Declaring Agnes D. Locsin, Salvacion Lim-Higgins, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, etc. as National Artists for 2022

June 10, 2022

PROCLAMATION NO. 1390

DECLARING AGNES D. LOCSIN, SALVACION LIM-HIGGINS (POSTHUMOUS), MARILOU DIAZ-ABAYA (POSTHUMOUS), RICARDO "RICKY" LEE, NORA CABALTERA VILLAMAYOR, GEMINO H. ABAD, FIDES CUYUGAN-ASENSIO, AND ANTONIO "TONY" MABESA AS NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR 2022

WHEREAS, the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines provides for patronage of the arts and letters by the State;

WHEREAS, the Order of National Artists was established under Proclamation No. 1001 (s. 1972) to give appropriate recognition and prestige to Filipinos who have distinguished themselves and made outstanding contributions to Philippine arts and letters;

WHEREAS, the Order of National Artists is the highest national recognition conferred upon Filipinos who have made distinct contributions to the development and promotion of Philippine arts and culture;

WHEREAS, the order of National Artists is jointly administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), by virtue of Proclamation No. 1144 (s. 1973) and Republic Act No. 7356 or the "Law Creating the National Commission for Culture and the Arts";

WHEREAS, Executive Order (EO) No. 236 (s. 2003), as amended by EO No. 435 (s. 2005), provides that the NCCA and the CCP shall advise the President on the conferment of the Order of National Artists;

WHEREAS, the works and achievements of Agnes D. Locsin in the field of dance spurred a growing interest in neo-ethnic style among young artists;

WHEREAS, Salvacion Lim-Higgins masterly innovated and transformed the national costume into a world-class silhouette, inspiring generations of Filipino designers;

WHEREAS, the works of award-winning film and television director and screenwriter Marilou Diaz-Abaya, which probe human experiences drawn from social conflicts among characters of contradictory beliefs and values systems, formed part of the "Second Golden Age of Cinema";

WHEREAS, as a prolific screenwriter for film and television, journalist, playwright, and prize-winning fictionist, Ricardo Lee wrote iconic films that formed part of the "Second Golden Age of Philippine Cinema";

WHEREAS, the works of award-winning actress Nora Cabaltera Villamayor in the field of film and broadcast arts depicted the everyday realities and aspirations of the common man in some of the most important Filipino films;

WHEREAS, the works of Gemino H. Abad, consisting of historical anthologies, provide future generations with a comprehensive view of the landscape of Philippine poetry and fiction;

WHEREAS, the works and achievements of Fides Cuyugan-Asensio in the field of opera contributed greatly to a Renaissance of classical musical theater in the country;

WHEREAS, the works of Antonio Mabesa as a director, actor, and teacher greatly contributed to the growth and diversity of Philippine theater;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, upon the joint recommendation of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, do hereby declare Agnes D. Locsin, Salvacion Lim-Higgins (posthumous), Marilou Diaz-Abaya (posthumous), Ricardo "Ricky" Lee, Nora Cabaltera Villamayor, Gemino H. Abad, Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, and Antonio "Tony" Mabesa, as National Artists, with the privileges and emoluments attached thereto.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 10th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Two.

 

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 118, No. 25, p. 7196 on June 20, 2022.