1. FERNANDO POE, JR.

(1939-2004)- YEAR OF CONFERNMENT: 2006

He was an actor who is more popularly as Fernando Poe Jr. or FPJ for short. He is
dubbed as the “King of Philippine Movies,” having starred, produced, and directed
more than 200 films. He also enforced changes in film productions: he implemented
a more humane working environment in his own production that was soon followed
by the industry, such as providing food for everybody in the set including the crew
and talents.

2. EDDIE S. ROMERO (1924-2013)- YEAR OF CONFERMENT: 2003

Eddie Romero, whose filmmaking career spanned over 30 years, was an
influential Filipino filmmaker. Throughout those years, he had been a director,
producer, and screenwriter. His films were ambitious and practical at the same time
and are described in his National Artist citation as “delivered in an utterly simple style
– minimalist, but never empty, always calculated, precise and functional, but never
predictable. He was awarded the title of National Artist for Cinema in 2003.

NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR VISUAL ARTS

1. NAPOLEON ABUEVA (1930-2018) - YEAR OD CONFERMENT: 1976

The citation on his award reads “his massive abstractions and constructions of
incredible variety and diversity, an unfailing inventiveness, a prodigious energy and
inexhaustible inspiration firmly imprint his signature on the art of our time.” At age
46, Abueva was the youngest recipient of the title National Artist. He is given the
distinction of being the “Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture” for his
nonrepresentational sculptural works. As the “Father of Modern Philippine
Sculpture,” Abueva is adept in using a diverse range of media such adobe, metal,
cement, marble, etc. But he still prefers Philippine hardwood such as narra, molave,
acacia, kamagong, etc. His works have been exhibited in various museums in the
Philippines and abroad. He was awarded as a National Artist for Sculpture in 1976.

2. ANG KIUKOK (1931-2005) - YEAR OF CONFERMENT: 2001

A Filipino of Chinese descent, and Kiukok in one of the most refreshing and
revolutionary artists of the 1960s. His works are expressionist, eye-catching, and rich
in symbolism. His art is oftentimes violent and angst-ridden, reflecting the social and
political instability of the time. He was conferred the title of National Artist for Visual
Arts in 2001.

3. VICTORIO C. EDADES (1895-1985) - YEAR OF CONFERMENT: 1976

Victorio C. Edades is considered to be the “Father of Modern Philippine
Painting.” He ushered in the art movement with his painting The Builders (1928). His
style is described as raw and rough using bold impasto strokes. His figures are
distorted and flawed, which made the Filipinos reflect on their definition of art. His
modernist style served as the perfect counterbalance to Fernando Amorsolo’s
idealized and academic paintings. Edades was also an educator and became a dean for
the College of Architecture at the University of Santo Tomas in 1930. He introduced a
liberal arts program that offered subjects that would enable students to have a
bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. It was the first of its kind in the Philippines.

4. CECAR LEGASPI (1971- 1994) - YEAR OF CONFERMENT: 1990

 Cesar Legaspi’s contribution to the world of Philippine art is that through his
cubist works, the country was exposed and later on accepted the validity of modern
art as a movement and style. Legaspi was part of the Thirteen Moderns, a group of
artists who promoted modern art in the Philippines. He was also a neorealist whose
style showed geometric distortions that express social commentaries. He was
recognized as the National Artist for Visual Arts in 1990

5. VICENTE S. MANANSALA (1910-1981) - YEAR OF

CONFERMENT:1981
Vicente Manansala’s acclaimed early works combined concepts from the rural and
urban settings, creating a reflective pause when one views his works. Some of these
early masterpieces were the Madonna of the Slums and Jeepneys. Her later
experimented with other art styles and is considered a pioneer of cubism in the
Philippines. He developed his own style of cubism wherein objects are carefully
composed on top of another and carefully rendered using light and delicate colors,
making the objects appear translucent and transparent. Manansala also served as a
guiding influence to other artists who made names for themselves such as Angelito
Antonio, Manuel Baldemor, Norma Belleza, and Mauro Malang. He died in 1981 and
was also posthumously conferred the title of National Artist for Painting that same
year.

6. HERNANDO R. OCAMPO (1911-1978) - YEAR OF

CONFERMENT:1991
H.R. Ocampo was also part of the Thirteen Moderns. Although not a formally
trained artist, his artworks are no less thought-provoking and inspiring. The themes of
his works told of the destruction and the harshness of life after World War II. These
artworks inspired and ignited the Filipinos’ nationalistic spirit and the strength to
rebuild.

However, it was his abstract works that will be his defining masterpieces. His
works echo the vibrant Philippine flora and fauna, bathed in the strong and attention-
grabbing colors. This is exemplified by his masterpiece Genesis that serves as the
inspiration behind the curtain design at the CCP Main Theater. H.R. Ocampo was
posthumously awarded the distinction of becoming the National Artist for Painting in
1991, thirteen years after his death.

