 Views | 94 Comments

 

National Artists led by director Eddie Romero (lower left frame), theater designer Salvador Bernal and novelist F. Sionil Jose hold a black rose as a sign of protest to the recent awarding of National Artist that bypassed fellow peers in other fields. Armida Siguion-Reyna was also one of the personalities who joined the protest rally held today, August 7, at the CCP ramp.

Photo By: Paul Mata

Artists from different fields gathered this afternoon, August 7, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to protest the selection of Carlo J. Caparas (Film and Visual Arts) and Cecile Guidote-Alvarez (Theater) as National Artists.

The indignation rally for the "death" of the National Artist awards started at around 3:30 p.m. today with a program of speeches by key personalities.

National Artist for Visual Arts Ben Cabrera, National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist for Theater Design Salvador Bernal, National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, and National Artist for Film Eddie Romero held black roses as signs of protest. Virgilio Almario is also known by his nom de plume, Rio Alma.

Other National Artists present included sculptor Napoleon Abueva, author F. Sionil Jose, and painter Arturo Luz.

The advocacy group Concerned Artists of the Philippines was led by Carlos Siguion-Reyna. He was joined by his wife Bibeth Orteza. Theater actress Isay Alvarez, singer Bituin Escalante, and actor-director Bart Guingona also made it a point to attend the protest rally.

Congresswoman Imee Marcos, an ardent supporter of films and the arts, also showed her concern over the issue.

Celebrities Eugene Domingo, Ces Quesada, and Iliac Diaz were  spotted at the CCP ramp this afternoon. Film directors Joey Reyes, Joel Lamangan, Jim Paredes, and Mark Meily were also there to show their protest over the alleged manipulation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regarding the persons named as National Artists this 2009.

Aside from adding the names of Cecile Guidote-Alvarez and Carlo J. Caparas, the incumbent president also named as National Artists Manuel Urbano a.k.a Manuel Conde (Film and Broadcast); Lazaro Francisco (Literature); Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (Visual Arts, Painting, Sculpture and Mixed Media); Francisco Manosa (Architecture); and Jose "Pitoy" Moreno (Fashion Design).

"NECROLOGICAL SERVICE." The symbolic necrological service started with a wreath processional of women carrying the logo representing Philippine arts. They also carried a black wreath signifying the demise of National Artists award.

Bituin Escalante led the singing of the National Anthem.

National Artist for Theatre Salvador Bernal spoke of the importance of the gathering. "We should recognize the gifts of our fellow peers," he said.

Performances were presented by the ethnic music group Kontra Gapi and cellist Renato Lucas.

An actress, who dubbed herself as "Juana Change," entertained the crowd with her performance called "National Artist na Ako! Have Mercy on Us." Her social commentary elicited roars of laughter from the crowd, countering the heavy mood of the protest action.

Akbayan party-list representative Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel then presented House Resolution 1305 that seeks to investigate the selection of the National Artists. The said resolution has been forwarded to the Basic Education Committee at the House of Representatives.

The National Artists present, as a final sign of protest, locked their medals in a box.

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94 Comments

  • 94  happyperson1966

    08/11/2009 | 07:46 PM
    Bakit naman kasi kailangan pang dumaan sa Pangulo ang pagpili ng national artist awardees? Gawin na lang kasing independent ang institutuin na ito. Ang taste ba ng presidente pag dating sa art appreciation ay at par with those of legitimate artists? Napakinabangan tuloy ni PGMA ang prerogative niya to add. At nagbawas na rin tuloy he he he. Pinili niya si Carlo Caparas para mapalapit siya sa masang Pinoy. Kita ko nga sa TV namimigay na rin ng pera si Carlo Caparas habang kumakalap ng suporta. Magpakaelitista na lang kasi ang mga artists na yan kasi yong mga can afford lang naman ang nakakaappreciate ng art kasi hindi sila gutom. Pagpinagtabi mo ba ang isang burger at isang work of art ay alin sa palagay ninyo ang maaappreciate ng isang dukha? Ako nga middle class na hindi ko pa maappreciate ng tunay ang art na yan.
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  • 93  adoboworld

    08/11/2009 | 07:24 PM
    Si Gloria ang pumili kay Cecile Guidote Alvarez dahil supporter nya si Pepito Alvarez. Kung nanoond kayo ng SONA nya, special mention nya si Congressman Alvarez na kapatid ni Pepito Alvarez. Si Carlo J Caparas ang pinili over Dolphy dahil FPJ supporter si Dolply kaya si Gloria kung tutuusin ang pumili ng National Artist para barahin ang mas deserving na si Dolphy sa paghihiganti.
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  • 92  adoboworld

