The pinnacle of artistic achievement in the Philippines is when you are named a National Artist. This is the reward given to the best and brightest of the nation’s artists—those who have truly given their lives to their art across decades and, in so doing, have kept our arts dynamic and true to the soul of our people.
In the field of music, students get to know the lives and works of our National Artists for Music through subjects taught to them.
From grades 7 to to 12, music education requires learning the elements of music across topics as diverse as Philippine Music, Asian Music, Western Classical Music, Popular Music and the Contemporary Philippine Music. Even the senior high school curriculum has subject called Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions in the Philippines that contains information about our National Artists.
According to the Department of Education’s K to 12 material Horizons Grade 10 Learner’s Materials – Music and Arts Appreciation for Young Filipinos, “contemporary music in the Philippines refers to compositions that have adopted ideas and elements from 20th century art music in the west, as well as the latest trends and musical styles in the entertainment industry.”
From the early 1500s to the late 1800s, Spain, then America, colonized the Philippines—we like to call it three centuries in the convent and half a century in Hollywood. It was inevitable that Western compositional styles found their way into the works of Filipino musicians. Cultural cross-pollination is to be expected in these situations.
Even 20th century Filipino composers have incorporated some traditional elements in their integration of Western styles. In fact, they have developed the concrete fundamentals of what we now recognize as Philippine music.
The National Artists for Music among the 20th century traditional composers include Antonio J. Molina, Antonio Buenaventura, Lucio San Pedro and Felipe Padilla de Leon. That does not make their music any less Filipino—especially when you see that Filipinos are a melting pot of cultures and genetics that include Spanish, American, Indon, Malay and Chinese, as well as indigenous heritages.
NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR MUSIC
The National Artists for Music who are among the New Music Composers include Lucrecia Kasilag, Jose Maceda, Ramon Santos and Francisco Feliciano. Their experimental new music has retained the Filipino essence by integrating the traditional music practices as well as the indigenous rhythm and indigenous musical instruments in their artistic works.
The National Artists for Music among the 20th century song composers and lyricists are Levi Celerio and Ernani Cuenco. They fashioned unforgettable artistic styles of traditional Filipino love songs, music for the cinemas buy legal steroids in usa and materials for modern arrangements and concert performance. Oh, and Celerio composed and played music with leaves. Let that sink in for a while.
Filipinos study the lives and works of National Artists and, in the case of National Artists for Music, practice their well-known works and musical styles. Here are brief notes on the 13 National Artists for Music:
Antonio J. Molina (1894 – 1980), a music educator and 20th century traditional composer. He was the first National Artist for Music, date conferred in 1973. His sample works were Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass and Ang Batingaw.
Jovita Fuentes (1895-1978), a broadway singer, date conferred in 1976. She sang the roles of Liu Yu in Puccini’s Turnadot and Mimi in Puccini’s La Boheme.
Honorata “Atang” dela Rama (1902-1991), a kundiman singer who was named National Artist for Music and Theater in 1987. Her sample works are Dalagang Bukid and Pangarap ni Rosa.
Antonio Buenaventura (1904-1996), a 20th century traditional composer and conductor who was named National Artist for Music in 1988. His sample works are the Triumphal March and Echoes of the Past.
Lucrecia R. Kasilag (1918-2008), a music educator and new music composer who was named National Artist for Music 1989. Her sample works are Toccata for Percussions of Winds, Divertissement and Concertante—works that integrate indigenous Filipino musical instruments into their composition.
Lucio San Pedro (1913-1996), a 20th century traditional composer and conductorwho was named National Artist in 1991. His sample works are The Devil’s Bridge and the Malakas at Maganda Overture.
Felipe Padilla de Leon (1912-1992), a 20th century traditional composer, who was named National Artist for Music posthumously in 1997. His sample works are Mariang Makiling Overture and Roca Encantada.
Levi Celerio (1910-2002), a prolific lyricist and 20th century song composer who was named National Artist for Music and Literature in 1997. His sample works are O Maliwanag na Buwan (Iloko), Ako ay May Singsing (Pampango) and Alibangbang (Visayan). He is notable as the only person to make music using just a leaf, a feat recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Jose Maceda (1917-2004), a new music composer, became National Artist for Music in 1997. His sample work was Ugma-ugma and Pagsamba.
Ernani J. Cuenco (1936-1988), a 20th century song composer who was named National Artist for Music posthumously in 1999. His sample works are Nahan, Kahit na Magtiis and Diligin Mo ng Hamog ang Uhaw na Lupa.
