MANILA, Philippines–The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is looking at revising the rules in naming National Artists after Malacañang Palace dropped actress Nora Aunor’s name from the list forwarded by the screening committee last Friday, June 20.

In a phone interview with Rappler on Monday, June 23, lawyer Trixie Cruz-Angeles, NCCA spokesperson, said that while the decision of President Benigno Aquino III was legal and within his powers, the agency is planning to appeal the decision so the actress known as the Philippine cinema’s Superstar is given the honors. (READ: New set of National Artists revealed, Nora Aunor not part of list)

“The mandate [of the President] was legal, but they (NCCA commissioners) are looking into what they can do to curb situations like this,” she said referring to the practice of presidents either removing or adding names to shortlist that is supposedly final.

The discretion of the President to alter the list – after a rigid, 3-phase screening and nomination by experts in various artistic fields – is what the NCCA looks to lessen, if not eliminate, Angeles said.

This is not the first time a president altered the final list given by arts and culture agencies. (READ: Looking back: The National Artist Awards controversies)

She said that representatives from NCCA and Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) will try to meet this week to discuss their course of action on the matter.

The NCCA and CCP acts as the committee who receive and screen the nominees. They also choose the experts that comprise the council of peers and evaluate the merits of nominees before submitting a shortlist to the President.

Aunor got the one of the highest votes

In an interview with ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol, Angeles said the possibility of revising the policy can help to avoid further controversies.

“We agree naman po na dangerous siya kasi po in the future marami po ang mae-exclude,” she said. (We agree that it’s dangerous because in the future, many will be excluded.)

She also said that morality is not an issue in dropping Aunor’s name from the list of nominees. She was referring to speculations that the President did not approve of the actress’ nomination due to her drug-related arrest in 2005 in the United States. The case against her was eventually dismissed.

“Hindi po naming kinokonsider kung saan sila nanggaling, kung sino kasama nila sa bahay, kung ano ang ginawa nila nung bata sila. Ang importante sa amin ay ‘yung genius contribution to the field, ‘yung large body of work,” she said.

(We don’t consider where they came from, who they’re with in the house, what they did when they were children. What is important is the genius contribution to the field, the large body of work.)

In an interview with GMA News, Angeles said that the NCCA is thinking of proposing the creation of an independent body to screen the National Artists nominees.

NCCA Chairman Felipe de Leon Jr,  in an interview with The Philippine Star, said they will ask the President the reason behind the removal of Aunor’s name from the list. Aunor, he said, obtained one of the highest votes during the screening. (READ: NCCA puzzled by exclusion of Nora Aunor in National Artists list)

President says who’s deserving

Malacañang defended the President’s decision.

“It is the duty of the President to decide on who among the shortlisted nominees deserve to be conferred the Order of the National Artist. In making the decision, the President considered how each of the nominees measured up to the criteria for choice,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said in an interview with DZRB.

“We are certain that his decision was based on what will best serve the national interest because the Order of the National Artist gives recognition to those who excelled in the arts and letters and embodied the goodness and nobility of the Filipino people,” he added. 

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda on Monday said he was not aware of the reason behind the exclusion of the actress, but said that there was no grave abuse of discretion on the President’s part.

“It (NCCA’s reccomendation) has a persuasive nature, but the final prerogative rests with the President. And sabi po ng ating Korte Suprema tungkol diyan ay the President may remove but he may not add to the list na hindi dumaan sa NCCA at saka sa CCP,” he said.

(The Supreme Court said that the President may remove but may not add to the list that does not pass through the NCCA and CCP.)

Aunor, known in Philippine showbiz as the “Superstar” appeared in acclaimed films such as Himala, The Flor Contemplacion Story, and Thy Womb.

The actress, who is finishing a film for Cinemalaya, refused to comment but previously said that it was an honor to be considered for the award. – Rappler.com