MANILA, Philippines—Shining a spotlight on the boundless creativity and vibrant spirit of the Filipino community during the National Arts Month (NAM) celebration with the theme “Ani ng Sining, Bayang Malikhain,” the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) paid tribute to twenty-six (26) exceptional Filipino talents at the 16th Ani ng Dangal Awards, held on February 20, 2024, at the iconic Metropolitan Theater in Ermita, Manila.
This year’s honorees in the field of Architecture and Allied Arts include the esteemed LPPA Design Group/L.P. Pariñas & Associates, recognized for their outstanding achievement of winning the 5-star Best Residential High Rise Architecture at the International Property Awards 2022-2023 in the Asia Pacific, announced in June 2022.
Image Courtesy of NCCA.
In the realm of Cinema, seven (7) outstanding individuals were acknowledged, including six (6) filmmakers and one director, Sam Manacsa, celebrated as the Best Director for “Cross My Heart and Hope to Die” at the 34th Singapore International Film Festival in 2023. These filmmakers garnered prestigious awards from various international film festivals, showcasing the diversity and excellence of Filipino cinematic artistry on the global stage.
For Dance, nine (9) exceptional talents were honored across a spectrum of dance genres, from folk dance to ballet. Notable achievements include La Salle Filipiniana Dance Company’s multiple first-place wins at the International Dance Organization World Dance Festival 2023 and Kristel de Catalina’s remarkable triumph as the Professional Pole Champion and Overall Champion at the Viva Circus Awards 2023.
Image Courtesy of NCCA.
In Literary Arts, Dr. Jesus C. Insilada, acclaimed screenwriter of the Best Film “Sa Paglupad ka Banog” (The Flight of Banog) at the 13th Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival in Malaysia in September 2023, was recognized for his exceptional contribution to Filipino storytelling.
Among the six (6) distinguished awardees in Music are choral groups and conductors who have brought honor to the Philippines through their remarkable achievements in international competitions, including De La Salle University Chorale’s Grand Prix win at the Busan Chorale Festival and Competition and Kammerchor Manila’s triumph at the Choir of the World competition.
Image Courtesy of NCCA.
Finally, in Visual Arts, Albert Emir B. Reyes and Domcar Calinawan Lagto were celebrated for their outstanding artistic prowess, with Reyes winning the 1st Prize in the 18 to 25 category at the 30th Edition of the International Fine Arts Competition 2023 in France and Lagto being named the Grand Winner at the HUAWEI XMAGE Awards in China in 2023.
These remarkable individuals exemplify the rich tapestry of Filipino talent and creativity, embodying the essence of “Ani ng Sining, Bayang Malikhain” as they continue to inspire and elevate Philippine arts and culture on the global stage.