The Gawad CCP Para sa Sining 2024 recognized the talents of some of the country’s greatest artists and art supporters across a variety of disciplines, highlighting lifetime achievements that have made a lasting impact on Philippine culture.
On the evening of September 20, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) recognized its Gawad CCP Para sa Sining 2024 awardees through an enthralling conferment ceremony at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater. The awards highlight the lifetime achievements of some of the country’s greatest creative minds, as well as the contributions of those who’ve dedicated their lives to preserving and supporting the Philippine artistic scene.
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Celebrating Cultural and Creative Stalwarts
As the CCP details, the award recognizes artists or groups of artists who have made outstanding contributions to the culture of the region of their birth or residence. The institution also awards outstanding cultural workers who, through their works either in research, curatorship, arts management, or administration, have helped to develop or enrich particular art forms or Philippine culture in general.
Meanwhile, a special award, the Tanging Parangal CCP, recognizes individuals or organizations from the public or private sector for their outstanding services, efforts, and contributions that have significantly affected the development and support of the arts, as well as other cultural activities in the country.
The Gawad CCP Para sa Sining 2024 recognized a total of 13 awardees across a variety of disciplines and categories. Those who received recognition for their artistic talent and contributions include Gener Caringal (dance); Joey Ayala (music); Lea Salonga (theater); Jose Lacaba (literature); Julie Lluch (visual arts); Gino Gonzales (design and the allied arts); and Mario O’ Hara (posthumously, for film).
The Loboc Children’s Choir also received a regional award for their performances, which continue to promote the heritage of Bohol, showing the significance of preserving one’s cultural identity.
Patrons And Protectors
Meanwhile, Marilyn Gamboa received an award for her outstanding contributions as a cultural administrator who has worked tirelessly to protect, sustain, and share Negrense culture in Negros Occidental through different programs and institutions.
The late Senator Edgardo Angara and Zenaida “Nedy” Tantoco received posthumous Tanging Parangal CCP awards for their lifetime work as avid supporters of the arts. Mike de Leon also received a Tanging Parangal CCP for film; though he declined the award, the CCP still saw it fit to preserve his plaque and medallion.
Lastly, renowned conductor Oscar Yatco—who passed away in 2014—gained a Tanging Pagkilala award for his efforts in growing the country’s orchestral scene (in particular, helping the Manila Symphony Orchestra rise to its current success).
Fostering Filipino Talent
The conferment ceremony was hosted by Golden Globe and BAFTA-nominated actress Dolly De Leon, together with National Artist of the Philippines for Music, Ryan Cayabyab. The event opened with a powerful speech from Dr. Jaime C. Laya, CCP’s chairman, who emphasized the importance of recognizing and supporting talent, which provides a platform for artists to continue pursuing their respective crafts.
“We are gathered tonight to honor the men and women who have enriched the lives of Filipinos and peoples everywhere,” he expressed. “We recognize lifetimes of self discipline and hard work that have transformed God-given talent into extraordinary achievement […] This is also therefore an occasion to celebrate achievement and an occasion to envision a future where talent is recognized and fostered, where the arts are accessible to a knowledgeable and appreciative public, where exists a culture of inclusivity—a conviction that arts and are not only for the talented or for the elite, but for all Filipinos.”
This was followed by another rousing speech from Irene Marcos-Areneta, who highlighted the CCP’s role of shaping the Filipino identity and fostering creativity.
“55 years later, the CCP stands as a living testament to that ambition to capture the Filipino spirit in all its complexities,” she explains. “Being Filipino is no easy thing to define. Our culture is dynamic. We are consistently evolving, and the CCP has been a witness to that evolution. More than that, it has challenged us to go beyond what we know and stretch the limits of our imagination: every performance, every artwork, every creative endeavor here is not just a reflection of who we are, but a glimpse of what we could be.”
A Homage To Lifetimes Of Artistic Achievement
Each of the awardees or their representatives stepped on stage to be recognized, receiving both a medallion and plaque before delivering their rousing acceptance speeches. The CCP also honored artists through a sprinkling of engaging performances that paid tribute to their work.
Whether it was a rousing live performance of Joey Ayala’s “Ang Agila,” a medley of songs from Lea Salonga’s most famous roles, a montage of costume designs from Gino Gonzales, or captivating choreography by Gener Caringal from “Ang Sultan,” audiences were all reminded of exactly why these talents are the cultural behemoths that they are today.
Aside from the conferment program, the CCP also staged a commemorative exhibit for the awardees entitled “Luminaries and Legacies,” which opened on September 20 and will be running until September 27, 2024 at the Jaime Zobel Sr. Hall on the 5th floor of the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.
The exhibition features photos, works, and videos that document the notable contributions of awardees, serving as a touching collage of their colorful creative lives.
More than being a celebration of past achievements, the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining is also a call to action for future generations of artists. To quote Dr. Laya in his speech: “As we applaud the lifetime achievement of our honorees, we also present to the talented young Filipinos models of what they can become, and indeed, models that they can better. […] It is a long journey, and the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining is a small, early step.”
Photos by Kim Santos of KLIQ, Inc.
