Punto Por Punto: NCCA reacts to Nora's exclusion from National Artist list
  • 5 years ago
MANILA - The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) reacted to the issue about Nora Aunor's exclusion from the list of National Artists named by President Benigno Aquino III. In an interview on Umagang Kay Ganda's "Punto Por Punto," NCCA Legal Counsel Atty. Trixie Angeles said that the Commission is considering to appeal the inclusion of the artist in the list. Angeles said that there are currently no rules for appeals for the selection of the "Pambansang Alagad ng Sining." However, there is a viable option of returning the list to Malacanang for future consideration. "Kino-consider namin, pero wala po kasing rules para sa appeal sa paghihirang ng pamabansang alagad ng sining...ang meron po ay maaari naming isoli sa Malacanang yung listahan." When asked about whether or not the palace has released an official explanation why Aunor was not included, she said they have received none. "Wala rin po kaming notification galing sa Malacanang ukol doon sa pagpili ng anim, sa pito na nirekomenda namin." Angeles said the the rumors about the non-nomination being due to morality issues also holds no stand. "Malinaw po ang stand ng aming Chairman at ng CCP, na ang hindi naging batayan ng pagiging national artist ang paghirang ng isang pambansang sining ang moralidad." "Kung titnignan ninyo ang criteria, malinaw din po ang criteria: artistry, contribution to the field, originality, at ang body of work...So, wala ditong puwang para doon sa tinatawag nating moralidad." Communication Secretary Sonny Coloma announced on Friday that President Benigno Aquino III has signed and issued on Thursday Proclamation Numbers 807, 808, 809, 810, 811 and 812 declaring the National Artists. The set includes Alice Reyes for Dance, Francisco Coching for Visual Arts, Cirilo Bautista for Literature, Francisco Feliciano and Ramon Santos for Music, and Jose Maria Zaragoza for Architecture, Design, and Allied Arts.