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Their exceptional talent, expertise, and legacies are recognized through two of the highest civilian honors in the Philippines
MANILA, Philippines – The worlds of arts and sciences are dominated by Filipina pioneers. Many of them showed exceptional talent and expertise, and their legacies are recognized through two of the highest civilian honors in the Philippines.
The National Artist award was first given by the government in 1972, while the National Scientist award was first conferred in 1978.
Filipinas joined the roster of recipients shortly thereafter, with Francisca Reyes Aquino named National Artist in 1973 and Dr Fe del Mundo declared National Scientist in 1980.
To date, a total of 66 National Artists and 41 National Scientists are honored for their significant contributions in their respective fields. Among them, 10 artists and 11 scientists are women.
In 2003, the awards were elevated to the Order of National Artists and the Order of National Scientists through Executive Order 236, making them fourth in precedence among the decorations accorded outstanding persons.
In commemoration of Women’s Month this March, get to know the Filipina National Artists and National Scientists.
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National Artists
Francisca Reyes Aquino
National Artist (Dance, 1973)
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The first Filipina to be conferred the National Artist award, Aquino made outstanding contributions to the study and promotion of Filipino folk dances. She traveled all around the country, studied folk dances, and wrote about them in her books, for future generations to learn from. She founded the Filipiniana Folk Dance Troupe in 1945, and the Philippine Folk Dance Society in 1949.
(Photo from Francisca Reyes Aquino collection via CCP Library)
Leonor Orosa Goquingco
National Artist (Dance, 1976)
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Orosa Goquingco, the “Mother of Philippine Theater Dance”, was a pioneer choreographer in balletic, folkloric, and Asian styles. Among her productions are Trend: Return to Native, the Noli Dance Suite, and Filipinescas: Philippine Life, Legend and Lore in Dance.
(Photo from Leonor Orosa Goquingco collection via CCP Library)
Jovita Fuentes
National Artist (Music, 1976)
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In Europe, Fuentes portrayed lead roles in many famous operas such as Cio-cio San in Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly in 1925. She also played the title role in Pietro Mascagni’s Iris and Richard Strauss’ Salome. She founded the Artists’ Guild of the Philippines, which organized a “Tour of Operaland” to promote the love for opera among Filipinos.
(Photo from Jovita Fuentes collection via CCP Library)
Honorata “Atang” de la Rama
National Artist (Theater and Music, 1987)
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The undisputed “Queen of the Kundiman”, Atang de la Rama popularized songs such as “Nabasag ang Banga”, “Ay, Ay Kalisud”, and “Mutya ng Pasig”. She also starred in over 50 zarzuelas, most notably in Dalagang Bukid in 1917. She reprised the lead role when the zarzuela was made into a film, the first full-length Tagalog movie, two years later.
(Photo from Atang de la Rama collection via CCP Library)
Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula
National Artist (Dance, 1988)
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Dr Reyes-Urtula was the dance director of the world-renowned Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company. Mentored by Francisca Reyes Aquino, Reyes-Urtula incorporated her love for folk and indigenous dances in her choreographies.
(Photo courtesy of CCP Library)
Lucrecia Kasilag
National Artist (Music, 1989)
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Dubbed the “First Lady of Philippine Music”, Lucrecia “Tita King” Kasilag was the musical director for the Bayanihan Dance Company, founder of the Bayanihan Folk Arts Center, and a composer of numerous orchestral and chamber music. She was also a former president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
(Photo courtesy of CCP Library)
Andrea Veneracion
National Artist (Music, 1999)
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Tita Andy or Ma’am O.A., as she is lovingly called by friends and admirers, is best remembered for founding the award-winning singing group, the Philippine Madrigal Singers in 1963.
(Photo from the UP Madrigal Singers website)
Daisy Hontiveros-Avellana
National Artist (Theater, 1999)
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The “First Lady of Philippine Theater”, Avellana played the role of Candida Marasigan in the stage adaptation of Nick Joaquin’s Portrait of the Artist as Filipino from the 1950s to the 1970s. She also directed the film version of the play, as well as Walang Sugat in 1971. She and husband Lamberto Avellana (who is also a National Artist) founded the Barangay Theater Guild to promote theater and drama in the Philippines.
(Photo from UST Faculty of Arts and Letters Facebook page)
Edith L. Tiempo
National Artist (Literature, 1999)
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A poet, fictionist, and critic, Tiempo wrote timeless novels such as A Blade of Fern and The Builder. She also established the Silliman National Writers Workshop with husband Edilberto Tiempo.