    08/11/2009 | 07:20 PM
    Si Cecile Guidote Alvarez ang napiling National Aritst for Theater? Diba dapat si Lea Salonga ang naging National Artist? Mabuti pa ang pretigious TONI and Lawrence Olivier awards sa London kinilala ang kagalingan ni Lea samantalang itong sariling kababayan, ay binaypass. Sa film naman ay dapat si Dolphy ang naging National Artist pero di ito papayagan ni Gloria dahil masugid na taga supporta ni FPJ si Dolphy noon. Kaya dapat lang na mag protesta dahil nawawala na ang credibility ng National Artist award dahil sa palakasan at impluwensya ng Malacanang.
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  • 91  tylenol

    08/11/2009 | 02:15 PM
    MODERATOR PLEASE KICK SWIPER FROM THREAD!
    senseless mga sinasabi niya. please nakikigulo lang siya!
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  • 90  focusme123

    08/10/2009 | 11:17 PM
    Swiper, kindly site the things that erap has done to our country. Are they building statues, shaking hands with the masses and plunder? He is very good indeed.
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  • 89  chismwosa

    08/10/2009 | 09:50 PM
    sya yung parang Buddha sa photo
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  • 88  chismwosa

    08/10/2009 | 09:49 PM
    i love F. Sionil Jose!

    basahin nyo yung novels nya magaganda pramis..

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  • 87  swiper

    08/10/2009 | 10:13 AM
    *** This comment has been deactivated due to inappropriate content ***
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  • 86  swiper

    08/10/2009 | 10:09 AM
    *** This comment has been deactivated due to inappropriate content ***
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  • 85  archangeldiva

    08/09/2009 | 08:39 PM
    pareho talagang kapalmuks itong mag-asawa na ito...sorry...kasal na ba sila??? may unang asawa si caparas de vah...

    PAANO NINYO NAGAMIT ANG PREMISES NG NCCA PARA SA INYUNG PRESS CONFERENCE??????

    mga walang kahihiyan talaga ang mga ulupong na ito...

    oy GMA...tingnan mo kung gaano kababa na ang narating mo...nakikisalimuha ka ka sa mga nilalang ng impyerno

    sabagay...andoon ka na pala
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  • 84  sa220lng

    08/09/2009 | 07:22 PM
    kasi though pwede rin nmn na mging national artist c caparas,not this soon.merong mas deserving pa over him.
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  • 83  swiper

    08/09/2009 | 04:17 PM
    *** This comment has been deactivated due to inappropriate content ***
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  • 82  swiper

    08/09/2009 | 03:49 PM
    *** This comment has been deactivated due to inappropriate content ***
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  • 81  swiper

    08/09/2009 | 03:48 PM
    *** This comment has been deactivated due to inappropriate content ***
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  • 80  jhoda

    08/09/2009 | 01:56 PM
    mga walang kwentang pilipino na national artists.

    i say get rid of that stupid national artist award para walang away. it's pure nonsense anyway!

    ano ngayon? dapa inventors ang kilala..o kaya better our sports para naman mapasama tayo sa Olympics.

    Mga walang kwentang nagproprotest. That stupid award...who cares?!

    pathetic...
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  • 79  chismwosa

    08/09/2009 | 01:48 PM
    ask ko lang kayo pepsters, ano nga ba ang ART?

    carlo j caparas may be worthy of praises as a director, but a National Artist Award is a different story.

    hinaluan kasi ni gma ng pulitika kaya ganyan.

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  • 78  chesapeake

    08/09/2009 | 10:26 AM
    armida natinal artist....bakit????
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  • 77  pinay123

    08/09/2009 | 08:35 AM
    kasalanan ito ng malacanang, kaya lang para hindi mapahiya, hindi nila mababawi ang pagkapili nila. naipit dito si caparas...hindi nga naman nya hiningi ang award at pinagkaloob lang. eh ano ang resolusyon?
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  • 76  swiper

    08/09/2009 | 08:23 AM
    *** This comment has been deactivated due to inappropriate content ***
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  • 75  thehunks100

    08/09/2009 | 05:45 AM
    Hindi na naman nakuha ni Armida ang gusto niya kaya lumabas uli sa lungga.
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