Palace defends Carlo J's inclusion in National Artist award

Malacañang defended Saturday its choice of this year’s batch of National Artists, which included film director Carlo J. Caparas, amid claims by some groups that the selection was tainted with politics. Acting Executive Secretary and Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said the selection was a product of consultations and the government is ready to defend the awardees. "Lahat naman kung isa-isahin natin ang nominees (If we consider the nominees one by one), I think we can defend the track record and qualifications and reasons they were named as national artists," Claudio said on government-run dzRB radio. This year's selection of National Artists received flak from several artists who questioned some of this year's inductees. [See previous National Artist awardees here] Aside from Caparas, who received the recognition for Visual Arts and Film, this year's National Artist awardees include: Manuel Urbano a.k.a Manuel Conde (Film and Broadcast); Lazaro Francisco (Literature); Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (Visual Arts, Painting, Sculpture and Mixed Media); Cecilla Guidote-Alvarez (Theater); Francisco Manosa (Architecture); and Jose "Pitoy" Moreno (Fashion Design). National Artist for Visual Arts in 2006 Ben Cabrera called the list a mockery, particularly the inclusion of Caparas, a known pito-pito (films shot in just a week) film director of the '90s. Caparas is also a vocal supporter of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

"There used to be prestige," Cabrera said in article posted in Spot.ph. "Carlo J. Caparas won the award for visual arts because he draws comics daw (allegedly). They wanted to put him in Literature because he writes scripts daw (allegedly)," he added. Film Academy of the Philippines director general Leo Martinez was also surprised how Caparas landed on the elite list. "He was obviously added by Malacañang," Martinez said in a separate post on Spot.ph. Meanwhile, Claudio said that while the Palace respects the views of some groups questioning the choice, the choice was a product of a "thorough process." "Kinikilala natin ang pananaw ng iba (We respect the views of others) but we stand by the list and we say it was a product of a thorough process and we stand by the qualifications qualities track record and reputation of those named as National Artists," he said. National Artists will be given medallion and citation, and will also receive a lifetime emolument and material and physical benefits like cash award, a monthly pension, medical and hospitalization benefits. They will likewise receive life insurance coverage, arrangement and expenses for a state funeral, a place of honor, in line with protocular precedence, at national state functions, and recognition at cultural events. - GMANews.TV