GMA okays recommendation naming FPJ a national artist

President Arroyo has approved a recommendation by culture and arts officials to confer the rank of national artist on her late poll rival, action film star Fernando Poe Jr., Malacañang announced yesterday.

Poe will be posthumously conferred the national artist for film title in ceremonies scheduled June 9 at the presidential palace that also will pay tribute to five other national artists.

Poe died of a stroke on Dec. 14, 2004, six months after the tightly contested election that Mrs. Arroyo’s critics claim she stole. His widow, former movie star Susan Roces, has joined opposition rallies and accused Mrs. Arroyo of cheating to win the ballot.

Butch Plata, a movie director and close friend of Poe and his widow, said it was not yet clear if Roces will accept the award on her husband’s behalf.

The five other artists to be honored are Bienvenido Lumbera for literature, Ramon Obusan for dance, Benedicto Cabrera for visual arts, Ildefonso Santos for architecture and the late Ramon Valera for fashion design.

The Order of National Artist is the highest national recognition given to Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the arts.

It is jointly administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and conferred by the president upon their recommendation.

An awardee receives a medallion and citation, P100,000 pesos for living awardees and P70,000 pesos for posthumous awardees’ legal heirs, a monthly pension, medical benefits and a state funeral.

Jeremy Barns, head of the Presidential Museum and deputy head of the Chancellery of Philippine Orders and State Decorations, said the conferment ceremonies are "in traditional anticipation of the anniversary of Philippine Independence on June 12."

This will be followed by a tribute to the honorees at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Palace officials indicated yesterday that more names could be added to the list.

Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor earlier said the administration would not pose any objection to Poe’s nomination as national artist.

He appealed against speculation that the move was meant to appease the opposition, emphasizing that the honor was "an apolitical matter."

"I think Mr. FPJ (Poe’s initials) deserves the respect and deserves the recognition if and when the NCCA decides that he is the winner then definitely we have to confer to him that as an artist and as a leading stalwart not only in showbiz but in the arts and culture of the country," Defensor said.

"And I don’t think the President has a different opinion of that because even during the (presidential) campaign (in the May 2004 elections), the President has always seen Mr. FPJ as a gentleman," he said.

Defensor pointed out that Poe never directly hit nor had harsh words for Mrs. Arroyo except "towards the end because he was coached (by his advisers)."

Poe filed an electoral protest after the elections before the Supreme Court that sat as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, but which was later junked after his death.

Mrs. Arroyo won by a narrow margin of over a million votes but allegations of electoral fraud continue to hound her administration.

Bunye earlier said that based on the rules, the National Artist Award nomination is normally given in a three-year cycle. The last awards, he said, were handed out in 2003.

Filmmaker Eddie Romero, poet Virgilio Almario, designer Salvador Bernal were among that batch.

Poe was considered Mrs. Arroyo’s closest rival in the 2004 polls because of his iconic movie star popularity.

His bid for the presidency prompted Mrs. Arroyo to pick broadcast journalist-turned-senator Noli de Castro as her vice presidential running mate, hoping that De Castro’s popularity would rake in votes for her.

Poe was the self-proclaimed "King of Philippine movies," and like his lifelong friend, deposed former President Joseph Estrada, sought to parlay his celluloid success to win the presidency.

But his lack of experience in holding public office caused concern that Poe might not be able to put the Philippines’ struggling economy back on its feet.

Poe often portrayed an underdog in his movies, crippling enemies with his famous rapid punches and fancy tricks with a caliber .45 pistol. — With AP