Andrea Veneracion (1928-2013), a choirmaster who received National Artist honors in 1999. She directed the the Madrigal Singers and taught them to sing in their signature semi-circle arrangement.
Francisco Feliciano (1917-2014) a new music composer, date conferred in 2014. His sample works are Ashen Wings and Sikhay sa Kabila ng Paalam.
Ramon P. Santos (born 1941), a new music composer who was named National Artist for Music in 2014. His sample work is Pangahoy and L’Bad.
Our National Artists for Music have contributed greatly to a contemporary Filipino repertoire in which musical pieces were been written in 20th century stylistic expressions. They developed such musical movements as impressionism, expressionism, neo-classicism, avant garde and new music and made these of works very strong expressions of the Filipino soul.
HIGHEST HONOR CRITERIA
The National Artist award is the highest national honor for excellence in the fields of the music, dance, theater, architecture, visual arts, literature, film, design, and allied arts (like fashion design, historical literature, and cinema). This honor is bestowed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendations of the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). The National Artist award was created through the Presidential Proclamation No. 1001, signed by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos on April 27, 1972.
The first Filipino to be named National Artist was poet, playwright and former Philippines Graphic editor-in-chief Nick Joaquin—and his award was given with no specific art attached to the title—Joaquin was simply named “National Artist.”
From the time when the National Artist awards were created in 1972, 66 Filipino artists have been acknowledged. Only nine are still alive. After Joaquin, painter Fernando Amorsolo was named National Artist in 1972. He was named the “Grand Old Man of the Philippines Art.” The most number of recognized National Artists worked in the fields of Visual Arts, Literature and Music.
National Artist nominees must have Filipino citizenship. They must have accomplished contributions of distinction in the practice of their art forms, work that has built the awareness of the Filipino audience. The nominees must also have received prestigious awards internationally, and locally, for their artistic style or expression. The nominee must also be known for excellence in their pioneering styles and distinctive works—excellence that has influenced and continues to influence artists in their fields.
The National Artist Award Secretariat issued its call for nominations on June 7, 2017 for the 2018 Order of National Artists. The deadline for the submission of nominations was Sept. 30, 2017.
There will be three rounds of deliberations, a tedious process. The first deliberation brings together experts from the different art fields who will prepare a short-list of nominees, as well as gather the information and data they need to study the work of each nominee.
The second deliberation involves having the National Artist Award Panel of Experts and Jury of Experts, as well as the National Artists who are still alive among the panel members who will screen, deliberate and decide on the final list of nominees.
The third deliberation is be done by the Board of Trustees of the CPP, the Commissioners of the NCAA, and the living National Artists who will narrow the short-lists into a final lis.
This final list is submitted to the President of the Philippines, who makes the final selection and issues a Presidential Proclamation naming the new National Artists of the Philippines. This announcement from the Office of the President is expected to come out on June 11.
There are benefits besides the prestige of the rank and title of National Artist, as proclaimed by the President. The insignia of the Order of National Artists and a citation with a gold-plated medallion minted by the Banco Sentral ng Pilipinas is one benefit.
The National Artist awardee is provided with a lifetime emolument of material and physical benefits comparable in value to those of the highest government officials: Living awardees will receive a cash award of P100,000, net of taxes. The legal heirs of posthumous awardees will receive acash award of P75,000, net of taxes.
The National Artist receives a monthly pension for life, as well as medical and hospitalization support. If the awardee is still insurable, life insurance coverage is provided to him or her.
National Artists always have a place of honor, in line with the protocol of precedence, at state functions, and are given due recognition at cultural events they attend.
At his or her demise, the National Artist is given a state funeral, and burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. The devotion of their lives to excellence in their chosen art, after all, is heroism at its peacetime finest.
Sampaguita B. Flores-Nepomuceno finished her bachelor’s degree in commerce and music education with piano principal at St. Scholastica’s College, Manila, where she is taking her M.A. in music education. She teaches piano and voice lessons to children with autism as well as neurotypical students in Las Pinas City.
