Supreme Court Invalidates Four National Artist Awards

The Philippine Supreme Court invalidated and set aside a July 2009 order by then-President Gloria Arroyo conferring the National Artist award on Cecille Guidote-Alvarez, filmmaker Carlo Magno Jose Caparas, architect Francisco "Bobby" Mañosa, and fashion designer Jose "Pitoy" Moreno, reports Rappler.com. Petitioners Virgilio Almario and Bienvenido Lumbera, both National Artists, and many others, insisted that the award was illegal since the four were not among the nominees shortlisted by the National Commission on Culture and Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Arroyo completely altered the shortlist to accommodate the four, they added.