Since its inauguration in 1969, the CCP has been the cornerstone of the Philippine cultural landscape, serving as a beacon for artistic expression and cultural dialogue that contributes to national development.





The CCP’s celebration of its 55th anniversary coincided with the conferment of the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining on outstanding Filipino artists and cultural workers, all of them having contributed to the vision and mission of the CCP through their work.
In his acceptance speech, Gawad CCP Awardee for music Joey Ayala recalled the support CCP has given to Filipino artists over the years.
“We have been creating and performing for about four decades and have collaborated with many musicians in the band and in various projects. We could not have sustained our artistic journeys without the jumpstart energy that flowed from the Cultural Center of the Philippines,” enthused Ayala, who credited the CCP outreach programs as the starting point of his long music career.
For Ayala and his fellow awardees — dance visionary Generoso “Gener” Caringal, literary great Jose F. Lacaba, film and broadcast arts legend Mario O’Hara, acclaimed visual artist Julie Lluch, design genius Gino Gonzales, and theater icon Lea Salonga — the Gawad CCP awards represent recognition and a testament to the significance of their arts.
Remembering literary greats National Artists Nick Joaquin, Bien Lumbera, Rolando Tinio, Lino Brocka, and Ishmael Bernal, Lacaba called on fellow artists to speak up and continue the fight for justice and freedom.
Marilyn Gamboa, Gino Gonzales, and Maria Carmen Salonga dedicated their awards to the people who have supported them and their arts throughout the years.
“I don’t think any artist can work in a vacuum. As an artist in this ephemeral art form, I don’t work alone… a career like mine would not be possible without a village, a support system, and the people who are actively behind me,” shared Salonga, who has been working in the industry for 47 years and counting.
For Loboc Children’s Choir musical director and conductor Alma Taldo, the award is a promise to the Filipino people: “a push to do more for our country and fellow citizens, especially in the field of art and culture.”
A posthumous award was given to O’Hara for his outstanding contributions to the Philippine film industry. His niece, Denise O’Hara, who represented the filmmaker’s family, thanked those who have opened their hearts and minds to the stories her uncle courageously told.
Sen. Edgardo J. Angara and Zenaida “Nedy” R. Tantoco were posthumously awarded the Tanging Parangal ng CCP for being staunch supporters of the Philippine arts and culture.
Anna Angara, who received the award on behalf of the late senator, fondly remembered his legacy: “His love for the arts ran deep throughout his life. He believed that culture not only reflects our values and beliefs but also shapes our aspirations, serving as the foundation of our national identity.”
Meanwhile, Anton T. Huang spoke about his late mother and her unwavering passion and dedication to the arts, which continued to resonate in the lives she touched.
The CCP also honored the late Oscar C. Yatco, former conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.
“This is an occasion to celebrate achievement and to envision a future where talent is recognized and fostered, where the arts are accessible to a knowledgeable and appreciative public, and where a culture of inclusivity exists – a conviction that the arts are not only for the talented or the elite but for all Filipinos,” stressed CCP chairman Jaime C. Laya.