A panel in the House of Representatives has adopted a resolution filed by 24 lawmakers led by House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Tingog party list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez endorsing the late Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr. for the National Artist Award for Film.
The House committee on basic education and culture led by Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo cited the importance of House Resolution 176, noting that Revilla had great contributions to the Philippine entertainment industry.
The Romualdez couple and 22 other lawmakers filed HR 1176 to express the sense of the 300-strong House of Representatives to include Revilla, father of Sen. Ramon Revilla, Jr., in the roster of awardees.
They cited that the popular action star’s immense contributions to the Philippine culture and arts, particularly to the country’s entertainment industry “should not go unrecognized.”
“Ramon Revilla Sr. is a renowned entertainment icon, actor, producer, writer and director, and a public servant. Through the years, he has contributed immensely in the development of Philippine art,” the lawmakers said in the resolution.
“His movies depicted not only the Filipino way of life but also our unique culture and strong ideas,” they said.
Issued in 1972, Proclamation 1001 created the National Artist Award, which is jointly administered by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and conferred by the President of the Philippines
The Order of the National Artists is the highest honor conferred to Filipino artists who have made distinct contributions to the fields of literature, music, dance, theater, visual arts, film, broadcast arts, fashion design and architecture, and the arts.
The authors of the resolution are mostly members and allies of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats led by Majority Leader Martin Romualdez as President and Sen. Bong Revilla as chairman.
They noted that Revilla Sr. received several notable awards, which include FAMAS Best Actor award in 1973, Outstanding Producer Award in 1976, Most Outstanding Actor in 1979, and Box Office King.
They also cited that the former senator also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Catholic Mass Media in 2011 and on July 1 this year, he was conferred with the Sino-Phil Asia International Peace Award for Performing Arts.
Some of the notable films he made were Nardong Putik: Kilabot ng Cavite, Pepeng Agimat: Sa Daigdig ng Kababalaghan, and Hulihin si Tiagong Akyat.
“Senator Ramon Revilla, Sr is an embodiment of talent, intelligence, artistry that makes him befitting of the title of National Artist,” the lawmakers said.