Palace names 10 new National Artists
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sept. 1 has officially declared ten new National Artists for 2025 through Proclamation No. 1414.
The awardees include Nicanor Tiongson and the late Gregorio Brillantes for Literature, along with Imelda Cajipe Endaya and Nunelucio Alvarado for Visual Arts. Endaya is the first female artist recognized in visual arts.
Architect Gabriel Formoso, dancer and choreographer Rafael "Nonoy" Froilan, fashion designer Maria Beatriz "Patis" Tesoro, screenwriter and film director Armando "Bing" Lao, lighting designer Teodoro Hilado, and composer Alfredo S. Buenaventura round out the list.
Four of the ten honors are awarded posthumously to Formoso, Lao, Brillantes, and Hilado.
With ten honorees, this is the largest group named at once in the award's history, expanding the total roster of National Artists from 81 to 91. The 2025 batch breaks the previous record set in 1997, when nine individuals were recognized in one cycle.
The details regarding the official conferment ceremony will be announced at a later date.
Meet the 10 new National Artists:
Nicanor Tiongson — Literature
Nicanor G. Tiongson is a scholar, critic, playwright, and professor emeritus at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He has spent much of his career studying Philippine culture and traditional theater forms, including the komedya and sinakulo. His work has also explored the country's film, theater, and cultural history, including through his recent book Manong: The Life and Works of Gerardo de Leon.
Tiongson is a founding member of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and previously served as artistic director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. His extensive research and writing have helped document and interpret Philippine culture and the arts for succeeding generations.
Gregorio Brillantes — Literature
The late Gregorio C. Brillantes was a celebrated Filipino fictionist, essayist, journalist, and editor, known for works like The Distance to Andromeda and Other Stories, which explored themes of faith, science fiction, and Filipino life. Brillantes was also a Palanca Awards Hall of Famer and one of the country's respected writers of short fiction. Brillantes also held editorial positions at major Philippine publications and influenced younger generations of Filipino writers. He received the National Artist award posthumously following his death in September 2025.
Imelda Cajipe Endaya — Visual Arts
Imelda Cajipe Endaya is a painter, printmaker, and installation artist known for works that explore women's experiences, Philippine history, and social issues. She began as a printmaker in the 1970s before expanding into painting and mixed-media works using materials such as sawali, fabric, and found objects. She is a co-founder of KASIBULAN, a women's art collective that helped create space for Filipino women artists. Her work has been exhibited internationally and is held in collections including the National Museum of the Philippines, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the National Gallery Singapore. With her recognition, Endaya is the first woman to be named a National Artist for Visual Arts.
Nunelucio Alvarado — Visual Arts
Nunelucio Alvarado is a visual artist from Negros Occidental known for his socially conscious works depicting the lives of marginalized communities. His paintings often focus on sugar workers, or sacadas, and the struggles of agricultural laborers in the region. He studied Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines Diliman and later studied advertising in Bacolod City. Alvarado co-founded Pamilya Pintura and founded the Pintor Kulapol group, helping strengthen the regional art scene outside Metro Manila. His work has earned recognition including the CCP Thirteen Artists Award and the Philip Morris ASEAN Arts Award Grand Prize.
Gabriel Formoso — Architecture
Gabriel P. Formoso was a prominent Filipino architect whose work helped shape modern Manila. He established his architectural firm in 1939 and became known for incorporating tropical functionalism into residential and institutional structures. Among the projects associated with his firm are the Asian Institute of Management building, Lepanto Building, Central Bank of the Philippines complex, and Valley Golf Club. Formoso also mentored younger architects and emphasized designing spaces around the needs and lifestyles of the people who would use them. He is being recognized posthumously following his death in 1996.
Rafael “Nonoy” Froilan — Dance
Rafael “Nonoy” Catalino Froilan is one of the Philippines' most prominent male ballet dancers. Born in Calbiga, Samar, he initially studied business administration at the University of the East before pursuing dance. He became a principal dancer of Ballet Philippines in 1973 and performed alongside some of the country's leading ballerinas. Froilan later focused on teaching, serving as faculty at the Philippine High School for the Arts and conducting master classes and dance workshops. He has also worked to preserve regional dance heritage through documentation and continues to contribute to Philippine dance education.
Maria Beatriz “Patis” Tesoro — Design
Maria Beatriz “Patis” Tesoro is a prominent figure in Philippine fashion known for championing traditional Filipino textiles and craftsmanship. Much of her work has focused on preserving piña fabric and supporting the communities that produce it. In the 1980s, she helped establish training programs for the next generation of piña producers as the industry faced decline. She also brought traditional garments such as the baro’t saya and barong Tagalog into contemporary fashion through updated cuts, embroidery, and embellishments. Tesoro also helped establish the Katutubong Filipino Foundation and continues to mentor artisans and younger designers.
Armando “Bing” Lao — Film and Broadcast Arts
Armando “Bing” Lao was a screenwriter, educator, and mentor who played a major role in Philippine independent cinema. He developed the “Found Story” approach to screenwriting, which encouraged filmmakers to draw stories from real-life environments and observations. Lao wrote screenplays for films including Kinatay and Takaw Tukso and supervised the screenplay for Kubrador. Through his Found Story Screenwriting Workshop, he mentored more than 40 batches of aspiring filmmakers and writers. Lao was recognized posthumously following his death in June 2024.
Teodoro Hilado — Theater
Teodoro L. Hilado, who passed away in Dec. 23, 2015, was a pioneer of professional lighting design in the Philippines. He served for many years as technical director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where he helped establish standards for theatrical lighting and stage management. Hilado pushed lighting beyond its role as a technical requirement, treating it as an essential part of a production's storytelling and atmosphere. He also trained and mentored generations of technical directors and lighting designers in the country. Hilado is being honored posthumously for his lasting contributions to Philippine theater.
Alfredo S. Buenaventura — Music
Alfredo S. Buenaventura is a composer, conductor, and educator whose work incorporates Philippine legends, epics, and folk traditions into classical music. Born in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, in 1929, he has composed more than 50 major works, including the operas Maria Makiling and Diego Silang. His compositions often combine indigenous instruments and Filipino musical elements with classical and contemporary styles. Buenaventura also served as dean of the Centro Escolar University Conservatory of Music, where he helped shape generations of musicians. He is a two-time recipient of the Republic Cultural Heritage Award and has had his works performed internationally. (with reports from Camille Santiago)