ANGARA HONORED BY NCCA WITH "PUNLA" AWARD

Senator Edgardo J. Angara receives the "Punla" award from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for being one of the legislators of the bill that established the NCCA.

The outgoing legislator was honored alongside Rep. Carlos M. Padilla (lone district, Nueva Vizcaya), and Senators Leticia Ramos-Shahani and Heherson T. Alvarez during the 25th anniversary celebration of the NCCA at the CCP Main Theater yesterday (June 26, '13).

According to the NCCA, the "Punla" award is conferred to personalities and groups "who managed to help the state of Filipino artistry and raise concerns about artists in the Philippines."

Angara was recently awarded the "Dangal ng Haraya: Tagapagtaguyod ng Sining at Kultura (Patron of Arts and Culture)"--the highest distinction given by the NCCA for individuals or institutions with significant contributions to the Philippine Arts and Culture sector.

In addition to the measure establishing the NCCA, Angara also authored the laws establishing other cultural bodies as the National Museum and the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF).

The former UP President is also credited for the law establishing the Gawad Manililikha ng Bayan or the National Living Treasures Award, which is given to outstanding traditional folk artists and other pieces of landmark legislation including the observation of Philippine-Spanish

Friendship day every 30th of June and the National Cultural Heritage Act, which established a policy framework for the classification and protection of national treasures.