Previous National Artists attended the rally and as a sign of protest, they locked their medals in a box.

(Clockwise from top left) painter Ben Cabrera, writer and professor Virgilio Almario, poet and dramatist Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera, author F. Sionil Jose, theater designer Salvador Bernal, film director Eddie Romero, painter Arturo Luz and sculptor Napoleon Abueva.

National Artists who passed away were also represented through their relatives, namely painter Cesar Legaspi and architect Leandro Locsin (who designed the Cultural Center of the Philippines).

The lawn of the CCP was planted with black ribbons to signify the protest against the selection of two persons in particular: Carlo J. Caparas and Cecille Guidote, who were selected by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Key people from the movie industry also attended, including (from left) director and screenwriter Joey Reyes, screenwriter Bibeth Orteza (who came with her husband, Carlos Siguin-Reyna, not in photo) and stage director Behn Cervantes.

Painter Ben Cabrera (leftmost), who is also called BenCab, and writer Virgilio Almario (second from left) are all smiles for the people who want to take photos of the national treasures of the country. Salvador Bernal (National Artist for Theater Design) is photographed holding a black rose signifying their "mourning" of the death of the National Artist Awards. 

The program started with a funeral procession along the ramp of the CCP complex where they carried the symbol of National Artist together with a funeral wreath.

The National Artists present would later offer black flowers.

A thousand people gathered at the CCP ramp, composed mainly of artists, students and patron of the arts.

Entrepreneur and actor Iliac Diaz was seen documenting the event. He came with his mother, art gallery owner Silvanna Diaz. He told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), "My mother has always been in the arts and I've grown up in the arts. It's just a democratic selection based on criteria and based on good judgement by an elected arts council. And to have subverted it to something based on privilege completely destroys the National Artist program which is supposed to give inspiration."

Singer Celeste Legaspi (left) represented her father, the late painter Cesar Legaspi. She read a poem titled, "Paano Kumatay ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining."

Celloist Renato Lucas offered a sentimental musical piece while National Artists laid black roses at the logo of the institution now in question.

Mae Paner, who goes by the monicker Juana Change, performed a monologue called "National Artist na Ako! - Have Mercy on Us!" that elicited a lot of laughter from the audience.

AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros informed the crowd that she had filed House Resolution 1305 calling for an investigation into the selection of the National Artists.

Former Ilocos Norte Rep Imee Marcos was at the rally. When asked if her mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, a known arts patron, knew that she came to the rally, Imee said "No."

"She (Imelda) feels very bad that there's a controversy for a National Artist award which is so revered and honored in this country that has never become controversial or even questionable. May taon na wala man lamang na napipili dahil napakataas ng standards. Napakatindi ng proseso. E, yun pala, puslitan na lang pala," she said.

Comediennes Eugene Domingo (left) and Ces Quesada were silent observers at the rally.

APO Hiking Society member Jim Paredes (right) is almost always present to lend his voice in any worthy protest action.

"Feeling ko something sacred was violated in the National Artist award. It something we hold in high esteem because it is the highest award any Filipino artist can strive for. It is very sad that the process was violated," he said.

This pick-up truck led the motorcade of vehicles that laid the black wreath at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts offices in Intramuros, Manila.