7. FERNANDO C. AMORSOLO (1892-1972) - YEAR OF CONFERMENT:

1972

Amorsolo was posthumously recognized as the Philippines’ first National Artist

on April 28, 1972, four days after his death. He was given the title the “Grand Old
Man of Philippine Art” for his influential style and technique that has inspired
generations of artists.

He is well-known for his genre paintings and landscapes and his idealized
depiction of the dalagang Filipina. His works often incorporate his trademark style of
backlighting technique that makes the canvas feel alive with the light.

Other than landscapes, his body of work includes portraitures, landscapes,

sketches, historical paintings, and advertising art.
 8. CARLOS “BOTONG” V. FRANCISCO (1912-1969) - YEAR OF
CONFERMENT: 1973
Botong Francisco was awarded the title of National Artist in 1973 four years after
his death. He is known for historically themed murals such as the Filipino Struggles
through History, which is displayed in the Manila City Hall. He, along with Victor
Edades and Galo Ocampo, is one of the pioneers of modernism in the country. His art
reflects the values and the colors of his town Angono that has been a trademark of his
works and style. He is also credited with the discovery of the Angono Petroglyphs,
one of the earliest examples of prehistoric art in the Philippines.

9. ARURO “ART” R. LUZ (1926) - YEAR OF CONFERMENT: 1997

He is an artist who expresses himself in many different visual art forms such as
painting, sculptures, prints, etc. His works showcase a neorealist take and are
described as sublime and austere in expression. His pieces often make use of simple
collections of lines and shapes masterfully composed to create abstract masterpieces
that reveal sophistication and simplicity. He also established the Luz Gallery that
paved the way for the professionalization of the gallery system in the country. This
move has changed and influenced the Filipino artistic community and generations of
artists after into a more qualified and specialized association.

10. J. ELIZALDE NAVARRO (1924-1999) - YEAR OF CONFERMENT:

1999
He was a visual artist who specialized in paintings and sculptures. Throughout his
career, he experimented with various media. His sculptural hardwood masks combine
animals and humans; his paintings are often made of abstract figures; and his
assemblages are compositions of found objects and metal. He is also known for his
incision painting technique in which he would cut out patterns on a stone surface and
apply a layer of paint or plaster on top. He was posthumously awarded the title
National Artist for Painting in 1999, the same year he passed away.
11. GUILLERMO E. TOLENTINO (1890-1976) - YEAR OF
CONFERMENT: 1973
Guillermo Tolentino was a premier sculptor and esteemed professor at the
University of the Philippines, Diliman. He specialized in commemorative sculptures
of historical figures that are monumental and grand. He received his training from the
University of the Philippines School Fine Arts and later at the Royal Academy of Fine
Arts in Rome. After returning, he became a professor at his alma mater and taught
many future stars of Philippine art. While teaching, he also created some of his most
famous works: The Bonifacio Monument (1933) in Caloocan and the Oblation (1935)
in the University of the Philippines, Diliman.
12. JOSE T. JOYA (1931-1995) - YEAR OF CONFERMENT: 2003
He differentiated himself from other abstract artists by creating a visual
expression that went beyond Western influences and as a result, created an authentic
Filipino abstract. Joya’s works were influenced by the landscapes of the Philippines.
They were reflective of rural scenes such as rice harvest, rice fields, and tropical
colors. They were also reminiscent of folk art with their colors, layering, and
curvilinear expressions. He practiced gestural paintings similar to that of abstract
expressionist painters, which resulted in works that are described as vigorous, bold,
 and heavy. He was also instrumental for future artists to explore various media as he
also designed and rendered art on various materials such as ceramics, tiles, plates, etc.
He was recognized as a National Artist for Painting in 2003, eight years after his
death.
13. BENEDICTO “BenCab” R. CABRERA (1942) - YEAR OF
CONFERMENT: 2006
He is one of the most successful Filipino contemporary artists. His career started
in the 1960s, shortly after he graduated from the University of the Philippines with a
bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts.
He is most popular for his series of works that feature a solitary figure of a
scavenger whom he named Sabel. BenCab used the image of Sabel as a symbolism of
despair, desolation, and inequality of the social classes in the Philippines. He is, as of
writing, now based in Baguio where he has set up a museum of his works and other
Filipino artists

14. ABDULMARI ASIA IMAO (1936-2014) - YEAR OF CONFERMENT:

2006
He is the first Filipino Muslim to receive the title of National Artist. Though he is
primarily known as a sculptor, he is also a painter, photographer, ceramist,
documentary filmmaker, cultural researcher, and curator and collector of Philippine
Muslim art.
Exercise #2
A. Directions: Complete this table below to summarize what you have learned about the national artists
for film.
NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR THEMES FILM STYLES AND
FILM TECHNIQUES
Fernando Poe, Jr.

Gerry De Leon

Eddie Romero

B. Directions: Explain you answer in a concise but meaningful manner.

1. What is the effect of dark and gloomy colors in visual arts?
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