LESSON 1: NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR VISUAL ARTS, ARCHITECTURE, AND

FASHION DESIGN

This lesson focuses on the roles and contributions of National Artists in visual arts,
architecture, and fashion design. At the time of this writing, there are 5 National Artists
for Architecture, 16 National Artists for Visual Arts, and one National Artist for Fashion
Design.

Visual Arts
 Fernando Amorsolo (May 30, 1892 - April 24, 1972)
Amorsolo is the first National Artist in the country. He was known for using the
backlighting technique in painting, making his creations bright and cheerful. His major
works include "Dalagang Bukid," "El Ciego," "The Mestiza." and "Planting Rice."

 Carlos "Botong" Francisco (November 4, 1912 - March 31, 1969)

Francisco revived the art of mural and was considered to be the most distinguished
mural painter for about three decades. He was known for using historical events as
subject matter for his murals. His major works include "Blood Compact," "First Mass at
Limasawa," "Bayanihan," and "The Invasion of Limahong."

 Guillermo E. Tolentino (July 24, 1890 - July 12, 1976)

Honored as National Artist for Sculpture in 1973, Tolentino's works include the "UP
Oblation," the "Bonifacio Monument" in Caloocan, and bronze statues of Manuel
Quezon at Quezon Memorial Circle. He was also known for designing the seal of the
Republic of the Philippines and the gold and bronze medals for the Ramon Magsaysay
Award.

 Napoleon V. Abueva (January 26, 1930)

Abueva was considered to be the Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture. He is skillful in
creating both representational and modern abstract sculptures using a wide variety of
materials. He was also known for creating "buoyant sculpture," which is a type of
sculpture to be viewed from the surface of a pool.
  Victorio C. Edades (December 23, 1895 - March 7, 1985)
Recognized as the Father of Modern Philippine Painting, Edades was known for using
dark somber colors in his paintings. His works focused on factory workers, laborers, or
other simple townspeople. He also introduced a degree program offering subjects in
foreign languages and art history, which would later lead to a Bachelor's degree in Fine
Arts.

 Vicente Manansala (January 22, 1910 - August 22, 1981)

Manansala was known for his paintings depicting realistic themes using an abstract or a
cubist style. He believed that "the beauty of art is in the process, in the moment of doing
a particular painting, closely associating it with the act of making love." His works
include "A Cluster of Nipa Hut," "Market Venders," and "Madonna of the Slums."

 Hernando R. Ocampo (April 28, 1911 - December 28, 1978)

Ocampo was largely known for his abstract paintings. His works featured shapes
bounded with curved lines painted in intense colors. His paintings, such as "Genesis,"
"Slum Dwellers," and "Ina ng Balon," captured the Philippine landscape using bold
colors. His masterpiece "Genesis" was used as the basis of the design of the curtain of
the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main Theater.

 Cesar Legaspi (April 2, 1917 - April 7, 1994)

Legaspi was known for utilizing and refining cubism, a style involving breaking parts into
geometric shapes, in his paintings.

 Arturo Luz (November 20, 1926)

He set up the Luz Gallery, which contributed to the professionalization of the art gallery
as an institution. His well-known works include the mural "Black and White," which is
currently located at the lobby of the Little Theater of the Cultural Center of the
Philippines, and a sculpture of a stainless steel cube in Pasig City.
  J. Elizalde Navarro (May 22, 1924-June 10, 1999)
He was known for his hardwood masks reflecting the human and the animal, abstract
paintings in oil and watercolor, and assemblages. He was also known for his fiction
works for This Week of the Manila Chronicle, and for his figurative drawings for Lydia
Arguilla's Juan Tamad.

 Ang Kiukok (March 1, 1931 - May 9, 2005)

He was known for paintings expressing nationalism and sociological agenda during the
60's through vivid cubistic figures. His works include "Geometric Landscape," "Pieta,"
and the "Seated Figure."

 Benedicto Cabrera (April 10, 1942-)

Known as "Bencab," Cabrera was noted as the best selling painter of his generation of
Filipino artists. He is also well know for his sketches of a scavenger named "Sabel, a
symbol of dislocation, despair and isolation the personification of human dignity
threatened by life's circumstance."

