THE Cultural Center of the Philippines and its community of artists, creatives and production staff mourn with the nation in the passing of former President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” C. Aquino III and expresses its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and friends.
PNoy, the son of Senator Ninoy and former President Cory Aquino, passed away on June 24, after he was rushed to the Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City. He was 61.
Elected the 15th president of the Philippines, succeeding Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he served the country from 2010 to 2016.
In 2016, PNoy conferred the National Artists Awards, the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts, to nine distinguished Filipino artists, namely: Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, visual arts (posthumous); Manuel Conde, film (posthumous); Lazaro Francisco, literature (posthumous); Cirilo Bautista, literature; Francisco Coching, visual arts (posthumous); Francisco Feliciano, music (posthumous); Alicia G. Reyes, dance; Ramon Santos, music; and Jose Maria Zaragoza, architecture (posthumous).
It was also during his administration that the second edition of the CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art was green lighted. (PR)
