NCCA to review rules for National Artist after Dolphy’s passing

ZSA ZSA and Dolphy inquirer photo

MANILA, Philippines — The intense public demand to give Dolphy (Rodolfo Vera in real life) the National Artist award has pressured the National Center for Culture and the Arts to put its selection process “under review,” Sen. Edgardo Angara revealed.

The senator, who occupies an NCCA board seat by virtue of chairing the Senate education committee, said the center’s “rules of selection” were being reassessed to “do away with superfluous procedures.”

“Dolphy is really more than deserving of the National Artist award.  For a long time he (was) a living legend and is entitled to the award, even if posthumously given,” he said in Filipino during a radio interview on Sunday.

Angara lamented that the process of selection being observed by the NCCA has prevented the center from responding to the clamor to confer the award to Dolphy, Rodolfo Vera Quizon in real life, who died on July 10 at the age of 83.

“If I had the choice, I would have given the title to Dolphy at once, if only to show appreciation for the unique talent he possessed, while he was still alive.  Because what he did was an extraordinary thing – making the entire Filipino people laugh,” Angara explained.

“But as the NCCA explained before, there is a process that must be followed.  It had been there before I came in.  There is a nomination committee that accepts names, then a review must be done before the list is submitted to the board,” the senator noted.

He said part of the review would be an examination of the “rights and entitlements” of those declared National Artists.

Angara vowed to “inquire about the status” of Dolphy’s inclusion in the list of nominees today.

“Sana pakialaman na (Hopefully, somebody intervenes now), because the board where I belong is the second to the last stage.  Its members are the ones who nominate and submit to the President the names of those selected,” he said.

Angara conceded that he could not recall any instance of a nominee for National Artist whose case was expedited.

“All nominations underwent scrutiny by the board.  Sunod sa reglamento and the selection process really takes time. But the members suggested last week that we start the selection of the (next batch of) National Artists and the Natatanging Manlilikha ng Bayan or National Living Treasure,” the senator said.

“We need to refine the process so it won’t be so protracted.  Anyway, this is not an election.  We do this to indicate our appreciation of outstanding artists,” he added.

Sen. Joker Arroyo was the first to raise a howl over the government’s failure to recognize the country’s talented citizens.

Last May, he suddenly took the floor after the Senate passed a resolution recognizing the artistry of the late painter Anita Magsaysay-Ho and complained that the accomplishments of outstanding Filipinos were usually recognized after they died.

Arroyo said this meant the artists were unable to enjoy the accolade they deserved in life.

Angara agreed, noting those declared National Artists should be cited “while they are still in full control of their senses to savor the public support in their honor.”

The senator said conferment of the National Artist title to Dolphy could easily be justified.