PALACE SAYS
Nat’l Artist picks Arroyo’s prerogative
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:53:00 08/01/2009
Filed Under: Awards and Prizes, Arts (general), Politics
MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Saturday defended President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s choice of seven National Artists—four of whom were added to the three recommended by the selection committee—from criticisms of political accommodation.
Secretary Gabriel Claudio, who is officer in charge of the Executive Secretary’s office in the absence of executive secretary Eduardo Ermita, said the final choices were a “product” of thorough consultation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
“We stand by the list, and we say that it was a product of a thorough process, and we stand by the qualifications, qualities, track record and the reputation of those who were named as special artists,” he told state radio dzRB.
Claudio said the track record and qualifications of theater artist Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, filmmakers Manuel Urbano (aka Manuel Conde) and Carlo Magno Jose J. Caparas, painter Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, novelist Lazaro Francisco, architect Francisco Mañosa, and fashion designer Jose Moreno would stand up to scrutiny.
“We can defend their track record and qualifications and the reasons for which they were named National Artists,” he said.
Malacañang announced this year’s batch of National Artists on Wednesday shortly before President Arroyo left for a working visit to the United States.
According to some concerned artists, Conde, Alcuaz and Francisco were shortlisted in May by the selection committee composed of members of the NCCA and the CCP.
They said the other four were named by Ms Arroyo, exercising her presidential prerogative.
Leo Martinez, chair of the Film Academy of the Philippines, said that Guidote-Alvarez, who is the NCCA executive director, and Caparas were not included in the shortlist and were not among those considered during the deliberations of the selection committee.
The awarding was based on politics and not on the nominee’s body of work, Martinez said.
According to National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera, the composer Ramon Santos was dropped from the list to accommodate Guidote-Alvarez, Caparas, Mañosa and Moreno.
TJ Burgonio
Nat’l Artist picks Arroyo’s prerogative
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:53:00 08/01/2009
Filed Under: Awards and Prizes, Arts (general), Politics
MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Saturday defended President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s choice of seven National Artists—four of whom were added to the three recommended by the selection committee—from criticisms of political accommodation.
Secretary Gabriel Claudio, who is officer in charge of the Executive Secretary’s office in the absence of executive secretary Eduardo Ermita, said the final choices were a “product” of thorough consultation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
“We stand by the list, and we say that it was a product of a thorough process, and we stand by the qualifications, qualities, track record and the reputation of those who were named as special artists,” he told state radio dzRB.
Claudio said the track record and qualifications of theater artist Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, filmmakers Manuel Urbano (aka Manuel Conde) and Carlo Magno Jose J. Caparas, painter Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, novelist Lazaro Francisco, architect Francisco Mañosa, and fashion designer Jose Moreno would stand up to scrutiny.
“We can defend their track record and qualifications and the reasons for which they were named National Artists,” he said.
Malacañang announced this year’s batch of National Artists on Wednesday shortly before President Arroyo left for a working visit to the United States.
According to some concerned artists, Conde, Alcuaz and Francisco were shortlisted in May by the selection committee composed of members of the NCCA and the CCP.
They said the other four were named by Ms Arroyo, exercising her presidential prerogative.
Leo Martinez, chair of the Film Academy of the Philippines, said that Guidote-Alvarez, who is the NCCA executive director, and Caparas were not included in the shortlist and were not among those considered during the deliberations of the selection committee.
The awarding was based on politics and not on the nominee’s body of work, Martinez said.
According to National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera, the composer Ramon Santos was dropped from the list to accommodate Guidote-Alvarez, Caparas, Mañosa and Moreno.
TJ Burgonio
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