TWO THOMASIANS were among the ten new National Artists declared by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. this month.
Marcos named the National Artists through Proclamation No. 1414, issued last Sept. 1.
Gabriel Formoso, a 1937 graduate of the defunct UST School of Architecture, was posthumously named National Artist for Architecture and Allied Arts.
Musician Alfredo Buenaventura, who earned his Associate Arts degree from UST in 1951, was declared National Artist for Music.
Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez announced the issuance of the proclamation declaring the latest batch of National Artists last Sept. 9. The proclamation brings the total number of National Artists to 91.
Formoso designed more than 200 residential, industrial and commercial buildings, including the Asian Institute of Management Building, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, PNB Financial Center, Bank of America–Lepanto Building, Pacific Star Building, The Peninsula Manila and the PLDT Sampaloc complex.
He worked with architects Andres Luna de San Pedro, National Artist Pablo Antonio, Sr. and Luis Araneta before establishing GF & Partners. UST recognized Formoso as its Most Outstanding Alumnus in 1974.
Buenaventura’s works drew from Philippine folk melodies, traditions and motifs while using Western classical forms. His notable compositions include the opera Maria Makiling, which received the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1964, and Bayan Kong Mahal.
The Thomasian musician also helped revive rondalla music in schools and communities and served as dean of the Centro Escolar University Conservatory of Music for 30 years.
Also named as National Artists were Nicanor Tiongson and Gregorio Brillantes (posthumous) for Literature; Imelda Cajipe-Endaya and Nunelucio Alvarado for Visual Arts; Rafael “Nonoy” Froilan for Dance; Maria Beatriz “Patis” Tesoro for Design; Armando “Bing” Lao (posthumous) for Film and Broadcast Arts; and Teodoro Hilado (posthumous) for Theater.
The Order of National Artists is the country’s highest recognition for Filipinos who have made distinct and significant contributions to the arts. The last time the award was conferred was in 2022.
Other National Artists who are Thomasians include architects Juan Felipe Nákpil, Leandro Locsin, Sr., Ildefonso Santos, Jr. and Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa and musicians Antonio Buenaventura and Ernani Cuenco. F — M. Gusto