Ufanisi wa Ufilipino unajulikana sana kwa kuwa unaitwa National Artist. Hii ni tuzo inayotolewa kwa wasanii bora na wenye akili zaidi wa taifa, wale ambao kwa kweli wameweka maisha yao kwa sanaa yao kwa miongo kadhaa na, kwa kufanya hivyo, wamehifadhi sanaa zetu zenye nguvu na kweli kwa roho ya watu wetu. Katika uwanja wa muziki, wanafunzi wanajua maisha na kazi za Wasanii wetu wa Kitaifa wa Muziki kupitia masomo yanayofundishwa kwao. Katika darasa la saba hadi la kumi na mbili, elimu ya muziki inahitaji kujifunza mambo ya muziki katika mada mbalimbali kama vile muziki wa Ufilipino, muziki wa Asia, muziki wa Magharibi, muziki maarufu na muziki wa kisasa wa Ufilipino. "Hata katika masomo ya shule ya sekondari kuna somo linaloitwa ""Sana za kisasa za Ufilipino kutoka maeneo ya Ufilipino"" ambalo lina habari kuhusu wasanii wetu wa kitaifa." "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika makala ya ""K-12 vifaa Horizons"" ya Shule ya 10 ""Muziki na Sanaa Appreciation kwa vijana wa Filipino,"" muziki wa kisasa katika Ufilipino inahusu nyimbo ambazo zimepitisha mawazo na vipengele kutoka kwa muziki wa sanaa wa karne ya 20 katika magharibi, pamoja na mwenendo wa hivi karibuni na mitindo ya muziki katika sekta ya burudani." Ilikuwa jambo lisiloepukika kwamba mitindo ya muziki ya Magharibi iliingia katika kazi za wanamuziki Wafilipino. Uchafuzi wa kitamaduni unatarajiwa katika hali hizo. Hata wanamuziki wa karne ya 20 wa Filipino wameingiza baadhi ya mambo ya kitamaduni katika kuunganisha mitindo ya Magharibi. Kwa kweli, wametengeneza misingi halisi ya kile tunachokitambua sasa kuwa muziki wa Ufilipino. "Wachezaji wa muziki wa karne ya 20 ni pamoja na Antonio J. Molina, Antonio Buenaventura, Lucio San Pedro na Felipe Padilla de Leon.""" Hiyo haifanyi muziki wao kuwa mdogo zaidi wa Kifilipino - haswa unapoona kwamba Wafilipino ni chungu cha utamaduni na maumbile ambayo ni pamoja na Kihispania, Amerika, Indonesia, Malay na Kichina, pamoja na urithi wa wenyeji. Wanachama wa kikundi cha National Artists for Music, ambao ni miongoni mwa Watunzi wa Muziki Mpya, ni pamoja na Lucrecia Kasilag, Jose Maceda, Ramon Santos na Francisco Feliciano. Muziki wao mpya wa majaribio umedumisha kiini cha Kifilipino kwa kuunganisha mazoea ya muziki wa jadi na vile vile wimbo wa asili na vyombo vya muziki vya asili katika kazi zao za kisanii. "Wachezaji wa muziki wa kitaifa wa karne ya 20 ni ""Levi Celerio na Ernani Cuelco.""" "Waliunda mitindo ya kisanii isiyoweza kusahaulika ya nyimbo za upendo za jadi za Kifilipino, muziki kwa sinema, na vifaa kwa ajili ya mipango ya kisasa na maonyesho ya tamasha.""" Oh, na Celerio alitunga na kucheza muziki kwa majani. Acha hilo liwe ndani yako kwa muda. Wafilipino hujifunza maisha na kazi za Wasanii wa Kitaifa na, katika kesi ya Wasanii wa Kitaifa wa Muziki, hujifunza kazi zao zinazojulikana na mitindo ya muziki. "Mwanzoni mwa karne ya 20 Antonio J. Molina (1894 - 1980) alikuwa mwanamuziki, msanii na mtunzi wa muziki wa karne ya 20.""" Alikuwa msanii wa kwanza wa taifa kwa muziki, tarehe iliyopewa katika 1973. Kazi zake za mfano zilikuwa Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass na Ang Batingaw. Jovita Fuentes (1895-1978), mwimbaji wa Broadway, tarehe iliyopewa katika 1976. Aliimba majukumu ya Liu Yu katika Puccini's Turnadot na Mimi katika Puccini's La Boheme. Honorata Atang Dila Rama (1902-1991) alikuwa mwimbaji wa