Meet the 10 new National Artists of the Philippines

Rafael ‘Nonoy’ Catalino Froilan is universally recognised as the Philippines’ premier danseur. Born in Calbiga, Samar, he initially took up a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at the University of the East before finding his true calling in dance. For decades, he was the leading male figure of Ballet Philippines, serving as a principal dancer since 1973 and partnering with the country’s top local and world-renowned ballerinas. His career elevated the technical standard for male dancers in the country, and major works were choreographed explicitly for him by foreign and local choreographers.

Beyond performing on stage, Froilan has devoted his later career to the academe, teaching classical ballet to younger generations and ensuring that the rigorous discipline of dance continues to thrive. He served as a faculty member of the Philippine High School for the Arts and continues to hold master classes for various ballet schools and companies. Furthermore, he choreographs and facilitates dance workshops across the country, while running a video company dedicated to documenting regional performances, ensuring that local dance heritage is preserved.

Maria Beatriz ‘Patis’ Fabella Pamintuan Tesoro is widely acknowledged as one of the prominent figures in Philippine Fashion who remains active to this day. Her primary career focus has been the revival and preservation of indigenous Philippine textiles, most notably the piña fabric. In the 1980s, she successfully lobbied to establish training courses for the next generation of piña producers, effectively rescuing the declining industry. She brought the traditional baro’t saya and Barong Tagalog into modern-day life by infusing them with updated tailored fits, intricate beading and her own signature embroidery designs.

By helping establish the Katutubong Filipino Foundation, Tesoro actively supported local weaving communities, ensuring they have sustainable livelihoods. Her compound in San Pablo, Laguna, serves as a living extension of her cultural advocacy, functioning as an atelier where she mentors local artisans in traditional embroidery techniques. Through her extensive workshops and educational programmes, she continues to teach younger designers the value of slow, intentional production and traditional craftsmanship over fleeting trends.

Read more: Patis Tesoro shows no signs of slowing down in her effort to preserve and promote Filipino design

Recognised posthumously after his passing on June 18, 2024, Armando ‘Bing’ Lao was a master screenwriter and educator who significantly altered the landscape of independent Philippine cinema. He introduced his ‘Found Story’ screenwriting methodology, which encourages filmmakers to draw narratives from real-world, observable environments rather than contrived plots. His own screenplays for acclaimed films such as Kinatay and Takaw Tukso, alongside his screenplay supervision for Kubrador, brought his distinct realism to the screen and garnered critical international recognition.

His ‘Found Story Screenwriting Workshop’ produced an entire generation of critically acclaimed directors and writers. Lao shared his decades of writing experience with over 40 batches of aspiring artists, serving as a creative consultant and mentor to numerous Filipino filmmakers. Under his guidance, modern masterpieces were born, cementing his status as a foundational figure who built a cultural archive of Filipino experiences and heritage through film.

Read more: ‘Enjoy Your Stay’ at Cinemalaya 2026: a stark reflection of the migrant experience

To be awarded posthumously after his passing on September 26, 2025, Gregorio C Brillantes was one of the country’s most celebrated fictionists and essayists. His multi-awarded literary works, most notably The Distance to Andromeda and Other Stories, masterfully blended elements of faith, science fiction, and the middle-class Philippine experience. Often labelled a Catholic writer, he transcended this categorisation to explore realist fiction that captured the political milieu of his time, from the Marcos regime to the social unrest that defined the postwar Philippines.

As an editor and journalist, his sharp editorial direction shaped several national publications. He served as a major influence on younger writers exploring modernism in Philippine English literature. His stories, which span from country doctors facing mortality to families dealing with rising floodwaters, showcase a unique philosophical approach to storytelling. His collected works remain a testament to his mastery of the short story format and his enduring relevance in local literature.

Nicanor G Tiongson is a premier scholar, critic and playwright who has dedicated his career to the study of Philippine culture and theatre. He extensively researched and documented traditional theatrical forms, such as the komedya and the sinakulo, situating them within modern contexts. Through his collected essays and plays, he reimagined ancient forms and historical texts—such as his work Pilipinas Circa 1907—to amplify their continuing relevance in the present day and represent the Filipino nationalist struggle.

