Clockwise from top left: Patis Tesoro, Bing Lao, Nicanor Tiongson, and Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, among the 10 Filipinos named National Artists under Proclamation No. 1414.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has conferred the rank and title of National Artist on 10 Filipinos whose work spans visual arts, literature, architecture, film, theater, dance, design and music.
The recognition was formalized through Proclamation No. 1414 upon the recommendation of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. The Order of National Artists is the government’s highest recognition for Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts and culture.
Those named were Imelda Cajipe-Endaya and Nunelucio “Nune” Alvarado for Visual Arts; Nicanor Tiongson and the late Gregorio “Greg” Brillantes for Literature; the late Gabriel “Gabby” Formoso for Architecture; the late Armando “Bing” Lao for Film and Broadcast Arts; the late Teodoro “Teddy” Hilado for Theater; Rafael “Nonoy” Froilan for Dance; Maria Beatriz “Patis” Tesoro for Design; and Alfredo Buenaventura for Music.
Cajipe-Endaya became the first woman to be recognized as National Artist for Visual Arts. Her body of work has included painting, printmaking, installation and mixed media, often exploring women’s experiences and social issues. She also helped establish Kasibulan, a collective of Filipino feminist artists.
Alvarado is known for social realist works rooted in the lives of sugar workers and communities in Negros, while Tiongson has built a career across literature, cultural scholarship, theater and film studies. Brillantes, who died in 2025, was widely known for his English-language short stories and essays, including several Palanca-winning works.
Formoso was recognized for his contribution to postwar Philippine architecture, with projects that included the Manila Peninsula Hotel, Asian Institute of Management and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas complex. Lao, meanwhile, was honored for his influence on Philippine cinema as a screenwriter, director and mentor, particularly through his “Found Story” approach to filmmaking.
Hilado became the first lighting designer named National Artist for Theater, while Froilan was recognized for a decades-long career in ballet and choreography. Tesoro was honored for advancing Filipino fashion and traditional textiles, including the terno, barong Tagalog and piña, while Buenaventura was cited for a body of musical work spanning operas, symphonies, concertos, ballets and choral compositions.
The latest proclamation raises the number of National Artists to 91. Living awardees are entitled to a Php 200,000 cash award, a Php 50,000 monthly lifetime stipend, medical and hospitalization benefits of up to Php 750,000 annually, insurance coverage where applicable, and honors at state and cultural functions. Heirs of posthumous awardees will receive Php 75,000, while recipients are also entitled to a state funeral and burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.