Aiming to recognize outstanding contributions of Filipino musical works, creators, institutions, and researchers across genres and modes of productions with the highest standard and artistic excellence, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts is launching the 1st NCCA SUDI Awards.
For its launch year, 2020, the SUDI Awards will recognize and honor the nineteen (19) most outstanding musical achievements (whether artist, musical piece, journal, music cultural worker, or music institution, but not limited to) that defined the last 20 years or past two decades.
For the first decade covering the years 2000 to 2009, there will be nine (9) awardees and three (3) special citations while the second decade covers the years 2010 to 2020 and will have 10 awardees and five (5) special citations.
The awarding ceremony for the 1st NCCA SUDI Awards will be livestreamed via NCCA’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel (@NCCAOfficial) in two parts on August 21 and August 28 at 7PM.
The award’s concept came from National Artist for Literature and former NCCA chairman, Dr. Virgilio Almario. NCCA’s Technical Working Group, chaired by Noel Ferrer, initiated the whole awarding process. The word “SUDI”, which is an Ilocano adjective meaning illustrious renowned, celebrated, or famous, was proposed by Dr. Felipe M. de Leon, Jr., a member of the technical working group and head of the NCCA National Committee on Music.
Aside from de Leon, the members of the Technical Working Group for this National Music Awards is also composed of National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, Dinah Remolacio, Michelle Therese “Twinky’ Lagdameo, Mike Constantino and Bayang Barrios.
Under its current chairman, Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso, the NCCA is spearheading the realization of the SUDI Awards with the help of executive director Al Ryan S. Alejandre, deputy executive director Marichu G. Tellano, and supervising officer on administration Bernan Joseph R. Corpuz, through its Plan/Policy Formulation and Programming Division (P/PFPD) – Arts Section headed by Ferdinand Isleta.
A credible jury was tasked to review the body of work and/or significant contribution of the nominees’ that ultimately formed the nineteen (19) significant musical achievements that defined Philippine music during the years 2000-2019 while still adhering to the highest standards of excellence (in form and in content) and even in audience reception and patronage.
In succeeding years, excellent and significant musical contributions (whether artist, musical piece, journal, music cultural worker, or music institution, but not limited to) shall be recognized triennially.
Learn more about the NCCA SUDI National Music Awards and the list of awardees.
ABOUT THE NCCA SUDI AWARDS
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), led by its chairman Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso, executive director Al Ryan S. Alejandre, deputy executive director Marichu G. Tellano, and supervising officer on administration Bernan Joseph R. Corpuz, through its Plan/Policy Formulation and Programming Division (P/PFPD) – Arts Section headed by Ferdinand P. Isleta, spearheads the SUDI Awards.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) SUDI National Music Award is an award-giving body that aims to recognize outstanding contributions in the Philippine music sector with the highest standards and artistic excellence. The award is given to exceptional musical achievements and contributors such as musical works, creators, institutions, and researchers across genres and modes of productions.
To be declared a SUDI Awardee, a credible jury reviews the body of work and/or significant contributions of each nominee, while still adhering to the highest standards of excellence (in form and in content) and even in audience reception and patronage.
For the year 2020, the 1st NCCA SUDI Award technical working group together with the 2020 SUDI Board of Jury, recognized the most exceptional achievements and contributors in the Philippine music sector in the past two (2) decades. From the years 2000 – 2009, there were nine (9) awardees. For the years 2010 – 2020, there were ten (10) awardees. Additionally, eight artists, institutions, and music projects, were specially cited for the twenty years.
The NCCA SUDI Awards began its search last 2018 under the leadership of former NCCA chairman and National Artist for Literature Dr. Virgilio S. Almario, together with former head of the National Committee on Music Prof. Mauricia D. Borromeo. It was later adapted by the NCCA's current chairman Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso, through the NCCA Board of Commissioners, Commissioner for the Arts Dr. Roland B. Tolentino, alongside incumbent head of the National Committee on Music Dr. Felipe M. de Leon, Jr. In 2019, the first installment of the award was spearheaded by music industry expert Manuel Ferrer with National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, under the NCCA Arts Section, headed by Ferdinand Isleta, through project manager and arts prize officer Isabelle Tee. Subsequently, a SUDI Technical Working Group was formed consisting of various members from the Philippine Music Sector to further develop the Awards.
The National Music Awards got its official award name, SUDI, an Ilokano word meaning “illustrious renowned, celebrated, or famous.” SUDI was proposed by Dr. Felipe M. De Leon, Jr.
The award shall triennially recognize artists and musical practitioners, may it be mainstream, independent, traditional, or contemporary, and producers to encourage them to create, perform, record, and develop their music.
ABOUT THE NCCA
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Philippines is the overall policy making body, coordinating, and grants giving agency for the preservation, development and promotion of Philippine arts and culture; an executing agency for the policies it formulates; and task to administering the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA) — fund exclusively for the implementation of culture and arts programs and projects.
The government’s support for cultural development is particularly highlighted by the passage of R.A. 7356 that created the NCCA. The coordination among the cultural agencies was strengthened by the virtue of Executive Order No. 80, which placed the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the National Historical Institute (now, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines), the National Museum of the Philippines, The National Library (now, The National Library of the Philippines), and the Records, Management, and Archives Office (now, the National Archives of the Philippines) under the NCCA umbrella. Further, through Republic Act No. 9155, administratively attached the earlier aforementioned five cultural agencies to the NCCA, including now the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (Commission on the Filipino Language). Thus, the NCCA is responsible for culture and the arts in the Philippines — and, if not in the name, the de facto Ministry of Culture.
The Commission together with the six cultural agencies works with the principle of partnership, collaboration and shared responsibility in achieving effectively and efficiently the implementation of cultural programs as well as maximizing of resources.
The NCCA was created to serve as the presidential inter-agency commission to coordinate cultural policies and programs.
