FPJ's name omitted during National Artist conferment rites

The name of the late actor Ronald Allan Poe, more famous as Fernando Poe Jr, or FPJ, was left out Friday from the list of National Artists for 2006 when the names of the honorees were publicly announced during conferment rites in Malacañang. Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor quickly said Poe would still get his award as this year's National Artist for Film, preempting rumors Malacañang recalled the award because of political issues. "It's not the first time it will happen. There were instances when the recipient was still alive but was out of the country, so his name was not mentioned during the ceremonies. We have to observe protocol in giving the awards," he said. President Arroyo handed out plaques for the 2006 National Artist awards to and congratulated Bienvenido Lumbera for literature, Ramon Obusan for dance, Benedicto Cabrera for the visual arts, and Ildefonso Santos for architecture. Lourdes Valera-Gueta received the National Artist for Fashion Design award for her late brother Ramon Valera. The conferment rites took place at the Ceremonial Hall at the Malacañang Palace. Defensor said the refusal of actress Susan Roces-Poe, the actor's widow, to attend the conferment rites or to send a relative to represent her was the only reason why FPJ's name was not mentioned. Mrs. Poe earlier wrote a letter to Nestor Jardin, president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), wherein she said it would be "a grave dishonor" if she accepted the award from President Arroyo, whom she has accused of stealing the presidency from Poe. "The Poe family does not wish to diminish the value of this award by accepting it from Mrs. Arroyo. I cannot in all conscience go through the motions of [attending] the awarding ceremonies just for public display," she said. Poe ran against Mrs. Arroyo in the May 2004 presidential elections. He lost the presidential race amid allegations that the Arroyo camp cheated the election results. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita appealed to the public to stop imputing politics into the recognition award given to Poe. "Huwag na nating pinturahan ng politika ang bagay na ito," GMA 7's DZBB quoted Ermita as saying. He said Mrs. Poe or any of the Poe family members could get the actor's plaque from Malacanañg anytime. Eddie Romero, a friend of the Poes and also a National Artist laureate for film, said he was saddened with Malacanang's decision to bar him from receiving the late actor’s award on behalf of his family. He insisted the grant of the National Artist for Film recognition to Poe "underwent the natural process for the choice of National Artist awardees… there were no political considerations." Malacañang proclaimed Poe a National Artist for Film on the recommendation of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) board and the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA). The Order of National Artists is the highest national recognition given to Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the arts. Poe is known in the local entertainment industry as the "King of Philippine Movies." He died in December 2004 after suffering a stroke. The other awardees are expected to attend the "Gabi ng Parangal" at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Friday night.-GMANews.TV