Nat'l artist controversy may end up in SC

The controversy over President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s choice of national artists may end up in the Supreme Court. But Malacanang said the President intends to bestow the honors anyway after the 10-day mourning period for Cory Aquino. A leading artists group led by National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera is considering filing a case in the high tribunal to stop Mrs. Arroyo from officially bestowing the country’s highest artistic honors on two individuals. Lumbera, chairman of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines, told GMANews.TV on Friday that his group and other artists “might seek court injunction against the proclamation of the new national artists," particularly Cecile Guidote Alvarez and Carlo Caparas. Alvarez and Caparas were not included on the final list of national artist nominees submitted to President Arroyo by the joint committee of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, according to Lumbera, a member of the NCCA and CCP final selection panel. Alvarez, who will be conferred the title national artist for theater if the ceremony pushes through as planned, heads the NCAA secretariat that receives nominations for national artists. Guidelines in the nominations for national artists state that “NCCA and CCP Board members and consultants and NCCA and CCP officers and staff are automatically disqualified from being nominated." But Alvarez said she was entitled to the award. “Before you make a judgment, read my achievements first as an artist. Was I an idiot before I became a national artist?" a combative Alvarez told GMANews.TV in an earlier interview. Alvarez said her recognition included the Ramon Magsaysay public service award for the arts that she received in 1972, the CCP Gawad Sining Award for Literature, and the Outstanding Women in the Nation's Services for her contributions in promoting Philippine art and culture. She denied lobbying for the award, saying President Arroyo “never talked to me about it." Alvarez said the President has the prerogative to pick other national artists not included on the NCCA and CCP shortlist. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Alvarez “didn’t deliberate on herself… She was chosen." Caparas, comic book writer-turned-movie director and producer, was twice rejected by two NCCA panels, Lumbera said. “He (Caparas) was first proposed as a nominee for literature, but the committee rejected him. He was again proposed as nominee for visual artist but the panel again turned him down." Caparas took a swipe at those questioning his recognition, and even likened his “victory" to Philippine politics. "Parang election fever, nung matapos ang ganoon, lahat ng natatalo, magkakaroon ng hinanakit ng protesta (As in an election fever, the losers will have grievances and protests)," he said. Caparas also lashed back at Lumbera, whom he said he lauded in 2006. "Ngayon naman ako ang mahirang, di siya (Lumbera) pumapalakpak, kundi pumuputak (Now that I’m the one who was awarded, he is yakking instead of clapping)," Caparas said. [See: Caparas hits back at critics]
Lumbera said lawyer Lorna Kapunan, member of the CCP Board of Trustees, suggested the filing of the case before the high tribunal. Kapunan confirmed to GMANews.TV Friday night that she had talked to Lumbera about the possibility of legal action to prevent President Arroyo from officially proclaiming Guidote and Caparas as National Artists. She said theater director Behn Cervantes has also been coordinating with Gary Tiongco, president of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association, about the plan to file an injunction. Kapunan said that if the filing of the case pushes through, she would include herself on the list of petitioners. She said the injunction “will prevent the proclamation" of the new national artists and make the Supreme Court clarify whether the President indeed has the right to exercise prerogative over the selection of national artists. “(We should file the case) hopefully as soon as possible before the issue becomes moot and academic," said Kapunan. . Acting executive secretary and presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said last August 2 that the conferment of the Order of National Artists might take place after the 10-day mourning for former President Corazon Aquino. (See: National artists to be awarded after Cory burial) - ARCS, GMANews.TV