PRESIDENT Aquino with newly declared National Artists in ceremonies yesterday in Malacañang JOAN BONDOC

President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday honored nine newly declared National Artists, saying the country was recognizing them not only for their talents and contributions to society but because they “represent the best character of our race.”

“To our National Artists: I know that any medal, any praise, any colorful words are not enough to the contributions in your respective fields and our society,” Mr. Aquino said at the conferment ceremony in Malacañang on Thursday.

“We all agree that when we say National Artist, this is not about a medal just being given to anyone. This means we recognize the National Artist not only for their excellence in performing or creating, but also because they represent the best character of our race,” the President said.

Mr. Aquino said he was honored to meet them and was in awe of their contributions to the arts.

Three of the nine had been named National Artist in 2009, and the rest in 2014.

Conferred the Order of the National Artist were the following: 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 Garcia Reyes, dance; Ramon Santos, music; and Jose Maria Zaragoza, architecture (posthumous).

Those who were awarded posthumously were represented by their spouses or children.

The Order of the National Artists Award (Orden ng Gawad Pambansang Alagad ng Sining) is the highest recognition given to Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts, namely, music, dance, theater, visual arts, literature, film and broadcast arts, and architecture and allied arts.