IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Celebrities ripe for National Artists award

After receiving her Gawad CCP award and having a Madame Tussauds wax figure in Singapore, Lea Salonga is being primed as a possible recipient of the prestigious Order of National Artists — an accolade that the film, TV and theater artist graciously turned down in favor of her more senior colleague, the late Comedy King, Dolphy.

But while Salonga’s contribution to the art scene is nothing to sneer at, she nonetheless pointed out that the ace comedian is more worthy of the National Artist title than herself, saying his recognition is “long overdue.”

Indeed, as the Order of National Artists is considered the highest honor given to Filipino individuals who have significantly contributed to the development of Philippine arts, the recognition must be bestowed on nominees whose body of work transcends all ages.

The national recognition is awarded in seven categories — music; dance; theater; contemporary arts; literature; architecture, design and allied arts; and, film and broadcasting/broadcast arts. The CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines) and NCCA (National Commission for Culture and the Arts) said a nominee should only be nominated in one category, where an artist made his or her “most substantial contribution.” Other merits can be added to the artist’s citation.

Over the years, many names in the industry are being championed by their industry peers, organizations, and fans in the race for the title, and here are they:

Dolphy

Dolphy died on July 10, 2012, but his legacy as an actor and comedian continued to live on that talk of a posthumous National Artist award has remained up to this time. And with at least 170 films, several long-running comedy shows on television, and countless live shows (bodabil) under his belt spanning six decades, he certainly could not be cut out in the running.

Born Rodolfo Vera Quizon, Dolphy started his career as a stage actor. A Philippine Daily Inquirer article said he made his breakthrough as a cross-dressing lead in “Jack en Jill,” alongside Lolita Rodriguez. He further made his mark doing more gay roles as “Facifica Falayafay” (1969), and “Fefita Fofongay viuda de Falayfay” (1973). In the Lino Brocka drama film “Ang Tatay Kong Nanay” (1978), Dolphy proved his mettle as a serious actor, and cemented his legacy in the industry.

Vilma Santos

Over the years, Vilma Santos’ name has long been included in the list of nominees for National Artist. Just recently, the veteran actress has been again formally endorsed by her industry colleagues to be the National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, with Aktor PH (League of Filipino Actors) leading the bid. Aside from them, endorsements from at least 20 other groups, including film producers and educators, backed up the nomination.

In July, Aktor PH’s president, Dingdong Dantes, said during a press conference that they are just one of the people “rallying behind” Santos to be declared as National Artists given her contribution to the Philippine cinema.

“We look up to her. She’s a paragon of what it is to be an actor,” Dantes said at the time, outlining Santos’ career achievements. 

In April, Santos shared her feelings about being endorsed by fans and industry groups for the prestigious title, saying that is a “matter best left to fate,” as everyone has different tastes or preferences in the arts.

“Doon sa mga nagsasabi na (to those who are saying), ‘We want you to be the next national artist,’ maraming maraming salamat po (thank you so much) from the heart. But you know I truly believe na if it’s meant to be, it will happen. If it’s not meant to be, then hindi pa (not yet),” she said.

The Star of All Seasons’ extensive filmography began with “Trudis Liit,” where she earned her first acting award as Best Child Actress at the 1963 FAMAS. Since then, the actress has tackled many roles that proved her range as she took home acting awards from different awarding bodies, especially in films “Sister Stella L” (1984), “Because I Love You: The Dolzura Cortez Story” (1992), and “Anak” (1998), among others.

Aside from acting, Santos also ventured into the field of public service, having served as mayor, governor, and then congressman before quitting politics in 2022.

Regine Velasquez

Regine Velasquez’s name has recently cropped up in the campaign for National Artist for Music, a call that started when the singer-actress was honored at the inaugural Billboard Philippines Women in Music Awards with the Powerhouse award given her 37 years of contribution to Original Pilipino Music (OPM).

In March, Velasquez said in an interview that while she was flattered by the endorsement from fans, she believes others are currently more qualified to receive the recognition.

