Good & bad news in global awards

We hear of this group of youngsters insistent on renaming the National Artists Award, or totally discontinuing it. It appears they are sick of what has happened to that venerable institution that was the country’s ultimate honor given to Filipino artists, something they can wear proudly for the rest of their lives!

The Awards held every three years was beset by its biggest controversy ever when the Arroyo administration handpicked four awardees Cecille Guidote-Alvarez for theater, Carlo Caparas for visual arts and film, Francisco Mañosa for architecture and Pitoy Moreno for fashion design. To top it all, Ramon Santos for Music was taken out of the official list.

Some past National Artists returned their awards in protest; the Supreme Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the handpicked awardees, and the situation has not changed since. This year being time to once again choose awardees, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in charge of the Awards have been calling for nominations, with the deadline set last Nov. 30. The date has come and gone as the public awaits further announcements. Furthermore, chosen official awardees deceased Manuel Conde, Lazaro Francisco and Federico Aguilar Alcuaz have yet to be given their official conferment.

Only two Filipinos have been nominated since August — Dolphy and Ilocano writer Jose Bragado, chosen by an Ilocano writers’ group. It is embarrassing that this should be happening. It truly portends a disinterest of the nominating public in the formerly much revered award.

Coincidentally, while Pinoys may be questioning the continued non-existence of our National Artists, the same condition is affecting the Nobel Peace Prize. Formerly referred to as the most prestigious Award in the world, it has recently been subjected to attacks from those who say the choices have tarnished the reputation of the award and cast doubt on the legitimacy of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

For instance, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of the Republic of Liberia in West Africa had come under fire for nepotism, having appointed three of her sons to top government posts, although one of them, Charles, has been suspended as deputy governor of the central bank for failing to declare his assets. Does this sound familiar? To make things worse, Johnson-Sirleaf who gained power in 2005 at the end of 14 years of conflict, has repeatedly pledged to tackle corruption and promote good governance in Liberia. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011, shortly before she was elected for a second term in polls marred by allegations of widespread rigging. Now this certainly sounds like the Philippines prior to P-Noy.

The Nobel Peace Prize 2011 was also awarded to Leymah Gbowee, a Liberian activist who resigned from the country’s peace and reconciliation commission, criticizing the president’s decision to appoint her three sons to senior positions, and not doing enough to address poverty. For one who had worked with Sirleaf to change Liberia into a better place, it seemed she had changed her stance. “Nakakahiya,” as Pinoys would say. “Parang tayo noong araw,” meaning Liberia still has room for change.

There remains the Ramon Magsaysay Awards, often considered Asia’s Nobel Prize, given to perpetuate President Ramon Magsaysay’s example of integrity in government. Hopefully, this award will not go the way of others that have lost their sparkle and sheen of honor.

Meanwhile, seven individuals and an organization will receive the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining, the highest award given every three years for outstanding achievements and contributions to Philippine arts and culture on Feb. 27, 2013.

This year’s posthumous awardees are Zeneida A. Amador for Theater and Rodolfo “Dolphy” Quizon for Film and Broadcast Arts; Cirilo F. Bautista for Literature; Brenda V. Fajardo for Visual Arts. The rest are Agnes D. Locsin for Dance, Ramon P. Santos for Music; and Florentino H. Hornedo for Cultural Research. The Silliman University National Writers Workshop will receive the Tanging Parangal for the development of creative writing and the literary arts. It is interesting that a campaign to make Dolphy National Artist had been most active, especially after his death, while Santos had been scratched off the National Artist list during the brouhaha in Arroyo’s time. Dr. Santos and Dolphy’s family will appreciate this recognition from the CCP.

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