A citizen engaged in any traditional art uniquely Filipino whose distinctive skills have reached such a high level of technical and artistic excellence and have been passed on to and widely practiced by the present generation in his/her community with the same degree of technical and artistic competence
Order of National Artists of the Philippines presents the highest form of recognition to Filipino artists for their contributions in the arts and letters
Conferred every 3 years through rigorous deliberation and selection process facilitated by 2 major cultural offices, NCCA and Cultural Center of the Philippines
Living artists who have been Filipino citizens for the last ten years prior to nomination as well as those who have died after the establishment of the award in 1972 but were Filipino citizens at the time of their death
Artists who have helped build a Filipino sense of nationhood through the content and form of their works
Artists who have distinguished themselves by pioneering in a mode of creative expression or style, making an impact on succeeding generations of artists
Artists who have created a significant body of works and/or have consistently displayed excellence in the practice of their art form, enriching artistic expression or style
Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through prestigious national and/or international recognition, awards in prestigious national and/or international events, critical acclaim and/or reviews of their works, and/or respect and esteem from peers within an artistic discipline
"Barter of Panay" - mural in the Virata School of Business in UP Diliman, it is rendered in the Abstract Expressionist style without rendering human forms. It is also referencing the trade between Datu Puti and King Marikudo
His combined drawings and stories inspired the filmmakers to create adaptations on the big screen, "Pedro Penduko" - young superhero appeared in Coching's work
National Artist for Film, his films adapted the play with the collaboration of his wife, actress, director and writer Daisy Hontiveros Avellana, she played the lead character (Candida Marasigan) in both film and theater