ARTISTIC COMMUNITY MOURNS DEMISE OF “MEANINGFUL” NATIONAL ARTIST AWARDS;PGMA PROCLAMATION CALLED "IMMORAL" AND "ILLEGAL"

In a show of unity, the artistic community led by National Artists Napoleon Abueva, Virgilio Almario, Salvador Bernal, Ben Cabrera, Bienvenido Lumbera, Arturo Luz, Eddie Romero, and F. Sionil Jose, together with Celeste Legaspi representing her father Cesar Legaspi, held “memorial services” for what they describe as “the demise of a meaningful National Artist Awards.” 

In the program held on Friday, 07 August 2009 at the ramp of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City attended by hundreds of artists, cultural workers, students, professionals and civil society, National Artists Bernal, Cabrera, Almario and Lumbera delivered eulogies, offered prayers and read statements decrying the “subversion of the National Artists Awards process,” denouncing the insertion of four names that did not undergo the deliberative process and the removal of one that passed it. “It’s a mockery of the system,” according to Cabrera. “The awards have been debased.” 

Lumbera read a manifesto stating that in doing the “immoral act,” Malacañang has shamed the National Artists who have been legitimately chosen and those artists who are more qualified than those named by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Expressing the fear that this action will ultimately lead into politics being the basis for the Awards, Lumbera called on everyone to work towards restoring the dignity of the awards process. 

The National Artists symbolically laid their National Artists Medallions to rest, vowing not to wear it until the Awards regains its meaning and decency.

The rites were also participated in by various artists; among them “Juana Change” (Mae Paner) who did a short performance entitled "National Artist na Ako! - Have Mercy on Us!”, Celeste Legaspi (who recited Vim Nadera's adaptation of Amado V. Hernandez'a "Kung Lumuha Ka Aking Bayan," cellist Renato Lucas, and singer Bituin Escalante who led in the singing of the National Artists. Rep. Riza Baraquel announced that she had filed House Resolution No. 1305 seeking a congressional inquiry on the matter.

Among the many prominent personalities in attendance were directors Behn Cervantes, Alexander Cortez,Laurice Guillen, Jose Estrella, Henry Frejas, Anton Juan Jr., Joel Lamangan, Chris Millado, Dennis Marasigan, Raya Martin, Mark Meilly, Gil Portes, Raymond Red, Carlos Siguion Reyna and Jose Javier Reyes, actors Adriana Agacoili, Cara Barredo, Red Concepcion, Johnny Delgado, Eugene Domingo, Bart Guingona, Simon Ibarra, Roli Inocencio, Nanding Josef, Leo Martinez, Raul Montesa, Bibeth Orteza, Ces Quesada, Armida Siguion Reyna, Peter Serrano, Raquel Villavicencio and Joy Virata, poets/writers Ogie Arcenas, Abdon Balde, Marne Kilates, Liza Magtoto, Vim Nadera, Rody Vera and Krip Yuson, dancers/choreographers Edna Vida and Nonoy Froilan, singers Danny Javier, Leah Navarro and Jim Paredes, architect Raul Locsin, pianist Della Besa, arts administrators Emily Abrera, Baltazar Endriga, Bambi Harper and Maan Hontiveros, visual arists Boots Herrera, Marian Pastor Roces, Ige Ramos and Jun Yee, students and professors from the Philippine High School for the Arts, St. Scholastica's College, University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas,and many others, including Gilda Cordero Fernando, Irene and Imee Marcos and Sylvia Mayuga. 

The attendees then proceeded to the National Commission on Culture and the Arts building in Intramuros where the National Artists symbolically laid their National Artists medallions on a funeral wreath.

Malacañang has tried to defend its choices by stating that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo followed the process in naming this year’s National Artists. A Malacañang official has been quoted as saying “I think we can defend the track record and qualifications… [it was] a thorough process,” a claim belied by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the body tasked by law to administer the awards, with regard to the names added by Malacañang. Seeming to contradict himself, the same official has also announced to the media that Mrs. Arroyo was not confined to the list of nominees coming from the NCCA and the CCP and that “the President was consulted or advised by several artist groups,” including an “Honors Committee” created in Malacañang. was responsible for the final choices presented to the President.

According to Atty. Lorna Kapunan, member of the CCP board of Trustees, Malacañang’s action is illegal and that presidential power is limited to “confirmation, proclamation and conferral” only. “The president has no prerogative as regards the National Artist Awards,” she said.

Atty. Nicolas Pichay, former legal consultant to the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, clarified that Executive Order No. 236 issued by Mrs. Arroyo in 2003 governs the Order of National Artists. The Executive Order provides that the Order of the National Artists “is the highest national recognition conferred upon Filipinos who have made distinct contributions to arts and letters conferred upon the recommendation of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and National Commission for Culture and the Arts” and that the role of the Committee on Honors is limited to assisting the President in evaluating nominations for the honor. 

Former CCP President Nestor O. Jardin believes that a new law is needed to specifically state the limit of presidential prerogative which would include measures that would safeguard the integrity of the award. 
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