Pete Lacaba courageous acceptance speech at CCP awards

Mahigpit ang security sa gabi ng parangal ng Gawad CCP para sa Sining nitong Setyembre 20, 2024, Biyernes, sa The Samsung Performing Arts Theater sa Circuit Makati.

Unang-una na, nariyan si Irene Marcos-Araneta na nagbasa ng pangunahing talumpati ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Dumalo ang National Artists na sina Ricky Lee at Alice Reyes, habang ang isa pang National Artist na si Maestro Ryan Cayabyab ay katuwang ni Dolly de Leon sa pagho-host.

Present din ang Miss Universe 1973 na si Margie Moran.

Nagbigay ng mensahe ang tagapangulo ng Lupon ng Tagapamahala ng CCP na si Jaime C. Laya.

Kabilang sa honorees si Lea Salonga para sa achievements niya sa teatro.

Awardees and the one who TURNED IT DOWN

Apat ang posthumous honorees — Mario O’Hara sa larangan ng pelikula at sining brodkast, tanging parangal para kina Edgardo J. Angara at Zenaida R. Tantoco, at tanging pagkilala kay Oscar Yatco.

Ang iba pang luminaries na pinagpugayan ay sina Jose F. Lacaba (panitikan), Joey Ayala (musika), Gener Caringal (sayaw), Mike de Leon (pelikula at sining brodkast), Gino Gonzales (disenyo at mga kaugnay na sining), Loboc Children’s Choir (pagpapalaganap ng kultura ng rehiyon), at Marilyn Gamboa (gawaing pangkultura at pananaliksik).

Ang Gawad CCP para sa Sining ay may cash gift, framed citation, at medalyon.

Sa honorees ay bukod-tanging si direktor Mike de Leon ang tumanggi.

Voice over ng citation para sa kanya: “Si Mike de Leon ay isang respetadong direktor, producer, manunulat, at cinematographer ng pelikulang Pilipino.

“Tinalakay niya sa kanyang mga pelikula ang malawak na espektrum ng kalagayan ng tao sa gitna ng pansarili, panlipunan, at pampulitikang katotohanan ng buhay.

“Walang-kapantay ang mga kontribusyon ni Mike de Leon at nag-iwan ng makabuluhang marka sa pelikulang Pilipino.”

Sabi ni Maestro Ryan: “Ang Gawad CCP para sa Sining-Pelikula at Sining Brodkast kay Mike de Leon.”

Sambot ni Dolly, “Sa kabila ng pagtanggi ni G. De Leon sa parangal, minarapat ng Sentrong Pangkultura ng Pilipinas na pansamantalang ingatan ang plake at medalyon.”

Tampok pa rin si Direk Mike sa commemorative exhibit na “Luminaries and Legacies: Gawad CCP para sa Sining 2024 & Other CCP Intitutional Awards.”

Ang exhibit ay nasa Jaime Zobel Sr. Hall, sa lobby ng The Samsung Performing Arts Theater, mula Setyembre 20 hanggang 27, 2024.

President Marcos’s message

Ang mensahe ng Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas Ferdinand Marcos Jr., na binasa ng kinatawan niyang si Irene Marcos-Araneta:

“Magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat.

“As we come together to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and to confer Gawad CCP para sa Sining, I am reminded of the many unforgettable moments that have unfolded through its legacy.

“Proudly positioned along the stretch of Roxas Boulevard, and designed by the national luminary Architect Leandro Locsin, the CCP has been more than just a stage.

“In 1969, when the CCP was born, we were a country brimming with potential. The world was paying attention, and so were we trying to figure out how to make our mark.

“And that is where the CCP came in. A place where we could explore our identity as a nation, and through art and culture find our place in the world.

“And it is still 55 years later, the CCP stands as a living testament to that ambition — to capture the Filipino spirit in all its complexities.

“Yet being Filipino is no easy thing to define. Our culture is dynamic. We are consistently evolving and the CCP has been a witness to that evolution.

“More than that, it has challenged us to go beyond what we know and stretch the limits of our imagination.

“Every performance, every artwork, every creative endeavor here is not just a reflection of who we are, but a glimpse of what we could be.

“Our art, our culture, is not just about nostalgia or history. It is about actively creating the future.

“It is about sharing a narrative that we can get to define, one that says, ‘This is us, but also, this is what we are capable of.’