muziki wa Kundiman na msanii wa muziki wa Taifa wa Muziki na Uigizaji. Kazi zake za mfano ni Dalagang Bukid na Pangarap ni Rosa. Antonio Buenaventura (1904-1996) alikuwa mwanamuziki wa muziki wa karne ya 20 na kiongozi wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki. Kazi zake za mfano ni Triumphal March na Echoes of the Past. Lucrecia R. Kasilag (1918-2008) alikuwa msanii wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki. Kazi zake za sampuli ni Toccata kwa Percussions of Winds, Divertissement na Concertante <unk> kazi ambazo huunganisha vyombo vya muziki vya asili vya Ufilipino katika muundo wao. Lucio San Pedro (1913-1996), mtunzi wa muziki wa karne ya 20, alipewa jina la National Artist mwaka 1991. Kazi zake za mfano ni The Devil's Bridge na Malakas katika Maganda Overture. Felipe Padilla de Leon (1912-1992) alikuwa mtunzi wa muziki wa karne ya 20, ambaye alipewa jina la National Artist for Music baada ya kifo chake. Kazi zake za mfano ni Mariang Makiling Overture na Roca Encantada. Levi Celerio (1910-2002) alikuwa mwandishi wa nyimbo na mtunzi wa nyimbo wa karne ya 20, ambaye aliteuliwa kuwa Msanii wa Kitaifa wa Muziki na Fasihi mnamo 1997. Kazi zake za mfano ni O Maliwanag na Buwan (Iloko), Ako ay May Singsing (Pampango) na Alibangbang (Visayan). Yeye ndiye mtu pekee aliyetengeneza muziki kwa kutumia jani moja tu, jambo ambalo limeorodheshwa katika Kitabu cha Rekodi za Ulimwengu cha Guinness. Jose Maceda (1917-2004) alikuwa mwanamuziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki. Mfano wa kazi yake ulikuwa Ugma-ugma na Pagsamba. Ernani J. Cuenco (1936 - 1988) alikuwa mwanamuziki wa muziki wa karne ya 20 ambaye alipewa jina la National Artist for Music baada ya kifo chake mwaka 1999. Kazi zake za mfano ni Nahan, Kahit na Magtiis na Diligin Mo ng Hamog ang Uhaw na Lupa. Andrea Venera (1928-2013) alikuwa mwanamuziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki. Alielekeza Waimbaji wa Madrigal na kuwafundisha kuimba katika mpangilio wao wa safu ya nusu mviringo. Francisco Feliciano (1917-2014) ni mtunzi wa muziki mpya. Kazi zake za mfano ni Ashen Wings na Sikhay sa Kabila ng Paalam. Ramon P. Santos (kuzaliwa 1941) ni mtunzi wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki wa muziki. Kazi yake ya mfano ni Pangahoy na L<unk>Bad. "Wafanyabiashara wa muziki wa kitaifa wamechangia sana repertoire ya kisasa ya Kifilipino, ambapo vipande vya muziki viliandikwa katika usemi wa mtindo wa karne ya 20.""" Wameendeleza harakati za muziki kama vile Impressionism, Expressionism, Neo-Classicism, Avant-Garde na Muziki Mpya na kufanya kazi hizi kuwa maonyesho yenye nguvu sana ya roho ya Ufilipino. Tuzo ya National Artist ni tuzo ya kitaifa ya juu zaidi kwa ubora katika nyanja za muziki, densi, ukumbi wa michezo, usanifu, sanaa za kuona, fasihi, filamu, kubuni, na sanaa zinazohusiana (kama muundo wa mitindo, fasihi ya kihistoria, na sinema). Tuzo hiyo inapewa na Rais wa Ufilipino kwa mapendekezo ya Tume ya Kitaifa ya Utamaduni na Sanaa (NCCA) na Kituo cha Utamaduni cha Ufilipino (CCP). Tuzo ya Msanii wa Kitaifa ilianzishwa kupitia Tangazo la Rais Nambari. "Mkataba wa Usalama wa Dunia wa 1001 uliosainiwa na Rais Ferdinand E. Marcos tarehe 27 Aprili 1972.""" "Mwandishi wa kwanza wa filipino kupewa jina la ""Mchoraji wa Taifa"" alikuwa mshairi, mwandishi wa michezo na mhariri mkuu wa zamani wa Filipino, Nick Joaquin, na tuzo