MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has named 10 new National Artists, honoring some of the country’s most influential figures in architecture, dance, design, film, literature, music, theater and visual arts.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Proclamation No. 1414 on Sept. 1, formally declaring the latest batch of National Artists for 2025. The announcement was publicly confirmed on Sept. 9, ending months of anticipation within the Philippine arts and cultural community.
The new batch is particularly historic: it is the largest group of National Artists named at one time, surpassing the previous record of nine awardees in 1997. The recognition also brings the country’s total number of National Artists from 81 to 91.
Meet the 10 New National Artists
The country’s newest National Artists are:
- Gabriel P. Formoso — Architecture
- Rafael “Nonoy” Froilan — Dance
- Maria Beatriz “Patis” Tesoro — Design
- Armando “Bing” Lao — Film and Broadcast Arts
- Gregorio C. Brillantes — Literature
- Nicanor G. Tiongson — Literature
- Alfredo S. Buenaventura — Music
- Teodoro L. Hilado — Theater
- Imelda Cajipe Endaya — Visual Arts
- Nunelucio M. Alvarado — Visual Arts
Four of the honors were awarded posthumously to Formoso, Lao, Brillantes and Hilado.
Four Years Since the Last Batch
The announcement comes four years after the previous batch of National Artists was named in 2022.
The Order of National Artists is the highest state honor given to Filipinos who have made exceptional contributions to the development of Philippine arts and culture. It is jointly administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
This year’s list represents a wide cross-section of Philippine creativity — from modern architecture and ballet to indigenous textiles, independent cinema, literature and socially engaged visual art.
Gabriel Formoso Honored for Shaping Modern Manila
Architect Gabriel P. Formoso, who died in 1996, was recognized posthumously for his major contribution to Philippine modernist architecture.
Formoso championed tropical functionalism and helped shape the landscape of modern Manila through projects associated with landmarks including the Asian Institute of Management building, the Lepanto Building and the Central Bank complex.
His influence also extended beyond his own designs through his mentorship of younger architects and his lasting impact on architectural practice in the Philippines.
Nonoy Froilan Recognized for Philippine Dance
Rafael “Nonoy” Catalino Froilan has been one of the most prominent male figures in Philippine ballet.
A longtime principal dancer of Ballet Philippines, Froilan helped raise the technical standards for male dancers and worked alongside some of the country’s most celebrated performers.
His legacy extends to education, choreography and the preservation of dance traditions through workshops and documentation.
Patis Tesoro’s Lifelong Fight for Filipino Textiles
Fashion and design icon Maria Beatriz “Patis” Tesoro was recognized for her decades-long work preserving and promoting Filipino craftsmanship.
Tesoro is particularly known for her advocacy for indigenous textiles and the revival of the piña industry. She helped bring traditional Filipino clothing, including the baro’t saya and Barong Tagalog, into contemporary fashion while supporting weaving communities and traditional artisans.
Her work has made her one of the strongest advocates for preserving Filipino design traditions for future generations.
Bing Lao’s Lasting Impact on Philippine Cinema
Screenwriter and educator Armando “Bing” Lao, who died in 2024, received the honor posthumously.
Lao was one of the most influential figures in independent Philippine cinema and became widely known for his “Found Story” approach to screenwriting, encouraging filmmakers to develop stories from real people and environments.
His work on films including Kinatay and Kubrador, as well as his mentorship of generations of filmmakers through his workshops, helped shape modern Philippine cinema.
Gregorio Brillantes and Nicanor Tiongson Honored for Literature
Two major figures were recognized in literature.
Gregorio C. Brillantes, honored posthumously, was one of the Philippines’ most respected fictionists and essayists. His body of work included The Distance to Andromeda and Other Stories, and his writing explored faith, politics, science fiction and the Filipino experience.
Nicanor G. Tiongson, meanwhile, has built a distinguished career as a scholar, critic, playwright and cultural historian. His research and writing on Philippine theater, including traditional forms such as komedya and sinakulo, have become important contributions to the study of Filipino culture.
Alfredo Buenaventura Celebrated for Filipino Music
Composer, conductor and educator Alfredo S. Buenaventura was recognized for his extensive contribution to Philippine classical music.
Born in Bulacan in 1929, Buenaventura produced more than 50 major works, including operas, symphonies and cantatas.
His music often incorporated Philippine legends, epics and folk traditions while using indigenous instruments alongside classical forms.
Beyond composing, he also played a major role in music education and helped advocate for the continued performance of original Filipino compositions.
Teodoro Hilado’s Work Behind the Stage Gets National Recognition
Theater pioneer Teodoro L. Hilado was recognized posthumously for transforming professional lighting design and technical theater in the Philippines.
As a longtime technical director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Hilado helped establish professional standards for stage lighting and management.
His work demonstrated that technical artists play an essential role in bringing theater productions to life — a contribution that often happens behind the scenes but is now receiving the country’s highest artistic recognition.
Imelda Cajipe Endaya Makes History
One of the most significant milestones in the new batch belongs to Imelda Cajipe Endaya, who has been recognized as the first female National Artist for Visual Arts.
Endaya is known as a painter, printmaker and installation artist whose work explores women’s rights, the Filipino diaspora, colonial mentality and social issues.
She also co-founded Kasibulan, an influential collective that created greater space for women artists in the Philippine art world.
Her use of unconventional and recycled materials, combined with powerful social and political themes, has made her one of the defining voices in contemporary Philippine visual art.
Nunelucio Alvarado Brings the Struggles of Sugar Workers to the National Stage
Negros Occidental artist Nunelucio M. Alvarado was recognized for his contribution to Philippine social realism.
His powerful paintings have long focused on the struggles and resilience of sugar workers, particularly the sacadas of Negros.
Through his art and his involvement in community-based artistic movements, Alvarado helped bring the realities of rural workers and marginalized communities into the national cultural conversation.
His work proves that art can do more than decorate walls.
It can document struggle, preserve memory and force society to look at realities it might otherwise ignore.
A Historic Moment for Philippine Culture
The naming of 10 new National Artists is not just an awards announcement.
It is a recognition of the many different ways Filipino identity has been shaped through creativity.
This year’s honorees include artists who worked under bright stage lights and others who spent their careers working behind the scenes.
There are internationally recognized performers, cultural scholars, fashion advocates, filmmakers, architects and painters whose work documented the struggles of ordinary Filipinos.
Together, they represent generations of artists who helped define what Philippine culture looks, sounds and feels like.
The Bottom Line
The Philippines has welcomed 10 new National Artists, the largest group ever named in a single batch.
Through Proclamation No. 1414, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recognized outstanding contributions across eight artistic fields, from architecture and dance to literature, film, music and visual arts.
For many Filipinos, the names may represent very different worlds of art.
But they all share one thing:
Their work helped tell the Filipino story.
And now, that legacy has received the highest artistic honor the country can give.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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