The Philippine Online Chronicles

This year's list of new National Artists prompted controversy with the naming of Jose “Carlo” J. Caparas for visual arts and films and Cecilia Guidote-Alvarez for theater arts.

Of the seven new national artists, three were chosen through the regular process of nomination and deliberation by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. These were Manuel Conde for cinema, Federico Aguilar Alcuaz for visual arts, and Lazaro Franciso for literature.

The other four, including Caparas and Alvarez, were added to the list by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whose power it is to confer the title of National Artist. Also chosen by Malacanang were Francisco “Bobby” Mañoza for architecture and Jose “Pitoy” Moreno for fashion design.

“I hate it when the President meddles with the system of selecting National Artists,” said National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario who was part of the deliberation committee.

“While she has the power to intervene, the system of selection works and she does not have any reason to use her presidential privilege.”

The choice of Alvarez for National Artist raised eyebrows as she is also executive director of the NCAA and presidential adviser on culture. Newsbreak called the selection “shameless” and a situation of “delicadeza” or a conflict of interest although Alvarez herself was not present during deliberations.

“I hate even more when people take advantage of this presidential privilege by submitting their names directly to the President,” said Virgilio.

Caparas, on the other hand, was attacked as unworthy of the title National Artist. Comic book writer and artist Gerry Alanguilan leads the protest, saying on his blog that Caparas could not be cited for visual arts as he never did the illustrations for his comics himself. Being deemed a National Artist for Film was also “ridiculous” as his movies “lack any intellectual substance.”

“Other artists are vastly more qualified,” he said. “I cannot sit here and do nothing and say nothing as this insult is perpetrated.”