SEVERAL National Artists on Friday joined the “necrological service” at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and “funeral march” to the National Commission on Culture and the Arts to mark the “death” of the National Artists Awards.
The artists were protesting Malacanang’s decision to add four individuals and drop composer Ramon Santos from the original list of four endorsed for the prestigious awards which started in 1972.
The controversial four: Presidential Adviser on Culture and the Arts Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, fashion designer Jose Moreno, architect Francisco Manosa and komiks writer and movie director Carlo J. Caparas.
On the original list were Santos, the late Tagalog novelist Lazaro Francisco, the late filmmaker Manuel Conde and painter Federico Aguilar Alcuaz.
Ellen Tordesillas’ photos: