Lawmaker pushes ‘Ate Guy’ as next national artist

NORA Aunor

Superstar-struck?

Bacolod City Representative Anthony Rolando Golez, Jr. has filed a resolution urging President Aquino, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts to name actress Nora Aunor as National Artist of the Philippines for her “immense contributions” to Philippine arts and cinema.

In House Resolution No. 2317, Golez states that Aunor, whose real name is Maria Leonora Teresa Cabaltera—Ate Guy to his fans—is regarded as the “Superstar” of Philippine entertainment.

Golez said that Aunor’s career, which has spanned more than five decades, has been filled with awards and recognition from local and international award-giving bodies for her outstanding performances, and that she was named as one of the 10 Best Asian Actresses of the Decade in 2010 by the Green Planet Movie Awards in Los Angeles. Voting by movie viewers from more than 100 countries was done online.

A National Artist of the Philippines is a title given to a Filipino who has been given the highest recognition, by virtue of a presidential proclamation, for having made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts. Honorees are conferred membership in the Order of National Artists, the regalia of which is an ornate, gilded collar of honor.

In addition to the collar, each newly proclaimed member of the Order is given a citation that is presented during the awardees’ conferment ceremonies. The CCP then hosts a Memorabilia Exhibit and Gabi ng Parangal (A Night of Tributes) for the National Artist at the Tanghalang Pambansa.

Other benefits received by National Artists include a monthly pension, medical and life insurance, arrangements for a state funeral, a place of honor at national state functions, and recognition at cultural events.

The National Artist Honors is administered by the CCP by virtue of former President Ferdinand Marcos’ Proclamation No. 1001 of April 2, 1972, and the NCCA. The first award was posthumously conferred on Filipino painter Fernando Amorsolo.

Qualified for the award are:

* Filipino artists who have made significant contributions to the cultural heritage of the country;

* Filipino artistic accomplishment at its highest level and one which promotes creative expression significant to the development of a national cultural identity; and

* Filipino artists who have dedicated their lives to their works to forge new paths and directions for future generations of Filipino artists. The National Artist Award is given by the President of the Philippines and is screened or recommended by the CCP and the NCCA.

“The Filipino people are now entangled with so many public issues like the seemingly uncontrollable rise of prices of fuel and commodities but we should not lose hope. There are a lot of things going for our country and the enshrinement of Ms. Nora Aunor as a National Artist is a sure feel-good thing that the Filipinos can hold on to,” Golez said.

He said Aunor has been truly a national treasure and that her achievements as an artist and contributions to Philippine art would be more than enough for her to qualify for the National Artist Award.

Originally posted: April 16, 2012 | 5:43 pm