“Beyond art for art’s sake, this institution has quietly fueled the creative economy that shapes the very fabric of our nation.

“What begins within these walls does not just stay here. It ripples outwards, inspiring industries, reshaping our identity, and reminding us that creativity is not just an expression.

“It is a force for change.

“Just last year, our creative industries contributed more than 1.7 trillion pesos to our economy.

“That’s an undeniable testament to the power of creativity, not just an expression of our culture, but as a driver of growth and opportunity for millions of Filipinos.

“And speaking of the future, you’ve noticed the ongoing renovations of the CCP. I know for many of us, this building holds a lot of memories.

“But this renovation is not just about sprucing up an iconic structure. It is about making sure it remains a home for Filipino creativity.

“A place where future generations can ask the same questions we have been asking for more than five decades, and maybe come up with new answers.

“To our Gawad CCP para sa Sining awardees, tonight is also about you. Your contributions are more than just personal triumphs. They are a testament to the heights of Filipino creativity.

“Your work challenges us, moves us, and ultimately inspires us to think bigger, dream bolder, and see further.

“You show us that art does not just mirror life; it transforms it.

“As I think about what it takes to reach this level of artistry, I’m genuinely amazed by the journey each of you has traveled.

“Sure the final piece is what gets the spotlight, but it is the story behind that truly fascinates me.

“It is the late nights, the relentless revisions, and the personal sacrifices that often go unnoticed.

“We see the finished product and are awed, but it is the hard work and dedication that truly deserve our recognition.

“This achievement represents the fulfillment of a dream, that our creativity and talent are not just enough, but that our stories matter deeply.

“And that we are capable of greatness not only on the world’s stage but right here at home. So what comes next?

“Well, that is the beauty of it. The future is ours to make, waiting for us to exceed expectations, test limits, and keep asking the tough questions.

“And the answers, they will not be found in standing still but in the stories we have yet to write, the art we have yet to create, and the dreams we have yet to turn into reality.

“We define what comes next through our creativity, courage, and unrelenting pursuit of excellence, we carve out a bagong Pilipinas, when the greatness of the Filipino spirit is not just imagined but achieved.

“Ganyan tayo bilang mga Pilipino. We may stumble, we may question, but in the end, we stand. We create.

“We move forward sometimes against the odds, sometimes in ways no one expects, and always we do so with the belief that the best of what we are, of who we are, is still yet to come.

“To the Cultural Center of the Philippines, congratulations on this milestone.

“To our Gawad CCP para sa Sining awardees, thank you for reminding us that we are indeed a nation capable of great beauty, depth, and meaning.

“Maraming salamat po at mabuhay ang Sining at Kultura ng Pilipinas.”

PETE LACABA: “NEVER AGAIN. NEVER FORGET”

Ang citation para kay Jose F. Lacaba, na binasa ni Maestro Ryan Cayabyab: “Para sa kanyang walang humpay na pagtataguyod ng wikang Filipino at panitikan, para sa kanyang pagkakatawan at pagtataguyod ng tinig ni Juan de la Cruz, ipinagkakaloob ang Gawad CCP para sa Sining, Sining-Panitikan kay Jose Maria Flores Lacaba Jr.”

Maikli ngunit malaman ang binasang talumpati ni Pete, na siyang tawag sa kanya ng nakararami:

“Salamat sa CCP sa gawad na ito. Pagpugay sa kapwa honorees.

“Inaalay ko ang gawad na ito sa mga kapwa artista at peryodista, lalo ang mga kaibigan na pumanaw na, tulad nina Nick Joaquin, Bien Lumbera, Rolando Tinio, Lino Brocka, at Ishmael Bernal.

“Sa panahong ito na patuloy ang EJK, red-tagging, pagpapakulong, at pag-disappear ng mga aktibista, anakpawis, environmentalist, katutubo, artista, at peryodista, para sa akin, paalala ang gawad na ito na kailangan nating magpatuloy sa pakikibaka tungo sa demokrasya, kalayaan, at katarungang panlipunan.

Masigabo ang palakpakan ng audience. Dumagundong ang hiyawan. Meron namang ibang patay-malisya at tila walang narinig.

Ngayong Setyembre 21, 2024 ang ika-52 anibersaryo ng Martial Law, na dati’y hinirang na holiday bilang Thanksgiving Day.