As one of his last proclamations as president of the Philippines, President Aquino announced the addition of nine new National Artists this month, six of whom were awarded posthumously.
President Aquino poses with (from left) National Artists Bienvenido Lumbera (literature), Benedicto Cabrera (visual arts), Virgilio Almario (literature) and Order of National Artist awardees Manuel Jun Urbano (son of Manuel Conde, film, posthumous), Alicia Reyes (dance), Rebecca Feliciano (wife of Francisco Feliciano, music, posthumous), Filomena Coching (wife of Francisco Coching, visual arts, posthumous), Cirilo Bautista (literature), Ramon Santos (music), Pilar Zaragoza (wife of Jose Maria Zaragoza, architecture, posthumous), Raphael Francisco (son of Lazaro Francisco, literature, posthumous) and Christian Alcuaz (son of Federico Alcuaz, visual arts, posthumous) | Photo by KRIZJOHN ROSALES
Awardees from 2009:
- Federico Aguilar Alcuáz for Visual Arts (posthumous)
- Manuel Conde for Film and Broadcast (posthumous)
- Lazaro Francisco for Literature (posthumous)
Awardees from 2009:
- Cirilo Bautista for Literature
- Francisco V. Coching for Visual Arts (posthumous)
- Francisco Feliciano for Music (posthumous)
- Alice Reyes for Dance
- Ramon Santos for music
- José Maria Zaragoza for architecture (posthumous)
“Over the years, you have served as a bright example and inspiration for the next generation,†Aquino said in Filipino. “Though you have reached the peak of your endeavor, this does not stop you from pursuing excellence in your chosen field or profession,†he concluded.