(Photo from Edith Tiempo collection via CCP Library)
Alice Reyes
National Artist (Dance, 2014)
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Reyes is credited for “developing the dance as a legitimate Philippine art form, and the Filipino dancer as a performer of global standards.” A mentor for many Filipino contemporary dancers and choreographers, she was an artistic director for Ballet Philippines.
(Photo from CCP collection via CCP Library)
National Scientists
Fe del Mundo
National Scientist (1980)
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Dr Fe del Mundo, a renowned pediatrician, accumulated many firsts throughout her lifetime. Among others, she was the first woman National Scientist, and the first female student enrolled at the Harvard Medical School, years before the school opened its doors to women enrollees.
She also established the first pediatric hospital in the country. It is now named after her, the Dr Fe del Mundo Medical Center in Quezon City.
(Photo from NAST)
Carmen Velasquez
National Scientist (1983)
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Dr Velasquez is known for her groundbreaking studies in tropical fish parasitology. Her findings were published in the book Digenetic Trematodes of Philippine Fishes. Her husband is also a National Scientist, phycologist Dr Gregorio Velasquez.
(Photo from NAST)
Encarnacion Alzona
National Scientist (1985)
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Historian Dr Alzona is known as the first Filipina to earn a Ph.D. degree (at Columbia University in the United States in 1923). She was also one of the lead figures for women’s suffrage in the Philippines in the 1930s. She later became chairperson of the National Historical Institute and co-founder of the Philippine Historical Association.
(Photo from NAST)
Luz Oliveros-Belardo
National Scientist (1987)
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Dr Belardo worked extensively on the chemistry of natural products and essential oils from Philippine plants. Her research proved useful in the creation of new flavors and in herbal medication.
(Photo from NAST)
Clara Lim-Sylianco
National Scientist (1994)
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A biochemist and an expert on organic chemistry, Dr Lim-Sylianco made remarkable contributions to the study of mutagens, antimutagens, and bio-organic mechanisms. Her books are used as textbooks in college chemistry courses in many schools throughout the country. Dr Sylianco also shared her expertise with fellow teachers and educators through the Organic Chemistry Teachers Association and the Philippine Biochemical Society (now Philippine Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology).
(Photo from NAST)
Dolores A. Ramirez
National Scientist (1998)
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Dr Ramirez researched on the genetic systems controlling the macapuno endosperm of coconuts and the cytogenetics of the hybrids of rice with related wild species, among others. She is credited for “empowering the scientific community and agricultural sector in the Philippines and the whole world” through her work on plant genetics, particularly on food crops.
(Photo from NAST)
Gelia Castillo
National Scientist (1999)
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Through her works, rural sociologist Dr Castillo gave insights on agricultural and rural development efforts and on attempts to reach the farmer and the rural poor. Her published researches concern the plight of Filipino farmers, the development of rice farming in the country, and challenges facing rural development.
(Photo from NAST)
Clare Baltazar
National Scientist (2001)
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Entomologist Dr Baltazar published Philippine Insects, the first authoritative text on the topic. This, and other publications, especially on Philippine Hymenoptera, provided basis for future biological control in the country.
(Photo from NAST)
Lourdes Cruz
National Scientist (2006)
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Dr Cruz studied toxic peptides from the venom of fish-hunting Conus marine snails, leading in part, to the biochemical characterization of over 50 biologically active peptides from Conus venom. Her works also contributed to further study and development of conotoxins, which could be useful in the fields of neuroscience and medicine.
(Photo from NAST)
Mercedes Concepcion
National Scientist (2010)
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Dr Concepcion made outstanding contributions in the field of demography and in the formulation of population policies here and abroad. She once chaired the committee that reviewed the Philippine Statistical System, which led to the reorganization of the country’s statistical offices.
(Photo from NAST)
Perla Santos-Ocampo
National Scientist (2010)
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Pediatrician Dr Santos-Ocampo’s pioneering studies on diarrheal diseases and on the effects of malnutrition to children’s growth helped the Department of Health in formulating policies to address these problems. She also sat as chancellor of the University of the Philippines-Manila.
(Photo from NAST)
– Rappler.com
Sources: National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Library, “The National Artists of the Philippines” books by CCP and NCCA, National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation biographies, gov.ph (for briefers on the Order of National Artists and the Order of National Scientists), alum.up.edu.ph, kahimyang.info, old.nast.ph, orosa.org, philsciletters.org, scinet.dost.gov.ph, tofil.ph, various news reports
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