yake ilitolewa bila sanaa maalum iliyoambatanishwa na jina la ""Mchoraji wa Taifa"" - kutoka wakati tuzo za National Artist zilipoundwa mnamo 1972." Ni tisa tu ambao bado wako hai. Baada ya Joaquin, mchoraji Fernando Amorsolo aliteuliwa kuwa Msanii wa Taifa mnamo 1972. Alipewa jina la "Mzee Mkuu wa Sanaa ya Ufilipino". Idadi kubwa ya Wasanii wa Kitaifa waliotambuliwa walifanya kazi katika nyanja za Sanaa za Visual, Fasihi na Muziki. Wasanii wa kitaifa walioteuliwa lazima wawe na uraia wa Ufilipino. "Wanapaswa kuwa wamefanya mchango wa kipekee katika mazoezi ya aina zao za sanaa, kazi ambayo imejenga ufahamu wa watazamaji wa Ufilipino. """ Wagombea pia lazima wamepokea tuzo za kifahari kimataifa, na ndani ya nchi, kwa mtindo wao wa kisanii au usemi. Mteule lazima pia kujulikana kwa ubora katika mitindo yao ya upainia na kazi za kipekee - ubora ambao umeathiri na unaendelea kuathiri wasanii katika nyanja zao. Katibu wa Tuzo ya Kitaifa ya Wasanii alitoa wito wake wa uteuzi mnamo Juni 7, 2017 kwa Amri ya Wasanii wa Kitaifa ya 2018. Tarehe ya mwisho ya kuwasilisha uteuzi ilikuwa Septemba 30, 2017. Kutakuwa na raundi tatu za majadiliano, mchakato wenye kuchosha. Mkutano wa kwanza unaleta pamoja wataalamu kutoka nyanja tofauti za sanaa ambao watatayarisha orodha fupi ya wagombea, na pia kukusanya habari na data wanayohitaji kusoma kazi ya kila mgombea. Mkutano huo unajumuisha Jopo la Wataalamu wa Tuzo ya Kitaifa ya Wasanii na Jury ya Wataalamu, pamoja na Wasanii wa Kitaifa ambao bado wako hai miongoni mwa wanachama wa jopo ambao wataangalia, kujadili na kuamua orodha ya mwisho ya wagombea. Mkutano wa tatu unafanywa na Bodi ya Wadhamini wa CPP, Kamishna wa NCAA, na Wasanii wa Kitaifa wanaoishi ambao watafupisha orodha fupi katika orodha ya mwisho. Orodha hii ya mwisho inawasilishwa kwa Rais wa Ufilipino, ambaye hufanya uteuzi wa mwisho na hutoa Tangazo la Rais la kutaja Wasanii wa Taifa wapya wa Ufilipino. Taarifa hiyo kutoka ofisi ya rais inatarajiwa kutolewa Juni 11. Kuna faida mbali na umaarufu wa cheo na cheo cha Msanii wa Taifa, kama ilivyotangazwa na Rais. Alama ya Order of National Artists na citation na medali ya dhahabu iliyopakwa na Banco Sentral ng Pilipinas ni moja ya faida. Mshindi wa tuzo ya National Artist anapewa tuzo ya maisha ya faida za vifaa na kimwili zinazolingana na zile za maafisa wa juu wa serikali: Washindi wa kuishi watapata tuzo ya pesa ya P100,000, bila ushuru. Mrithi wa baada ya kifo atapokea P75,000 bila kodi. Msanii wa Kitaifa hupokea pensheni ya kila mwezi kwa maisha, pamoja na msaada wa matibabu na kulazwa hospitalini. Ikiwa mshindi bado hawezi kuhifadhiwa, bima ya maisha hutolewa kwake. Wasanii wa kitaifa daima wana nafasi ya heshima, kulingana na itifaki ya kipaumbele, katika shughuli za serikali, na wanapewa utambuzi unaofaa katika hafla za kitamaduni wanaohudhuria. Baada ya kifo chake, Msanii wa Taifa hupewa mazishi ya serikali, na kuzikwa katika Libingan ng mga Bayani. Kujitoa kwa maisha yao kwa ubora katika sanaa yao iliyochaguliwa, baada ya yote, ni ushujaa katika wakati wake wa amani bora. Sampaguita B. Flores-Nepomuceno alimaliza shahada yake ya kwanza katika biashara na elimu ya muziki na mkuu wa piano katika Chuo cha St. Scholastica, Manila, ambapo anachukua M.A. yake. katika elimu ya muziki. Yeye anafundisha piano na masomo ya sauti kwa watoto wenye autism pamoja na wanafunzi wa neurotypical katika Las Pinas City.