“Parang nahihiya ako (I get so shy); parang there are artists who are more qualified; I don’t think I’m qualified yet,” she admitted.

Some of the artists she named that she wanted to see given recognition instead were Pilita Corrales and Jose Mari Chan.

“Huwag muna kasi maraming mas iniisip ko na sila dapat (Don’t because there are still many more that I think should come first). Those are the people who should be there and sana malagay sila habang buhay pa sila (I wish they could get recognized while they’re still alive),” the singer explained, noting how it took years before Nora Aunor was finally named a National Artist in 2022.

After winning the television talent show “Ang Bagong Kampeon” in 1984 and the “Asia Pacific Singing Contest” in 1989, the Asia’s Songbird has attained numerous feats and achievements in the field of music.

Having sold more than seven million records domestically and 1.5 million in Asia, Velasquez is one of the best-selling Filipino music artists of all time. As of the moment, she has two Asian Television Awards, two MTV Asia Awards, 22 Awit Awards, 17 Aliw Awards (including 3 Entertainer of the Year wins), 22 Box Office Entertainment Awards, and 16 Star Awards for Music under her belt.

Aside from her musical career, Velasquez has also played leading roles in the romantic comedies “Wanted: Perfect Mother” (1996), “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw” (2000), and “Pangako Ikaw Lang” (2001), etc.

Eddie Garcia

On the fifth death anniversary of Eddie Garcia, a party list lawmaker urged the government to declare him a national artist for his contributions to the film industry. 

“As we commemorate the beautiful and meaningful life of Manoy Eddie, it is only fitting that we confer on him the National Artist Award that he truly deserves,” AGRI party list Rep. Wilbert Lee said in his House Resolution 1769 last July.

Lee noted that Garcia’s years of service to show business deserve utmost recognition, outlining the actor’s work from the 1940s until his last movie “ML” in 2018. 

The party list rep also emphasized that the late actor was the only person inducted in three categories of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences, or FAMAS Hall of Fame, for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Director.

If recognized, Garcia will be included in the list of posthumously awardees following his death in 2019 after falling into a two-week coma due to a cervical spine injury he sustained in an accident on set while filming a TV series.

Garcia’s death led to the passage of a law, Republic Act No. 11996 or the “Eddie Garcia Law,” named in his memory to ensure the welfare of workers in the film and television industry.

Jose Mari Chan

Known for songs “Christmas in Our Hearts” and “Mamang Sorbeto,” Jose Mari Chan has been endorsed for National Artist by the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FFCCCI). 

The organization’s chairman and spokesperson, Wilson Lee Flores, said in an interview in August that they previously “made an appeal” to former president Rodrigo Duterte in the past and are once again appealing to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to bestow the title on the “King of Philippine Christmas Carols.”

Chan is also known for his hits, “Please Be Careful With My Hear” and “Beautiful Girl.”

Lea Salonga

Salonga’s body of work and accomplishments hardly needs any introduction, her name ringing a bell far and wide, and beyond Philippine shores.

She was already an accomplished actress and singer before embarking on a journey overseas to conquer the world of theater as the first and original “Miss Saigon,” a Broadway musical produced by famous French musicians Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil. Her pitch-perfect renditions and commanding presence onstage earned her a Tony and a Laurence Olivier awards — both a first for a Filipino. On top of that, she was also a nominee for the Grammy Awards.

Aside from theater, Salonga was also named a Disney legend in 2011 for her noteworthy work for “Mulan” and “Aladdin.” She recently produced “Here Lies Love,” a musical stage play about Imelda Marcos that was shown also in Broadway.

At present, Salonga is busy with “Request Sa Radyo” in October where she is one of the alternate leads, with Dolly de Leon, and the staging of her “Stage, Screen and Everything In Between” concert a month later.

Amid calls for the Broadway superstar to be the National Artist, Salonga began to champion for the late comedian Dolphy to be heralded first.

“No, there are folks who are far more deserving and whose National Artist Awards are long overdue. I would love to see somebody like Dolphy; for example, it is because we have to judge him as an artist for his body of work,” she said.