MANILA - Concerned artists groups, among them National Artists, are set to march in protest against the allegedly "anomalous" declaration of some National Artist Award winners this year.

Leading the protest are National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Bienvenido Lumbera, and National Artist for theater Salvador Bernal, along with the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP).

The artists questioned Malacañang's alleged addition of 4 new National Artists who weren't included in the original list submitted by the Cutural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the National Commission of Culture and Arts (NCCA), the agencies principally tasked to administer the awards.

Almario said the most controversial of the 4 declared winners is Cecille Guidote-Alvarez, the executive director of NCCA and a presidential adviser on culture to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

CAP representatives also said that the Palace had by-passed a board decision of CCP and NCCA not to make Carlo J. Caparas a National Artist for Visual Arts and Film after he was rejected from nominations twice.

Almario and his peers described the 4 winners as "DNA" or "Dagdag National Artists."

Alvarez, however, had a different take on the label, saying that DNA means she is a "dedicated national artist." As a culture and arts advocate for over 50 years, Alvarez insisted she never had her name inserted in the list of National Artist nominees submitted to the President for approval.

"Tanungin niyo pa si President Arroyo, hindi ko siya binulungan," Alvarez said in an interview on ABS-CBN News. She added that her critics have "personal grudges" against her.

Remove presidential prerogative

Meanwhile, Akbayan Representatives Risa Hontiveros and Walden Bello filed a resolution in Congress to investigate the matter.

House Resolution 1305 also calls for amendments to Presidential Proclamation 1001, signed by former President Ferdinand Marcos, which created the National Artist awards.

In a press statement, Hontiveros said the resolution seeks to remove the president's role in selecting National Artists so that the award "cannot be used to pay political debts or to achieve any political agenda."

She also called on Caparas and Alvarez to refuse the National Artist honors out of a sense of propriety and to mitigate controversy. Hontiveros insisted that Alvarez should not have been nominated since she holds a government position as executive director of the NCCA.

"I do not discount their cultural and artistic contributions but their selection casts doubts on the integrity and credibility of the National Artist Awards. It would be dishonorable to accept the title," she said in a statement.

National Artists are selected through a rigorous consultation process with artists, art lovers, and other concerned parties. After this, a short list is submitted to the Board of Directors of the NCAA and the CCP, which administer the awards. The two agencies will then submit a final list to the President for approval.

No political color

However, NCCA Chairman Dr. Vilma Labrador appealed to the public to let go of intrigues and respect Arroyo's decision in selecting the 2009 National Artists.

She defended Caparas and Alvarez, who have both been criticized for being allegedly "unqualified" for the award.

Labrador said the two had passed the Board's criteria, and their nominations for the award did not violate any laws. While there are many talented Filipino artists, she said, not all can be awarded the National Artist distinction.

"Pana-panahon lang yan. Sana hindi nila ilagay ang politics dito dahil gusto lang natin bigyan ng recognition ang mga nararapat na tao," she said.

Despite statements issued by Alvarez and Caparas defending their right to the award, protesting artists' groups say will not back down until the issue is resolved. "Yung mga taong nilagay ni Gloria, tangihan ang ibinigay sa kanila," Almario said.

The artists' protest march is scheduled for Friday, August 7, 2 p.m. at the Cultural Center of the Philippines grounds in Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

Aside from Caparas and Alvarez, other National Artist awardees this year are Manuel Urbano (film and broadcast arts), Lazaro Francisco (literature), Francisco "Bobby" Mañosa (architecture), Jose "Pitoy" Moreno (fashion), and Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (visual arts). With reports from Marie Lozano and Nadia Trinidad, ABS-CBN News.