 Abdulmari Asia Imao (January 14, 1936 - December 16, 2014)

Imao was instrumental in popularizing the ukil, sarimanok and naga motifs in the
country as original Filipino creations. Using his sculptures and monuments of Muslim
and regional leaders and heroes, he has helped in developing trust and confidence
among cultural groups, which is needed in building a more humane community and
society.

 Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (June 6, 1932-February 2, 2011)

Alcuaz was mainly known for his oil and acrylic paintings, and sketches in ink, pencil,
and watercolor.

 Francisco Coching (January 29, 1919-September 1, 1998)

Tagged as the "Dean of Filipino Illustrators," Coching is best known for his work on
comic and illustrations which lead to its recognition as popular art. He has influenced
cartoonists such as Larry Alcala, Ben Infante and Nestor Redondo.
  Jose T. Joya (June 3, 1931-1995)
Joya is known for pioneering abstract expressionism in the Philippines. His most
notable work is the Granadean Arabesque (1958). He also represented the Philippines
in the 1964 Venice Biennial.

Architecture

 Pablo S. Antonio (January 25, 1902 - June 14, 1975)

Antonio is considered a pioneer in modern Philippine architecture. His works which
include Far Eastern University Administration and Science buildings and the Manila
Polo Club exhibit his "function over form" take on design. A prominent feature of his
designs is the use natural light and cross ventilation. According to Antonio, buildings
should be planned with austerity in mind and its stability forever as the aim of true
architecture, that buildings must be progressive, simple in design but dignified, true to a
purpose without resorting to an applied set of aesthetics and should eternally recreate
truth.

 Leandro V. Locsin (August 15, 1928 - November 15, 1994)

Locsin is most well known for the designs of the palace of the Sultan of Brunei, Istana
Nurul Iman and the five buildings of the CCP Complex namely the the Cultural Center of
the Philippines, Folk Arts Theater, Philippine International Convention Center, Philcite
and The Westin Hotel (now Sofitel Philippine Plaza). His designs usually features
themes of floating volume and a mix of both eastern and western aesthetics.

 Ildefonso P. Santos (September 5, 1929 - January 29, 2014)

Santos pioneered landscape architecture in the Philippines. His work in the Makati
Commercial Center incorporated fountains, sculputures and landcapes to a shopping
area. His works include Tagaytay Highland Resort, the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country
Club in Lipa, Batangas, and the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Imus, Cavite.
 LESSON 2: NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR LITERATURE

This lesson focuses on the roles and contributions of National Artists in Philippine
literature. Some of these writers focused on Philippine literature in the vernacular, while
others concentrated on Philippine literature in English At the time of this writing, there
are 13 National Artists for Literature. One National Artist focused on historical literature.

Historical Literature
 Carlos Quirino (November 4, 1910 - May 20, 1999)
Quirino is the first and, so far, the only National Artist for Historical Literature. He wrote
many articles and books covering Philippine history and culture, such as "Maps and
Views of Old Manila," "Magsaysay of the Philippines," "Lives of the Philippine
Presidents," and "Filipino Heritage: The Making of a Nation." He was also known for
writing "The Great Malayan," which is considered to be one of the earliest biographies
of Jose Rizal.

Literature
 Francisco Arcellana (September 6, 1916 - August 1, 2002)
Arcellana is a writer, poet, essayist, critic, journalist and teacher who is recognized as
one of the pioneers in writing modern Filipino short stories in English. He also originated
the lyrical prose-poetic form in writing short stories. His works include Frankie, The Man
Who Would Be Poe, Death in a Factory, Divided by Two, The Mats, This Being the
Third Poem This Poem is for Mathilda, To Touch You and I Touched Her, among
others.

 N.V.M. Gonzalez (September 8, 1915 - November 28, 1999)

Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez is a fictionist, essayist, poet, and teacher. He earned
numerous recognitions including the First Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940, the
Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1960 and the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining in 1990.
He also became U.P's International-Writer-In-Residence and a member of the Board of
Advisers of the U.P. Creative Writing Center. In 1987, U.P. conferred on him the Doctor
of Humane Letters, honoris causa, its highest academic recognition.
  Nick Joaquin (May 4, 1917 - April 29, 2004)
Joaquin is considered as the most distinguished Filipino writer in English writing. His
body of work extends from short stories to poems to essays which includes journalism
and reportage. He used the name Guerre Quijano de Manila as journalist. Among his
notable works are The Woman Who Had Two Navels, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino,
Manila, My Manila: A History for the Young, Rizal in Saga, Almanac for Manileños,
Cave and Shadows.

