By Genalyn Kabiling Seven outstanding Filipinos are now part of the prestigious list of National Artists in the country. President Duterte has conferred the Order of National Artist on seven artists, praising their significant contributions to Philippine art and culture. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte poses for a photo with the National Artist Awardees following the awarding ceremony at the Malacañan Palace on October 24, 2018. (KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) The 2018 National Artists are Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio for theater and literature, Ryan Cayabyab for music, Eric de Guia also known as Kidlat Tahimik for film and broadcast arts, Francisco Mañosa for architecture and allied arts, and Resil Mojares for literature. Given posthumous recognition were National Artists Larry Alcala for visual arts and Ramon Muzones for literature. "To this year's awardees, I laud you for the passion and dedication to your chosen craft. Your outstanding work does not only inspire self-determination but likewise instil patriotism and bring prestige to our beloved country," Duterte said during the awarding ceremony in Malacañang. "I urge our awardees to never hesitate to pass down their knowledge and skills to the younger generation because it is only by educating and training the youth the legacy and work of our artists can live on," he added. The Order of National Artist is the highest recognition bestowed to Filipino artists with signifiant achievements in local arts and culture. This year’s batch of National Artists has been recommended by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) after a year long selection process. "The new National Artists are icons in their respective fields and disciplines, which have grown richer with their bodies of works and the grounds they broke, and have inspired and influenced generations of artists as well as the Filipino people," the NCCA said in a statement. In the same Palace ceremony, the President bestowed the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) Award to yakan weaver Ambalang Ausalin, blaan mat weaver Estelita Bantilan, and blaan ikat weaver Yabing Masalon Dulo. The Presidential Medal of Merit was given to painter Araceli Limcaco-Dans. Alcala is best known for his cartoons about Filipino life with witty illustrations. In his 56 years of carting, he created more than 500 characters and 20 comic strips including the iconic "Slice of Life." Lapeña-Bonifacio, known as the grand dame of Southeast Asian children's theater, is the founder and playwright-director of the Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas. “All in all what she has achieved is an indigenous fusion of puppetry, children’s literature, folklore and theater,” the NCCA said. Cayabyab is an accompanied composer, arranger and musical director in the music industry. "His compositions reflect a perspective of music that extols the exuberance of life and human happiness," the NCCA said. Kidlat Tahimik is a renowned filmmaker. His notable debut film "Mababangong Bangungot" has been praised here and abroad. His films, even those that lament injustice and violence, are premised on the hope of possible, thought yet unrealised, triumph, according to the NCCA. Mañosa, who designated Sulo Hotel, has created original Filipino forms, speeches with intricate and refined details. "He has developed a legacy of Philippine architecture, which is essential to our Filipino identify and at the same time, deeply appreciated and shared in our world today," the NCCA said. Mojares, founding director of the Cebuano Studies Center, is a teacher, scholar, essayist and historian. Muzones is a Hiligaynon poet, essayist, short story writer, and novelist. He has authored 61 novels.