Senator Robin Padilla, who is also a well-known actor, just made a big request to honor one of the Philippines’ most loved singers—Freddie Aguilar.
He filed something called a “resolution” (that’s like an official suggestion in the government) asking that Freddie Aguilar be declared a National Artist of the Philippines.
Who Is Freddie Aguilar?
Freddie Aguilar, whose full name is Ferdinand Pascual Aguilar, was a famous Filipino singer and songwriter. He was born on February 5, 1953, and became super popular in the 1970s because of his songs that told powerful stories and used traditional Filipino music like folk rhythms and kundiman (a type of love song in Filipino culture).
One of his most famous songs is “Anak” (which means child). It was so touching and meaningful that it became a worldwide hit, translated into 51 different languages! That’s more than most singers can ever dream of!
Some of his other famous songs include:
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“Bulag, Pipi at Bingi” (Blind, Mute, and Deaf)
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“Magdalena”
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“Mindanao”
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“Katarungan” (Justice)
These songs often talked about real-life problems, love, the struggles of the poor, and the beauty of the Filipino spirit.
What Is a National Artist?
A National Artist is a very special award given to Filipinos who have made a huge impact on the arts—like music, painting, film, dance, or literature. It’s like being named a superhero for the arts in the Philippines!
Senator Padilla says Freddie deserves this title because he gave so much to Filipino music and culture. He said that the country’s own Constitution (that’s like our rulebook) and Presidential Proclamation 1001 allow artists to be honored this way.
“Freddie Aguilar’s songs told the stories of the Filipino people. He made us proud. He should be recognized as one of our National Artists,” Senator Padilla explained.
Freddie Aguilar Has Passed Away 😢
Freddie Aguilar passed away recently at the age of 72. The cause was multiple organ failure, which means several parts of his body stopped working.
Even though he is no longer with us, his music and message live on in the hearts of millions of Filipinos—and fans from all over the world.
That’s why Senator Padilla hopes that the NCCA (National Commission for Culture and the Arts) and the CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines) will agree and recommend Freddie Aguilar to the President to be officially named a National Artist.
