Invalidated National Artists caught in 'political crossfire' - Carlo Caparas

(Updated 11:56 a.m.) - Filipino comics author Carlo J. Caparas said that he had been caught in a “political crossfire” when the Supreme Court on Tuesday invalidated his and three others' designation as National Artists.

The Supreme Court nullified then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's 2009 order to name Caparas, Cecilia Guidote-Alvarez, Francisco Mañosa and Jose "Pitoy" Moreno National Artists for Visual Arts and Film, Theater, Architecture, and Fashion Design respectively, as they had not been among the nominees shortlisted by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

The high court said Arroyo had disregarded the rules in selecting the awardees and showed them preferential treatment.

“Sa panig ko, wala akong alam sa anumang proseso dahil wala naman tayo doon at wala rin ako sa loob ng Palasyo nung nagkaroon ng proklamasyon para sa amin bilang pambansang alagad ng sining,” said Caparas in a radio interview on dzBB Wednesday.

"Kaya minsan, nakakalungkot lang na maramdaman mong may tama ka pala, nang hindi mo alam kung saan galing ang putok, ano?” he said. “[H]uwag na lang sigurong masyadong ikalungkot, bagama't siyempre tao lang tayo at mararamdaman natin 'yang tama ng bala sa isang political crossfire na matatawag natin."

Caparas added that he did not ask for the award.

"Ipinagkaloob lang sa amin 'to na hindi namin hiningi kaya 'di namin alam kung ano 'yung pinagdaraanang proseso...Mabuting mamamayan tayo na sumusunod sa batas. Kinikilala natin 'yung liderato ng bansa. Kailangan sundin kung ano ang batas," he said.

Caparas also had words of advice for aspiring artists, making a reference to “elitists” who would confer an honor on others only to take it away again.

"Sa mga nangangarap maging manunulat sa komiks, pelikula, telebisyon, maging direktor... at isa kang mahirap at hindi ka kabilang sa mga elitista, sa mga miyembro ng academe, nanganganib ka na pagdating ng araw na bigyan ka ng parangal, eh... bigyan ka rin nila ng ikakasakit ng loob mo, at ng mga kapintasang 'di mo alam na kapintasan mo pala, na nagmumula sa kanila na miyembro ng mga elitistang matatawag."

GMA News Online sought comment from Mañosa, Moreno and Guidote-Alvarez, but none have replied as of posting time. — Vida Cruz/DVM, GMA News