32 Filipino artists honored at 18th Ani ng Dangal Awards for Global Achievements in the Arts

Art as a personal journey. This phrase defined the dedication of the thirty-two (32) artists honored with the Harvest of Honor at the 18th Ani ng Dangal Awards held at the Metropolitan Theater Ballroom on February 27, 2026.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), as it closed the National Arts Month celebration this year, recognized the pride and voice of the Filipino people through individuals and groups who have excelled in their respective artistic fields on the international stage.

“Ang tapang na iharap ang ating wika, ang ating imahen, ang ating kasaysayan, ang ating mga kuwento sa entablado ng mundo … Ang paninindigan na nagsasabing ang Filipino na may sariling tinig, may dangal at may sariling henyo,” said NCCA Chair and Executive Director Eric B. Zerrudo during his speech.

The prestigious annual ceremony was also graced by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, who joined NCCA Chair Zerrudo and NCCA Commissioner for the Arts Lordinio Vegara in presenting the Ani ng Dangal trophies to the awardees.

In the field of Architecture and Allied Arts, five (5) awardees were recognized for their outstanding international achievements. These include GFP Architects (GFPA), represented by Architect-of-Record and Partner-in-Charge Ar. Annette Gaddi-Liganor, which won Best Residential High-Rise Architecture at the Asia Pacific Property Awards. Arch. Normandy N. Canlas of Normandy Architects received the Best Planned Beach Resort Hotel Project of 2025 and was also honored as the Most Creative Architect of 2025 at the Global Architect and Builder Awards (GABA) – Malaysia Edition. Erven B. Digal of Digal Architect and Builders was named Best Architect for Institutional Project 2025 at the same awards.

Meanwhile, SGS Designs Landscape Architecture by Vic Lopez Dul-loog garnered the Outstanding Award in Cultural and Urban Landscape from the International Federation of Landscape Architects – Asia Pacific Region (IFLA-APR), while ASYA earned the 5-Star Best Residential Renovation/Redevelopment (Philippines) recognition at the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2025. In addition, the NCCA also conferred recognition to William Ti, winner of the World Architecture Festival (WAFX) 2021 Masterplan Category, who was originally scheduled to receive the award during the 17th Ani ng Dangal in 2025.

Eight artists and groups were recognized in Music. Among them is Ian Gabriel Corpuz, winner of the 11th Annual Composer’s Competition of Chorus Austin for his composition Laudate Dominum. The University of Santo Tomas Singers, led by Fidel Calalang Jr., was awarded for winning the Grand Prize and Oak Tree of Derry Trophy at the City of Derry International Choir Festival, while the Philippine Meistersingers under Ramon Lijauco Jr. received the Rimini Grand Prix at the 18th Rimini International Choral Competition. Sola Gratia Chorale, led by Cyril Punay, emerged as the 4th Asia Choral Grand Prix Champion.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Chamber Singers under Anna Tabita Abeleda-Piquero and the Far Eastern University Chorale led by Roijin Suarez were both finalists in the 2025 Asia Choral Grand Prix at the Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival. Fabian Obispo received the Outstanding Sound Design Award at the 2025 Lucille Lortel Awards, while Michelle Mariposa emerged as the Grand Final Winner of the 2025 Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition.

For Visual Arts, two artists were honored: Christopher G. Andres, who won First Place in the 2023 FIBA Photo Contest, and Gina Custodio Meneses, who won the Global 50/50 “This is Gender: Gender and Disability” Photo Contest 2025.

Five honorees were recognized in Literary Arts. These include John Bengan, Roehl Joseph Dazo, Christian Jil R. Benitez, and Alvin B. Yapan, who were recognized as winning translators and writer under PEN Presents x International Booker Prize. Also honored was Merlie M. Alunan, recipient of the 2025 International Writers Award from the Royal Society of Literature (RSL).

In Cinema, three artists were recognized for their achievements: Judy Ann Santos, who won Best Actress at the 45th Fantasporto International Film Festival in Portugal in 2025; Joselito Altarejos, who received the Best Director award for Foreign Feature Film at the Ahmedabad International Film Festival; and Laurice Guillen, who was also recognized as Best Actress at the same festival.

Seven awardees were recognized in Dance. Ric Russell Matawa Abao and Axel Rose Canama Paypa won gold medals at the Negeri Sembilan International Dancesport Championship. The Cavite Indayog Cultural Dance Troupe earned the Gold Prize in the Folk Dance Adult Formation category at WDF 2025 under the Korea Dance Organization. Folks Jumpers were named champions of the Adult Division at the World Dance Crew Championship (WDCC) 2025, while Legit Status became World Champion in the MegaCrew Division of the World Hip Hop Dance Championship organized by Hip Hop International.

Jeff Keffier C. Evangelio won the International Champion title in the Solo Division of the Champions Tour International Street Dance Festival, Choreo ’N Cream became World Champion in the Open Division of World Supremacy Battlegrounds, and Makiling Dance of the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) was named Overall Grand Champion at the Asia Pacific Arts Festival (APAF).

Finally, in Design, two artists were recognized for their international achievements. Chad Gabrielle Tanutan was named Top Designer in the Men’s Shoe Individual Category at the 13th International Footwear Design Competition of the Confederation of International Footwear Associations (CIFA). Meanwhile, Ivan Cedric Fabia was recognized as Top Designer in the Lady’s Boot Individual Category at the same competition, Overall Winner of the Design-a-Bag Competition 2024, and First Prize Winner in the Fresh Facets Category of the Singapore Jewelry Design Awards.

On behalf of the awardees, Ani ng Dangal Honoree for Cinema Laurice Guillen delivered the acceptance speech wherein she emphasized that art is a personal journey shaped by passion, struggles, mentorship, and authentic self-expression rather than a carefully planned career path.

“While we are here to celebrate the accolades we have received, I believe the true value of this occasion lies in sharing our individual struggles, our unique journeys and the philosophies we hold dear,” Guillen added.

The Ani ng Dangal, or Harvest of Honor, is a state recognition conferred by the NCCA as one of the culminating highlights of National Arts Month (NAM), celebrating the global achievements of Filipino artists and cultural workers. The Ani ng Dangal trophy is stylized sarimanok conceptualized by National Artist for Visual Arts Abdulmari Imao, which represents the Filipino artist’s achievements in the global stage.

The logo of Ani ng Dangal, stylized rice stalk, alludes to the rice harvest as metaphor for an art harvest: a product of the creative process that expresses the dreams, aspiration, and ideals of the Filipino artist. It bears seven grains, which is representative of the seven arts, while its bright colors evoke the festive mood of NAM, symbolizing the abundance and excellence of Filipino artistry.