NCCA issues statement on reported National Artists nominees list
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has issued a statement regarding the reported list of nominees for the coveted National Artists Award.
Earlier reports that have appeared on newspapers and news websites have mentioned the names of the late actor Eddie Garcia, renowned screenwriter Ricky Lee, and multi-awarded actress and Lipa, Batangas congresswoman Vilma Santos, and fashion designers Pitoy Moreno and Ben Farrales, and musician Joey Ayala, as among those being considered for this year's honor.
The NCCA, through a statement released today, March 30, clarified that no official list has been released yet contrary to the news that came out since last week.
Here is the NCCA's full statement:
“On articles circulating about the National Artists Award nominees.
“The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) wish to clarify that both organizations have not released any official list or made any announcement of an official list of nominees for the Order of National Artist (ONA) as implied in several social media posts circulating online.
“The Selection of National Artists is a lengthy process that is undertaken with utmost care and diligence, ensuring the integrity of the whole process. The following are the process being undertaken:
1. Call for Nomination where the organizations, public or private shall submit name of their nominee in the official nomination form accompanied by the resolution from their board. The deadline for submission was set last February 28, 2021.
2. Technical review by the ONA Secretariat for completeness of the submitted documents and compliance to the guidelines.
3. Research and documentation, a process which shall take about 6 months where each nominee shall be designated a researcher to undertake thorough review of the accomplishments following the set criteria in order to guide the jury at the different levels of deliberation.
4. First level of deliberation by the Council of Experts involves 7 members identified from among the experts in the category or discipline that nominees are being nominated.
5. Second level of deliberation by Jury of Experts involves 24 experts with 3 representatives from each category; that is architecture, film and broadcast arts, dance, music, literary arts, visual arts, theatre, design.
6. Third level of deliberation by the NCCA Board of Commissioners and CCP Board of Trustees together with the living national artists.
“The list of recommended names for the Order of National Artist will be submitted to the Office of the President for the deliberation before the Office of the President makes its declaration of the new set of national artists.”
The National Artists Awards are given to Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts in the fields of Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film, Broadcast Arts, Fashion, Architecture and Allied Arts.
The order is jointly administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the CCP, and conferred by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation by both institutions.
Past recipients of the coveted honor include Fernando Amorsolo (visual arts - painting), Nick Joaquin (literature), Atang de la Rama (theater - music), Lino Brocka (film), Levi Celerio (music - literature), Ishmael Bernal (film), Ang Kiukok (visual arts - painting), Benedicto “Bencab” Cabrera (visual arts - painting), Fernando Poe Jr. (film), Kidlat Tahimik (film and broadcast arts), and Ryan Cayabyab (music), among many others.
There are three key elements cited by the NCCA for an individual to get the honor: made noteworthy contributions to the cultural heritage of the country; have achieved artistic accomplishments and promoted creative expression that helped develop national cultural identity; and have dedicated their lives to their works to forge new paths for future generations of local artists.