Declaring Raymundo "Ryan" Cayabyab, Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio, Lauro "Larry" Alcala (Posthumous), Resil B. Mojares, Ramon L. Muzones (Posthumous), Eric De Guia and Francisco Mañosa as National Artists for 2018

October 24, 2018

PROCLAMATION NO. 606

DECLARING RAYMUNDO "RYAN" CAYABYAB, AMELIA LAPEÑA-BONIFACIO, LAURO "LARRY" ALCALA (POSTHUMOUS), RESIL B. MOJARES, RAMON L. MUZONES (POSTHUMOUS), ERIC DE GUIA AND FRANCISCO MAÑOSA AS NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR 2018

WHEREAS, the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines provides for the patronage of 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; SDHTEC

WHEREAS, the works and achievements of Ryan Cayabyab as a composer, arranger, and musical director reflect a perspective of music that extols the exuberance of life and human happiness, thus capturing the very essence of the Filipino soul;

WHEREAS, as a playwright, theater director, painter, teacher, set and puppet designer, Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio's achievements have sparked today's renaissance of writing for children and young adults, and reanimated the world of theater and literature for Filipino children;

WHEREAS, the works of Larry Alcala, consisting of entertaining and humorous images of everyday Filipino life which have been widely circulated for decades, has served as a mirror of Filipino society, exposing society's ills while also projecting the best in our people and country;

WHEREAS, the works and achievements of Resil B. Mojares as a teacher, scholar, essayist, fictionist, and historian brought about the promotion of regional literature and history, as well as the formation of Cebuano and national identity;

WHEREAS, as a Hiligaynon poet, essayist, short story writer, critic, grammarian, editor, lexicographer, and novelist, Ramon Muzones extended with remarkable versatility and inventiveness the scope and style of the Hiligaynon novel, and has deeply enriched Hiligaynon literature;

WHEREAS, Eric de Guia (Kidlat Tahimik) epitomized the possibilities of alternative modes of filmmaking and the artisanal form of production and pioneered the postcolonial essay film that calls on Filipinos to actively live out their independence from western imperialism;

WHEREAS, Francisco T. Mañosa passionately created original Filipino forms and spaces with intricate and refined details and developed a legacy of Philippine architecture that has greatly enhanced the Filipino identity;

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 Raymundo "Ryan" Cayabyab, Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio, Lauro "Larry" Alcala (posthumous), Resil B. Mojares, Ramon L. Muzones (posthumous), Eric De Guia and Francisco Mañosa, 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 24th day of October, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Eighteen. AScHCD