 F. Sionil Jose (December 3, 1924)

F. Sionil Jose is one of the most widely read Filipino writers. Among his most notable
works include the Rosales saga, which consists of The Pretenders, Tree, My Brother,
My Executioner, Mass, and Po-on. He is also the founder of the Philippine chapter of
the international organization PEN.

 Alejandro Roces (July 13, 1924 - May 23, 2011)

Roces is known for his comic short stories which include "My Brother's Peculiar
Chicken." He also lead the campaign to change the country's Independence Day from
July 4 to June 12.

 Edith L. Tiempo (April 22, 1919 - August 21, 2011)

Tiempo is poet, fictionist, teacher and literary critic who founded the Silliman National
Writers Workshop in Dumaguete City with her late husband Edilberto K. Tiempo. Her
published works include the novel A Blade of Fern (1978), The Native Coast (1979),
and The Alien Corn (1992); the poetry collections, The Tracks of Babylon and Other
Poems (1966), and The Charmer's Box and Other Poems (1993); and the short story
collection Abide, Joshua, and Other Stories (1964).

 Virgilio S. Almario (March 9, 1944)

Also known as Rio Alma, Almario is among the notable modernist poets. He reinvented
the traditional Filipino poetry forms. Among his works include Makinasyon and
Peregrinasyon, Doktrinang Anakpawis, Mga Retrato at Rekwerdo and Muli, Sa
Kandungan ng Lupa.
  Amado V. Hernandez (September 13, 1903-May 24, 1970)
Hernandez is known for his contribution in the development of the Tagalog prose
through the use of colloquial style. His works include Bayang Malaya, Isang Dipang
Langit, and Mga Ibong Mandaragit, which is the first Filipino socio-political novel that
tackled on agarian issues in the 50's.

 Carlos P. Romulo (January 14, 1899 - December 15, 1985)

Romulo's is noted as a diplomat and an awarded journalist. He is the first Asian
president of the United Nations General Assembly, and the only Asian to win the
Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for his articles on the World War II. He wrote and published
18 books including And I Walked with Heroes, and I See the Philippines Rise.

 Bienvenido Lumbera (April 11, 1932)

Lumbera is a multiawarded poet, critic and librettist. His works include Likhang Dila,
Likhang Diwa (poems in Filipino and English), 1993; Balaybay, Mga Tulang Lunot at
Manibalang, 2002; Sa Sariling Bayan, Apat na Dulang May Musika, 2004; Tales of the
Manuvu and Rama Hari.

 Cirilo F. Bautista (July 9, 1941)

Bautista is a poet, fictionist and essayist. He founded Philippine Literary Arts Council in
1981, the Iligan National Writers Workshop in 1993, and the Baguio Writers Group.
Aside from teaching literature in universities, he holds workshops and lectures
throughout the country.

 Lazaro Francisco (February 22, 1898-June 17, 1980)

Fransisco is among the prominent writers in the Tagalog language. He established the
Kapatiran ng mga Alagad ng Wikang Pilipino (KAWIKA) in 1958 to support Tagalog as
national language.

 Jose Garcia Villa (August 5, 1908 - July 7, 1997)

Villa is recognized as one of the best contemporary poets. He is best known for
introducing the reversed consonance rhyme scheme and his use of punctuation,
especially commas. He used the pen name Doveglion (Dove, Eagle, Lion).
LESSON 3: NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR DANCE, MUSIC, FILM, AND THEATER

This lesson describes the roles and contributions of National Artists in the performing
arts. At the time of this writing, there are 7 National Artists for Cinema/Film, 5 National
Artists for Dance, 12 National Artists for Music and 6 National Artists for Theater.

Cinema/Film

 Lamberto V. Avellana (February 12, 1915-April 25, 1991)

Avellana was tagged as the "The Boy Wonder of Philippine Movies" as early as 1939.
Kalderong Pilak was the first film by a Filipino filmmaker shown Cannes International
Film Festival. His works were recognized worldwide with awards such as Grand Prix at
the Asian Film Festival in Hong Kong for Anak Dalita (1956); Best Director of Asia
award in Tokyo for Badjao, among others.

