Senators Pacquiao, Gatchalian Want Ramon Revilla Sr. to Be Recognized as a National Artist
Two senators have recommended the late actor-producer and former senator Ramon Revilla Sr. to be nominated as a National Artist for Film.
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Senator Manny Pacquiao, 41, and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, 46, filed separate resolutions for the Senate to nominate Revilla to the Order of the National Artist screening committee.
In Senate Resolution No. 477 by Pacquiao, filed on July 27, 2020, he identified Revilla as a "renowned entertainment icon, actor, producer, writer and director, and a public servant" whose contribution to the field of art is exceptional.
Pacquiao said, “Through the years, he has contributed immensely in the development of Philippine art. His movies depicted not only the Filipino way of life, but also our unique culture and strong ideas. ”
In Senate Resolution No. 482 by Gatchalian, dated July 29, 2020, the senator noted Revilla's contribution "to Philippine society in general and to Philippine entertainment in particular should not go unrecognized as he is a genuine gem who contributed much to the proliferation and appreciation of the arts in our country. ”
Revilla's son Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. is an incumbent senator.
Film Icon: King of Agimat
On June 26, 2020, Revilla passed away due to heart failure at the age of 93.
He starred in more than 70 films produced by his film company, Imus Productions.
Revilla was also the scriptwriter of his signature films that centered on fantasy creatures and amulets.
Because of this, Revilla's nickname in the film industry was the "King of Agimat."
His films include Nardong Putik: Ang Kilabot ng Kabite (1972), Pepeng Agimat: Sa Daigdig ng Kababalaghan (1973), Hulihin si Tiagong Akyat (1973), Tonyong Bayawak (1979), Pepeng Kuryente (1988), and Ang Mysterious World ni Elias Paniki (1989).
He won the FAMAS Best Actor Award for Hulihin si Tiagong Akyat in 1973.
In 2011, Revilla received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 33rd Catholic Mass Media Awards Night.
He served as senator from 1992 to 2004.
If approved, Revilla will be listed alongside other National Artists for Film, such as directors Lamberto Avellana, Gerardo de Leon, Manuel Conde, Lino Brocka, and Ishmael Bernal, and the “King of Philippine Movies” Fernando Poe. Jr.
The National Artist Award
The Order of National Artist is the highest national recognition for Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the development of the arts.
National Artists are recognized in the categories of Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Fashion Design, Literature, Film and Broadcast Arts, and Architecture and Allied Arts.
The National Artists Award secretariat receives nominations every three years.
The secretariat is made up of representatives from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
The NCCA and CCP will scrutinize each nomination to produce a final list that will be recommended to the President.
After that, the President will issue a presidential proclamation to officially recognize the new National Artist Awardee.
Apart from the National Artist title, the recipient of this award will receive the insignia of the Order of National Artist, citation, and P100,000 in cash for the awardees who are still alive. P75,000 cash will be given to the posthumous awardees.
The living awardee is also entitled to monthly pensions and medical and hospitalization benefits, life insurance, and the right to be granted a state funeral and burial in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
On July 30, 2020, the NCCA and CCP announced that they were accepting nominations for the country's next National Artists. The deadline is December 15, 2020.
This story originally appeared on Pep.ph and has been translated by Esquiremag.ph editors.
