National Artist of the Philippines for Theater

2. According to theater and culture scholar Doreen Fernandez, the Philippine
dramatic tradition has its roots in the rituals and ceremonies of pre-colonial
Filipinos. The way they performed offerings to their gods and held communal
celebrations were already dramatic performances.
During the Spanish colonization, many forms of drama and theater appeared:
from the religious-themed cenaculo, and moro-moro, to the zarzuela, a
traditional Spanish one-act comic opera. During the American period, the
vaudeville, a stage performance that consists of various play acts.
Throughout the years, from the English plays of scholastic theater groups, to
the street theater during the Martial Law years, Filipino dramatic and
theatrical practitioners continue to promote and preserve theater arts in the
country.

4. She is the country’s top post-war
stage actress and theater director.
She was the pride of Roxas City,
Capiz, and together with her
husband, Lamberto Avellana, they
were known as the Vivien Leigh and
and Laurence Oliver of the
Philippines.
January 26, 1917 - May 12, 2013
She was honored as a National Artist of
the Philippines for Theater and Film in
1999.
She starred in plays like Othello (1953),
Macbeth in Black (1959), Casa de Bernarda
Alba (1967), Tatarin. She is best remembered
for her portrayal of Candida Marasigan in the
stage and film versions of Nick Joaquin’s
Portrait of the Artist as Filipino. Her
directorial credits include Diego Silang
(1968), and Walang Sugat (1971). Among her
screenplays were Sakay (1939) and Portrait
of the Artist as Filipino (1955).
Known as “The First Lady of Philippine
Theatre”.

5. 1905 - 1991
awarded as National Artist for
Theater and Music in 1987.
The pride of Tondo, Manila and the Philippines’
“queen of zarzuela and vaudeville”, her Dalagang
Bukid is the epitome of all Filipino zarzuelas
. As a singer, she popularized native folk songs
and kundimans.
By the age of 7, she was already starring in Spanish
zarzuelas such as Mascota, Sueño de un Vals, and
Marina. At the age of 15, she starred in the sarsuela
Dalagang Bukid, where she became known for singing
the song "Nabasag na Banga".
During the American occupation of the Philippines,
Atang de la Rama fought for the dominance of the
kundiman, an important Philippine folk song, and the
sarsuela, which is a musical play that focused on
contemporary Filipino issues such as usury,
cockfighting, and colonial mentality.

6. He is the pride of Ermita, Manilaand the Ateneo
community whopublished and produced 41 plays
asa playwright, a teacher, an actor, anda director.
His plays were knownfor their humor, love,
moraldilemmas and the use of localidioms and
colloquialisms ―
Wanted: A Chaperon, Half an Hour in a Convent,
Three Rats , and Basketball Fight! were just some
of them
1911 - 1995
President Fidel V. Ramos declares Wilfrido Ma.
Guerrero as the National Artist for 1997

7. A native of Bontoc, MountainProvince, he was a
post-war stage andfilm director. His 1939 film
Sakay
wasthe first Filipino hero movie. In1956, his movie
Anak Dalita was adjudged Best Film in the Asia
Pacific Film Festival. A year after in 1957,
hismotion picture Badjao
became atimeless classic for its depiction of
theculture of the Badjao ethnic tribe
1915 - 1991
In 1976, Avellana was named by President
Ferdinand Marcos as the first National Artist of
the Philippines for Film.

8. He was a poet, essayist, critic,actor, dramatist,
and teacher who hailed from Tondo ,Manila.
Considered to be the “father
of Taglish poetry” , he also translated into
Tagalog the drama plays of Shakespeare,
Sophocles, Chekhov, and Ibsen.
1937 - 1997
recognized as the National Artist for 1997 in the
Philippines.

9. This playwright, actor, anddirector from Laoag,
Ilocos Norte made 50 plays in hislifetime such as
The Love of Leonor Rivera, Gabriela Silang, and
The Merry Wives of Manila. In 1953, he founded
the Arena Theater, officially the Philippines’
first formal venue for theatrical performances.
1937 - 1997
He was awarded the title National Artist of the
Philippines for theatre posthumously in 2001.

10. A native of Dagupan , Pangasinan, he is
unparalleled as the Philippines’ “father
of theatrical stage and set design”
.In his more than 300productions, he was known
forhis use of local and indigenous materials like
the abaca, bamboo, rattan, etc.
Image Credit:
1945 - 2011
earned him the award of National Artist for
Theater and Design in 2003.