CARLO CAPARAS AS NATIONAL ARTIST 2009?

The awarding for National Artist 2009 was not as peaceful and ordinary awarding like it used to be from the previous years. The commitee for NA has carefully chosen four(4) candidates that they think was deserving and qualified for the title based on their standards and qualifications. They submitted it to President Arroyo for approval.

The final result given by the President was seven (7) candidates. The President was entitled to add only one (1) NA as her prerogative, according to a decree and Presidential Executive order. She disregarded one artist from the original list and added four (4) instead.

This incident has clearly violated the rules and bypassed the NA choosing process. This 2009 National Artists Award has become a turmoil that Philippine National Artists Awardees and ALL concerned artists, students, citizens and even government agencies protecting the credibility and cultural heritage of the Philippines, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), and National Center for Culture and Arts (NCCA) has joined the FUNERAL March for NATIONAL ARTISTS last August 7, 2009.

All participants has worn black as a statement for the death of justice. The Award for National Artists in the Philippines is a prestigious and highest award giving body to Filipino Artists. It is of great honor to belong and categorized as a Pambansang Alagad ng Sining. This award acknowledges an artist's great contribution to Philippine Art and Philippine History. It is of by honor and virtue that an artist is rightful to this category.

And so, concerned people marched and showed their distaste in the NA Awards 2009. Many National Artist Awardees were present in the event, including film directors, visual artists, writers, professors, artists, musicians, students, and some public figures in the film and music industry were present.


There were some issues that was raised:

1. First and foremost, there was a legitimate procedure in choosing for National Artist. It was made by selected and credible "proper" authority whom chosen to be seated to do this tasking.

2. There were rules, guidelines, qualifications and standards that should have met by the "nominated NA's."

3. The National Artist Award is a prestigious, honorable and highest award that a Filipino can receive. Therefore, it must be given to those who truly deserve this award.

These three (3) points listed above was the simplest points that should be followed. Nonetheless, there was nothing to be questioned about. But, the saddest and most infuriating of all, these three points was violated.

1. It seems that the authority of the President was over-powered by the 'proper authority" of the NA committee. Instead of adding ONLY one, she added four NA's.

2. The most controversial, so-called National Artist Awardee Carlo Caparas was not included in the final shortlist but was surprisingly present in the final National Artist Award.

3. Since the public and concerned artists, National Artist, film, media, musicians, writers, etc. has voiced out their distaste and opinions for including Carlo Caparas as National Artist, these people

believe that there are other artists "more" deserving to receive this award.

As the heated issue goes on, Caparas believes that he is more than deserving to receive this award. So he believes himself and a few people. Therefore, there is no way he's gonna give up this award.

For those people who strongly believe that there has been a political involvement and manipulation in this NA Awards, they have already done their individual right and freedom of expression. Regardless of the validity of this award given by the President, but in the eyes of the people there's a question of the authenticity and truthness of this award. There's a glitch that one cannot truly claim of something that he doesn't deserve of something that he and only he claims.

Though we are a democratic country and believe to have democracy, still we are suppressed and tied with invisible chains.