 Manuel Conde (October 9, 1915 - August 11, 1985)

Conde is known for producing and directing films based on old Filipino tales as such as
Siete Infantes de Lara (1950), Si Juan Tamad (1947), Ang Ibong Adarna (1941). He
also brought to the silver screen stories from the other parts of the world like Genghis
Khan (1950).

 Eddie S. Romero (July 7, 1924-May 28, 2013)

Romero is a screenwriter, film director and producer who is behind the Filipino classics
such as "Ganito Kami Noon... Paano Kayo Ngayon?," "Banta ng Kahapon" and "Aguila"
as well as the 13-part series "Noli Me Tangere."

 Lino Brocka (April 3, 1939 - May 22, 1991)

Catalino "Lino" Ortiz Brocka is recognized for his his films which explores the lives of
people in the marginalized sectors. His films, which include, "Tinimbang Ka Ngunit
Kulang" (1974), "Insiang" (1976), "Bona" (1980), and "Maynila: Sa Kukong Liwanag"
(1975), garnered recognition not only in the country but also around world. Aside from
films, Brocka also directed for theater organizations such as the Philippine Educational
Theater Association (PETA) and the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP).

 Gerardo de Leon (September 12, 1913 - July 25, 1981)

De Leon is a prominent film maker in the 50s and 60's producing classics such as
"Daigdig ng Mga Api," "Noli Me Tangere," "El Filibusterismo," "Dyesebel" and "Sisa."

 Ishmael Bernal (September 30, 1938-June 2, 1996)

Bernal, who was hailed by the critics as "the genius of Philippine cinema," is known for
directing films that projects the realities of the Filipinos. His films such as "Himala"
(1982). "City After Dark" (1980), and "Nunal sa Tubig" (1976) are social commentaries
that reflect the struggles of the people and aim to addess the issues such as censorship
and justice to the oppressed. He was hailed as Director of the Decade of the 1970s by
the Catholic Mass Media Awards; four-time Best Director by the Urian Awards (1989,
1985, 1983, and 1977); and given the ASEAN Cultural Award in Communication Arts in
1993.

 Ronald Alan K. Poe (August 20, 1939 - December 14, 2004)

More popularly known as Fernando Poe, Jr., he is considered a icon of the film industry
working as an actor, director, writer and producer. He starred in a number of films like
Mga Alabok sa Lupa (1967), Totoy Bato (1977), Asedillo (1981), Partida (1985), Ang
Probisyano (1996) Ang Alamat (1972), Ang Pagbabalik ng Lawin (1975), the Panday
series (1980, 1981, 1982, 1984), Ang Kampana sa Santa Quiteria (1971), and
Alupihang Dagat (1975), among others.

Dance

 Francisca Reyes Aquino (March 9, 1899 - November 21, 1983)

She was best known for her research on Philippine folk dances, which later resulted to a
thesis entitled "Philippine Folk Dances and Games." This work was arranged and
distributed to public and private schools to be used by teachers and playground
instructors. She also became the supervisor of physical education at the Bureau of
Education during the 1940's. Her other works include "Philippine National Dances,"
"Gymnastic for Girls," and "Fundamental Dance Steps and Music."

 Leonor Orosa Goquingco (July 24, 1917-July 15, 2005)

Known as the "Mother of Philippine Theater Dance," Goquingco blended folkloric and
Asian styles in ballet choreography. In fact, she produced choreographies for 50 years,
including "TREND: Return to Native," "VINTA!," "Firebird," "Noli Dance Suite," and
"Filipinescas: Philippine Life, Legend and Lore," which is considered to be her most
ambitious work. She was also a founding member of the Philippine Ballet Theater and
the Honorary Chair of the Association of Ballet Academies of the Philippines.

 Ramon Obusan (June 16, 1938 - December 21, 2006)

A dancer, choreographer; artistic director, researcher, and documentary filmmaker,
Obusan utilized the art of dance for a deeper understanding of the Filipino culture. He
was able to promote Filipino culture in other countries using the art of dance through the
Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group. His choreographies include the following: "Vamos a
Belen! Series," "Unpublished Dances of the Philippines," "Glimpses of ASEAN, Dances
and Music of the ASEAN- Member Countries," and "Saplot: Philippine Costumes in
Dance."

 Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula (June 29, 1929 - August 24, 1999)

Reyes-Urtula was the dance director of the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company, for
which she choreographed different Philippine folk and ethnic dances, pageants and
festivals. Also a researcher and educator, she studied Philippine folk and ethnic dance
for almost four decades. Two of the dances she had staged were Singkil, which is
considered to be a signature work of the Bayanihan Dance Company, and Vinta, a
dance honoring the prowess of the Filipino in sailing

 Alice Reyes (October 14, 1942)

Reyes is known in blending styles and movements from Philippine indigenous dance,
classical ballet, and modern dance in expressing Filipino subject matters. This is said to
be the "contemporary dance language that is uniquely Filipino." She also made modern
dance popular in the country in 1970 after staging the first modern dance concert at the
Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Her major works include "At a
Maranaw Gathering" "Tales of the Manuvu," "Rama Hari," and "Bayanihan
Remembered." 04

Music

 Antonino Buenaventura (May 4, 1904 - January 25, 1996)

He was known for his marches including the "Triumphal March," "History Fantasy,"
"Echoes from the Philippines," and "Ode to Freedom." Together with National Artist for
Dance Francisca Reyes-Aquino, he did research on Philippine folksongs and dances.
He also wrote compositions for solo instruments, and symphonic and orchestral works,
which are based on Philippine folksongs. In addition to this, Buenaventura was also a
conductor of the Philippine Army Band, which he helped in restoring it to its former
glory.

 Ernani Cuenco (May 10, 1936 - June 11, 1988)

He was known for the following songs: "Bato sa Buhangin," "Gaano Kita Kamahal,"
"Inang Bayan," "Isang Dalangin," "Kalesa," and "Pilipinas." These works brought
contemporary Filipino music to a higher level. In fact, in the song "Gaano Kita
Kamahal," he added elements of kundiman to a Filipino love ballad. He played with the
Filipino Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Manila Symphony Orchestra from 1960 to
1968. He also played with the Manila Chamber Soloists from 1966 to 1970.

 Francisco Feliciano (February 19, 1941-September 19, 2014)

His major works include "Ashen Wings," "Sikhay sa Kabila ng Paalam," "La Loba
Negra," "Yerma," "Pamugun," and "Pokpok Alimako." He was known for the use of
modal scales in his operas and orchestral works. He was also able to fuse indigenous
music in his compositions. His compositions were noted to be technically demanding
when compared to those of western composers. In fact, some of the best choirs in the
country, including the Philippine Madrigal Singers, UST Singers, and Novo Concertante
Manila sang some of his choral compositions. These choral groups won awards in
international choral competitions for these.
  Jovita Fuentes (February 15, 1895 - August 7, 1978)
She was best known for her portrayal of Cio-cio San in Giacomo Puccini's Madame
Butterfly in Italy in April 1925. Her performances in Europe were acclaimed and placed
the Philippines on the map in terms of performing. When she returned to the
Philippines, she established the Artists' Guild of the Philippines in an effort to instill love
for opera in her countrymen. Jose Maceda (January 31, 1917 - May 5, 2004)

He conducted researches and fieldwork to explore Filipino traditional music further and
to understand the nature of Philippine ethnic and traditional music. His efforts gave birth
to a huge number of recorded Philippine ethnic and traditional music. He also wrote
compositions such as "Ugma-ugma," "Pagsamba," and "Udlot-udlot."

 Lucio San Pedro (February 11, 1913 - March 31, 2002)

Best known for his compositions "Sa Ugoy ng Duyan," "Sa Mahal Kong Bayan," "Dance
of the Fairies," "Triumphal March," and "Lahing Kayumanggi," Lucio San Pedro was the
conductor of the Peng Kong Grand Mason Concert Band, the San Pedro Band of
Angono, and the Banda Angono Numero Uno. Working with these bands and other
town bands helped in the development of a civic culture among Filipino communities.
He wrote many works of different musical genres including band music, cantatas, choral
compositions, concertos, chamber music, and vocal music.

 Levi Celerio (April 30, 1910-April 2, 2002)

Celerio is most known for his recognition as the only man who could play music with a
leaf in the Guinness Book of World Records. He also earned Lifetime Achievement
Award of the Film Academy of the Philippines for writing songs for local movies. He was
also known as the dean of filipino lyricists.

