55 YEARS OF HARVESTING HONORS AND ARTISTRY

For 55 years, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) has emphasized the importance of supporting and recognizing Filipino talents while providing them with platforms to pursue excellence in their respective art forms.

Since its inauguration in 1969, the CCP has been the cornerstone of the Philippine cultural landscape, serving as a beacon for artistic expression and cultural dialogue that contributes to national development.

The CCP’s celebration of its 55th anniversary coincided with the conferment of the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining on outstanding Filipino artists and cultural workers, all of them having contributed to the vision and mission of the CCP through their work.

“Being Filipino is no easy thing to define. Our culture is dynamic; we are consistently evolving, and the CCP has been a witness to that evolution… every performance, every artwork, every creative endeavor here is not just a reflection of who we are, but a glimpse of what we could be,” said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose speech was read by his sister, Irene Marcos-Araneta.

In his acceptance speech, Gawad CCP Awardee for music Joey Ayala echoed in his acceptance speech during the occasion.

“We have been creating and performing for about four decades and have collaborated with many musicians in the band and in various projects. We could not have sustained our artistic journeys without the jumpstart energy that flowed from the Cultural Center of the Philippines,” enthused Ayala, who credited the CCP outreach programs as the starting point of his long music career.

For Ayala and his fellow awardees – dance visionary Generoso “Gener” Caringal, literary great Jose F. Lacaba, film and broadcast arts legend Mario O’Hara, acclaimed visual artist Julie Lluch, design genius Gino Gonzales, and theater icon Lea Salonga – the Gawad CCP awards represent recognition and a testament to the significance of their arts.

“My art has always been a personal creation that I wanted to share with my audience.  It feels wonderful, as an artist, to be seen, understood, and today, recognized. This award tells me that my art mattered to those who received it. My dances, though wordless, spoke volumes about what is truly inside my heart—a deep love for our country and the art of dance,” said Caringal, who regaled the audience with his wit and candor during his acceptance speech.

In her speech, Lluch confided that receiving the award caused her some uneasiness because she might spend the rest of her artistic life trying to justify it to herself. “Levity aside, the CCP Gawad should spur me on – not to greater heights, but to lower depths that every artist needs to plumb or descend to and touch the festering wounds of suffering humanity.” She prayed that she would be “clay in the potter’s hands, inconsequential in itself, but in the gentle grasp of the Maker, to be transformed into a pure vessel of beauty, to be used serviceably in the sacred altars of the Lord.”

Gamboa, Gonzales, and Salonga dedicated their awards to the people who have supported them and their arts throughout the years.

For his family, teachers, friends, mentors, lighting designers, fairy godmothers, frenemies, theater directors, the staff who built the sets and costumes for various productions, and his studio team who have been intrinsic to his growth and work as a designer, Gonzales said, “I would not be standing here today without all your contributions.”

Marilyn Gamboa dedicated her awards to “the true inspiration behind our hard work—the wonderful people of Negros Occidental, who I hope will have our traditions in art and culture embedded in their hearts and worn with pride.”

“I don’t think any artist can work in a vacuum. As an artist in this ephemeral art form, I don’t work alone… a career like mine would not be possible without a village, a support system, and the people who are actively behind me,” shared Salonga, who has been working in the industry for 47 years and counting.

For Loboc Children’s Choir musical director and conductor Alma Taldo, the award is a promise to the Filipino people: “a push to do more for our country and fellow citizens, especially in the field of art and culture.”

Remembering literary greats National Artists Nick Joaquin, Bien Lumbera, Rolando Tinio, Lino Brocka, and Ishmael Bernal, Lacaba called on fellow artists to speak up and continue the fight for justice and freedom.

“Sa panahong ito na patuloy ang EJK, red-tagging, pagpapakulong at pagdisappear ng mga aktibista, anakpawis, environmentalist, katutubo, artista, at peryodista, para sa akin, paalala ang gawad na ito na kailangan nating magpatuloy sa pakikibaka tungo sa demokrasya, kalayaan, at katarungang panlipunan.  Kaya naman, nanawagan ako sa kapwa mga alagad ng sining na magsalita, makialam, at makibaka. Tandaan natin ang aral ng kasaysayan at makibaka para sa kinabukasan. Never again, never forget,” said Lacaba, who dedicated the awards to his slain brother Eman Lacaba, adding that the event coincidentally happened the day before the anniversary of the Declaration of Martial Law.

A posthumous award was given to O’Hara for his outstanding contributions to the Philippine film industry. His niece, Denise O’Hara, who represented the filmmaker’s family, thanked those who have opened their hearts and minds to the stories her uncle courageously told. “No matter what hat he wore—as writer, director, or actor—he always made sure to present us with the truth.”

Sen. Edgardo J. Angara and Zenaida “Nedy” R. Tantoco were posthumously awarded the Tanging Parangal ng CCP for being staunch supporters of the Philippine arts and culture.

Anna Angara, who received the award on behalf of the late senator, fondly remembered his legacy: “His love for the arts ran deep throughout his life. He believed that culture not only reflects our values and beliefs but also shapes our aspirations, serving as the foundation of our national identity—a heritage we must continue to protect and nurture.”

Meanwhile, Anton T. Huang spoke about his late mother and her unwavering passion and dedication to the arts, which continued to resonate in the lives she touched. “This recognition is more than just an acknowledgment of her work; it is a celebration of her spirit, her vision, and her love for the beauty of Filipino art and culture. She believed that the arts have the power to transcend time, to speak to the soul, and to unite us all.”

Even though he declined the award, filmmaker Mike de Leon was honored with a presentation of his cinematic works.

The CCP also honored the late Oscar C. Yatco, former conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. In accepting the award for Prof. Yatco, NAMCYA President Renato Lucas read a letter written by Yatco’s wife, Brigitte.

“This is an occasion to celebrate achievement and to envision a future where talent is recognized and fostered, where the arts are accessible to a knowledgeable and appreciative public, and where a culture of inclusivity exists — a conviction that the arts are not only for the talented or the elite but for all Filipinos,” stressed CCP chairman Jaime C. Laya.

Hosted by Golden Globe-nominated actress Dolly de Leon and National Artist Ryan Cayabyab, the awarding gala also featured the country’s top talents: Poppert Bernadas, Katutubong Diva Bayang Barrios and the Naliyagan Band, Ernesto Canoy, David Ezra, Floyd Tena, Shaira Opsimar, Ross Pesigan, and Rissey Reyes-Robinson, with the participation of cellist Glenn Aquias and pianist Benedict Magboo, performing with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Maestro Herminigildo Ranera.