Palace to ensure process is followed in naming Dolphy National Artist

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Hinting of a possible posthumous award for Dolphy, Malacañang announced on Wednesday that the late actor was “deemed nominated” for this year’s Order of National Artists.

But proposals for a national day of mourning for the fallen king of comedy were still being discussed by members of the inner circle of President Benigno Aquino III at press time.

“That will have to be discussed with the President. He’s already aware of several proposals to that effect. It will have to undergo discussion,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte in a press briefing.

Valte said that the National Commission for Culture and the arts (NCCA), tasked to jointly undertake the screening process with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), has secured the clearance of the Office of the Solicitor General to proceed with the screening and vetting of nominees for the Order of the National Artists for 2012.

But despite public clamor, the Palace admitted not being in hurry to expedite the process.

“We don’t want to preempt the selection process. The President, obviously, has very great respect for Mang Dolphy. We heard his statement when (Dolphy) was conferred with the Order of the Golden Heart—and apart from that the statement of the President yesterday.”

“So obviously, the President thinks very highly of Mang Dolphy. However, as we have stated in the past, we don’t want to politicize the process. We don’t want to make any prejudgments,” she said.

Asked about former President Joseph Estrada’s complaint that Dolphy should have received the award a long time ago, Valte said:  “Well, we can’t judge …. as we have said, the President personally believes in the contributions of Dolphy to his industry and also to the numerous people that he helped because of his foundation,” said Valte.

She disclosed that Malacañang Communications Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III had spoken with NCCA officials last week, “and NCCA said that Dolphy has been deemed nominated for the National Artist award. They will be receiving other nominations.”

Asked whether the NCCA and CCP would finally get their act together, she said:  “That will be a better question for the NCCA. They don’t live under a rock. They know all these statements of support.”

In 2009, Dolphy was nominated for the award, but only managed to get past the first stage of the screening process.

“He passed the first screening but did not pass the second (screening),” said Valte.

At the time, the NCCA and the CCP came up with a shortlist containing the names of seven nominees.

But the Supreme Court subsequently issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) stopping then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from conferring national artist awards to director Carlo J. Caparas, Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, Francisco Mañosa and Jose “Pitoy” Moreno.

The TRO stemmed from petition  lodged by a group of national artists led by Bienvenido Lumbera and Virgilio Almario, who have protested the inclusion of Caparas et al. in the final list of nominees.

The recent nomination of Dolphy, this time, was based on a resolution by the City Council of Manila.

“We have a city resolution, I think, from Manila nominating him for National Artist,” said Valte, adding that Senate president pro-tempore Jinggoy Ejercito-Estrada filed a resolution in 2011 to make Dolphy a National Artist.

The rank and title of National Artist is conferred by means of a presidential proclamation.

The Official Gazette says on its website that the award recognizes excellence in the fields of Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film and Broadcast Arts, and Architecture or Allied Arts.

“Those who have been proclaimed National Artists are given a Grand Collar symbolizing their status. Recipients of this Grand Collar make up the Order of National Artists. The Order of National Artists (Orden ng Gawad Pambansang Alagad ng Sining) is thus a rank, a title, and a wearable award that represents the highest national recognition given to Filipinos who have made distinct contributions in the field of arts and letters,” the Official Gazette says.

The award is jointly administered by the NCCA and CCP, and is conferred by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation by both institutions.

Valte said the NCCA was well aware that under the law, the next set of National Artists should be selected this year.

“It’s stated in the law that … in no case that the process for the selection of the National Artist Award should be less than three years,” said Valte.

Since the NCCA had drawn up a list of nominees in 2009, Valte said that “it’s now due (in) 2012.”

“The NCCA is aware of their timetable,” she added.