Arts & Culture Achievements

Philippines
New National Artists Proclaimed

Newly proclaimed National Artists Bienvenido L. Lumbera (Literature), Ramon A. Obusan (Dance), Benedicto R. Cabrera (Visual Arts), Ildefonso P. Santos Jr. (Architecture), Ronald Allan K. Poe a.k.a. Fernando Poe Jr. (Film¬-Posthumous), Ramon Valera (Fashion Design-Posthumous) and Abdulmaari Asia Imao (Sculpture) were conferred the Order of National Artists in Malacañang on June 9 and were honored in a “Gabi ng Parangal” at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main Theater also on the same day.
The seven artists were named National Artists on May 23 for “their preeminent excellence in their own fields and for national genius that contributes to the artistic heritage of the Philippines and the world.”
At the Malacañang conferment ceremonies, the President presented the Order of National Artist Medallion and citations to Lumbera, Obusan, Cabrera, Santos and Imao, and to the families of the late Poe and Valera. The program included speeches by Ambeth Ocampo, chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Emily Abrera, chairman of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
At the CCP’s “Gabi ng Parangal,” the program included performances by the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, Ballet Philippines and Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. Among the guest performers were singer May Bayot who sang “Magbalik Ka Na, Mahal” and three children’s choirs who rendered “Awit ng Pagsinta,” both from Lumbera’s “Rama Han,” and models wearing Ramon Valera gowns. There was also an audio-visual presentation on the life and works of the artists. This year’s “Parangal” was marked by upbeat and youthful presentations in a program sewn together by young actors selected from participants of Tanghalang Pilipino’s Children’s Theater and Teen Theater Workshops.
The Order of National Artists, formerly known as the National Artists Award, is one of the honors of the Philippines that embody the nation’s highest ideals in humanism and aesthetic expression through the distinct achievements of individual citizens. The order is jointly administered by the CCP and the NCCA and conferred by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation by both institutions.

The AwardeesBenedicto "BenCab" Cabrera






Kuwait
Philippine Outstanding Award for Culture & Arts



The PHILIPPINE OUTSTANDING AWARD for CULTURE & ARTS was awarded to me by His Excellency Ambassador Ricardo Endaya on June 12,2006 (Philippine Independence Day) at the Ramada Hotel, State of Kuwait.

Me and my wife, Cecille.

My little angel, Aliyah who's also a part of the audience:-)

A pose with my Family.