 Felipe Padilla de Leon (May 1, 1912 - December 5, 1992)

He was known for Filipinizing western music forms. His works, which include "Mariang
Makiling Overture," "Maynila Overture," "Payapang Daigdig," and "Ako'y Pilipino,"
expressed sentiments and aspirations of the Filipino in times of strife and peace.

 Lucrecia R. Kasilag (August 31, 1918 - August 16, 2008)

She was known for fusing Filipino ethnic music with Western musical influences. She
was also known for incorporating Filipino indigenous musical instruments in orchestral
works. These productions include "Toccata for Percussions and Winds, Divertissement
and Concertante," and the scores of the Filiasiana, Misang Pilipino and De Profundis.
Her other works include "Legend of the Sarimanok," "Ang Pamana," "Sisa," and "East
Meets Jazz Ethnika." She served as the president of the Cultural Center of the
Philippines for 17 years.

 Antonio J. Molina (December 16, 1894 - January 29, 1980)

An educator and musician, Molina was known for introducing the pentatonic scale,
whole tone scale, linear coounterpoints, and the use of dominant ninths and eleventh
chords in Philippine music. His most popular composition is a serenade for solo violin
and piano entitled "Hatinggabi". His other works include "Misa Antoniana" "Grand
Festival Mass," "String Quartet," "Kung sa lyong Gunita," and "Awit ni Maria Clara."

 Ramon P. Santos (February 25, 1941)

Santos is a Filipino composer, musicologist and ethnomusicologist who was made a
Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres in 1987. He helped in advocating modern
Philippine music that is still based on early Asian practices and way of life. He has been
instrumental in esponding a modern philippine music rooted in acient practices and
concept of life in Asian society.

 Andrea Veneracion (July 11, 1928-July 9, 2013)

She was the founder of the world-renowned University of the Philippines Madrigal
Singers, or simply the Philippine Madrigal Singers, which is the first choir in the world to
win the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice. Veneracion is also recognized as
an important authority in the development of Philippine choral music. She also
established musical education and exposure programs to reach out to some provinces.

Theater
 Daisy Avellana (January 26, 1917 - May 12, 2013)
She co-founded the Barangay Theatre Guild, together with her husband, National Artist
Lamberto Avellana, in 1939. This move made theatre and dramatic arts popular in the
country. Her portrayal of Candida Marasigan both in the stage and film versions of
"Portrait of the Artist as Filipino" by Nick Joaquin was highly remembered. She was
known as director of films "Diego Silang" (1968) and "Walang Sugat" (1971). She was
also known for her screenplays "Sakat" (1939) and "Portrait of the Artist as Filipino"
(1955).

 Honorata "Atang" dela Rama (January 11, 1902 - July 11, 1991)
She was named National Artist for Theater and Music in 1987. She was known as the
Queen of Kundiman, and the first actress to portray a 15-year-old in the very first
Tagalog film, which was the film version of the sarsuela "Dalagang Bukid." She
popularized kundiman and other songs such as "Kung libig Ka," "Ay, Ay Kalisud," and
"Mutya ng Pasig." She was also known for writing sarLas "Anak ni Eba" and "Puri at
Buhay." She believed that "the sarswela and the kundiman expresses best the Filipino
soul."

 Rolando S. Tinio (March 5, 1937 - July 7, 1997)

He was honored as National Artist both for theater and literature. He was known for his
works "Ang Mestisa," "Ana Maria," "Orosman at Zafira," "Larawan," and film scripts for
"Bayad Puri," "Gamitin Mo Ako," "Milagros," and "Now and Forever."

 Salvador F. Bernal (January 7, 1945 - October 26, 2011)

Honored as National Artist for Theater Design in 2003, Bernal used local materials
including bamboo, abaca, hemp twine, and rattan in theater design for local
productions. He organized the Philippine Association of Theater Designers and
Technicians (PATDAT) and the CCP Production Design Center. He was also
instrumental in promoting Philippine theater design through the PATDAT and the
Philippine Center of the International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects
and Technicians (OISTAT-Organization Internationale des Scenographes, Techniciens
et Architectes du Theatre).