As a former artistic director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and a founding member of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, he implemented programmes that institutionalised cultural research. He remains a pillar in the academe as a professor emeritus at the University of the Philippines Diliman. His extensive historical research and published volumes continue to provide essential reading materials for theatre enthusiasts and scholars alike, cementing his legacy in the advancement of national culture.

Born on October 14, 1929, in Sta Maria, Bulacan, Alfredo S Buenaventura is a composer, conductor and educator whose compositions integrated Philippine epics, legends and folk themes into classical music formats. Over his career, he created more than 50 major works, including full-length operas such as Maria Makiling (1961) and Diego Silang (1966), as well as symphonies and cantatas. He frequently utilised indigenous musical instruments in his compositions, successfully marrying traditional folk elements with romantic and contemporary styles.

He also served as the dean of the Centro Escolar University Conservatory of Music, where he shaped the musical education of countless students and advocated for the continued performance of original Filipino compositions. A two-time recipient of the Republic Cultural Heritage Award, Buenaventura dedicated his life to ensuring that the country’s musical identity is properly documented and celebrated. His works have been performed in international virtuoso concerts and religious presentations worldwide.

Read more: The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates 50 years and beyond

To be conferred posthumously, Teodoro L Hilado was the pioneer of professional lighting design in the Philippines. As the long-time technical director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, he established the professional standards for theatrical lighting and stage management in the country. Before his time, stage lighting was often an afterthought; Hilado transformed it into an essential artistic element that complemented the narrative and mood of local theatre productions.

He personally trained a vast majority of the current generation of technical directors and lighting designers. By establishing formal training modules and continuously mentoring theatre technicians, he proved that the technical arts are as crucial to the success of a play as the performance itself. The foundation he built ensures that Philippine theatre productions remain technically competitive and aesthetically sound.

The first female National Artist for Visual Arts, Imelda Cajipe Endaya is a prominent painter, printmaker and installation artist recognised as a leading voice in contemporary Philippine art. Her artistic career is defined by her staunch advocacy for women’s rights and the exploration of the Filipino diaspora. Starting as a printmaker in the early Seventies, she eventually expanded into painting and mixed media, creatively using recycled materials such as sawali (bamboo mats), papier-mâché and found household objects to address socio-political issues, colonial mentality and the export of female labour.

She is a co-founder of Kasibulan (Kababaihan sa Sining at Bagong Sibol na Kamalayan), a collective that empowered women artists to claim their space in the local male-dominated art scene. She also initiated the publication of Pananaw: Philippine Journal of Visual Arts, serving as its first editor. Her works are widely studied in art history programmes for their strong sociopolitical messaging and continue to be exhibited internationally, affirming her place in the global art discourse.

Read more: Rooted in resistance: Imelda Cajipe Endaya featured at an exhibition at the National Gallery Singapore

Nunelucio M Alvarado is a vanguard of social realism in the Philippines. Hailing from Negros Occidental, his striking, angular paintings depict the daily struggles and resilience of the region’s sugar workers, or sacadas. Using rough features and strong, faded colours, his oil-on-canvas works—such as Namumugon sa Kampo ng Tubo—capture the hidden resentment, physical toll and enduring strength of marginalised agricultural labourers in the provinces.

He founded the Pintor Kulapol group to encourage community-based art in the regions. His grassroots approach to art-making has inspired numerous regional artists to draw directly from their local socio-economic realities rather than conforming to Manila-centric aesthetics. By staying rooted in his hometown and continuously painting the plight of the working class, Alvarado successfully brought the harsh realities of the provinces to the forefront of Southeast Asian contemporary art.

NOW READ

Luminaries and Legacies: Inside the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining 2024 awards night

40 other important Filipino visual artists who are not yet National Artists

Building an enduring legacy: Patis Tesoro’s ‘Filipiniana is Forever’ benefit show