Palace on Nat'l Artist award: We followed process

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang still can't explain why it did not proclaim multi-awarded actress Nora Aunor as a National Artist for film.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the issue has not yet been discussed with President Benigno Aquino III.

Lacierda defended the decision of Malacañang to exclude the 61-year-old Aunor (Nora Villamayor in real life) in the newest list of National Artists, insisting that they followed the selection procedures.

"As far as we are concerned, we went through the process. We exercised the prerogatives as laid down by the process," Lacierda said.

He also reiterated Malacañang's earlier statement that it respects the opinion of those unhappy with the non-proclamation of Aunor as a National Artist.

"We certainly understand the views of the Noranians and also the artistic community. Certainly, the work of Ms. Nora Aunor is recognized here and abroad," Lacierda said.

Lacierda, however, did not weigh in on calls for changes in the National Artist selection process.

"That is up to the legislators and to the artistic community to discuss how do we improve the process if they felt that there were some issues with the process," Lacierda said.

On Friday Malacañang named six outstanding Filipinos as National Artists. They are Alice Reyes for dance, Francisco Coching (posthumous) for visual arts, Cirilo Bautista for literature, Francisco Feliciano and Ramon Santos for music and Jose Maria Zaragoza for architecture, design and allied arts.