Module 10:The National Artists of the Philippines for DANCE Folkloric Group (ROFG), a dance company that

reflects the culture of Filipinos in dance and music.

 Dance scholar B.E.S Villaruz states that the diversity
of Philippines dances, as “manifested in different
dynamics and forms, grew out of the various
contexts and experiences of the people.” Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula
 One of the oldest dance in the country is the 1929-1999
Tinikling. The word tinikling is derived from the Year of Conferment: 1988
movements of the tinikling bird as it wanders in
grass stems and crushes several branches of trees.  Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula was
 Binasuan, Cariñosa, Pandanggo sa Ilaw, and the dance director of the
Maglalatik Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company,
 The Cariñosa is another well-liked dance in the which is considered as the oldest company in the
country. The word Cariñosa is derived from the country.
Spanish word that means “the loving or affectionate  She choreographed creative dances based on her
one.” This coursthip dance is closely associated with impressive research on cultural dances.
the Panay Islands in the Visayas region and is said to  She is a student of Francisca Reyes Aquino
have Hispanic origin.  Singkil, Vinta, Tagabili, Pagdiwata, Salidsid.
 Mindanao, home to the majority of the Muslims in
the country, is known for its sprituality, royalty, and
splendor, which are evident in its dances.
 Muslim dances are characterized by colorful and Alice Reyes
elaborate costumes as well as precise and regal 1942
movements. (Pangalay, Burung Talo, Asik) Year of Conferment: 2014

Francisca R. Aquino  Alice Reyes is the legendary

1899-1983 founder of Ballet Philippines, the country’s premier
Year of Conferment: 1973 ballet dance company.
 She received grants from the John D. Rockfeller III
Foundation and the Music Promotion Foundation of
 Known as the “legendary the Philippines.
mother of Philippine Dance”  She is a choreographer of favorite ballet productions
 She is one of the pioneers of Filipino Folk Dances. such as Cinderella and Romeo and Juliet
Shes is a teacher, nationalist, and the First Filipina to
be awarded of the Order of the National Artists for
Dance. Module 11: The National Artists of the Philippines for Music
 Her 1926 thesis entitled “Philippine Folk Dances and
Games” has been a thorough guide to many  Although the Philippines is located in Southeast Asia,
educators and students in understanding the its popular and contemporary musical tradition is
different dances in the Western because of the Spanish and the American
country. colonization periods.
 Early Philippine music was instrumental and vocal in
Leonor O. Goquingco form.
1917-2005  Because christianity – particularly Catholocism – was
Year of Conferment: 1976 a dominant force during the Spanish era, “religious
music connected to and outside the Catholic liturgy
and a European-inspired secular music adapted by
the Filipinos and reflected in their folk songs and
 Leonor Orosa Goquingco, also known as Cristina music.
Luna, has been dubbed as the Trailblazer, Mother of  During the American period, she explained that
Philippine Theater Dance, and Dean of Filipino Philippine music changed when music started to be
Performing Arts Critics. taught in schools, zarzuela entered the scene, and
 She has pioneered the blending of folk dance and Filipinos were exposed to pop culture, which “gave
ballet, making latter more viable. rise to music created by Filipinos using Western pop
 Her famous choreographies include the following: forms”
The Firebirds, The Clowns, Noli Dance Suite  Philippine contemporary music is heavily influenced
by the West because of colonization.

Ramon Obusan
1938-2006 Antonino R. Buenaventura
Year of Conferment: 2006 1904-1996
Year of Conferment: 1988
 National artist Ramon
Obusan is a dancer, choreographer, stage designer,
and artistic director.  Antonino Ramirez
 In 1972, equipped with valuable amount of research Buenaventura’s legacy to Philippine music, according
and artifacts, Obusan established the Ramon Obusan to the NCCA, is a musical career “that spanned seven
 decades of unwavering commitment to advancing  Maceda’s works have resulted in a vast collection of
the frontiers of Philippine music”. recorded music taken from the remotest regions
 He popularized folksongs from various ethnic groups inthe country.
in the Philippines. Also, Buenaventura brought the  You will see that most of his compositions were
Philippine Army Band to its former glory which was performed as a communal ritual, such as Ugma-
recognized as “the only band that can sound like a ugma, Pagsamba, Udlot-Udlot.
symphony orchestra”  Ethnomusicology is an interdisciplnary study of
 Some of his works are: Ode to Freedom, Echoes of music with other fields such as cultural
the Past, Echoes from the Philippines, History anthropology, performance studies, and dance.
Fantasy, and Triumphal March

Ernani J. Cuenco Lucio D. San Pedro

1936-1988 1913-2002
Year of Conferment: 1999 Year of Conferment: 1991

 An educator, master conductor, and a brilliant

 Ernanin Joson Cuenco, according to the NCCA, had composer, national artist Lucio Diestro San Pedro
written “an oustanding and memorable body of through his works “evoked the folk elements of the
works that resonates with the Filipino sense of Filipino heritage.”
musicality and which embodies an ingenious voice  San Pedro led local bands such as the Banda Angono
that raises the aesthetic dimensions of Numero Uno, the San Pedro Band of Angono, and
contemporary Filipino music.” the Peng Kong Grand Mason Concert Band as master
 As a film scorer, he composed music for the films conductor.
Wild, Wild, Jess and El Vibora, which earned him the  The Devil’s Bridge (orchestral music)
Best Music Award at the Metro Manila Film Festival  Sa Mahal kong Bayan (choral music)
in 1982 and the FAMAS awards, respectively.  Lahing Kayumanggi (Band Music)
 Cuenco is also known for his Filipino love ballads
such as “Kalesa”, Bato sa Buhangin, Gaano Kita
Kamahal, and Inang Bayan, which were enhanced by
adding elements of kundiman to the song.

Jovita Fuentes
1895-1978
Year of Conferment: 1976

 In 1976, Jovita Fuentes made Philippine history by

being given the honor as the first female National
Artist for Music.
 Trained to play a piano at age of five, famous Italian
singer Salvina Fornari mentored her to be a star.
 Jovita Fuentes performed roles in major productions
such as Mimi in Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme and
Princess Yang Gui Fe in Li Tai Pe.
 Her role in the New York production of Madonna
Butterfly was one of her proud moments.

Jose Maceda
1917-2004
Year of Conferment: 1997

 National Artist Jose Maceda was a highly acclaimed

Filipino composer and ethnomusicologist.
 Personalities working in ethnomusicology have
training in music, cultural anthropology, legend,
performance studies, dance, and cultural studies,
dance, and cultural studies, making the
understanding of such music interdisciplinary.