Veteran singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid and the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM) is set to launch a campaign to have musician/composer Ryan Cayabyab declared as national artist of the Philippines. The OPM chief Alcasid also instructed his staff to nominate Ryan Cayabyab as a national artist.
According to National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA), the Order of the National Artists Award is the highest national recognition given to a Filipino who has made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts.
The declaration as National Artist is joint administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and conferred by the President of the Republic of the Philippines upon recommendation by both institutions.
Ogie Alcasid noted that Ryan Cayabyab deserved the national artist award as he described Cayabyab as “a guy who is so humble that he gets embarrassed discussing things like this.” The singer-actor also recalled how Ryan Cayabyab go around the country to teach songwriting even to those far-flung places.
The 60-year-old Ryan Cayabyab is one of the country’s most prominent musician, composer and conductor who served as previous Executive and Artistic Director of the defunct San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts.
Ryan Cayabyab was also a resident judge of the Philippine Idol which was broadcast during the year 2006. He got married to Emmy Punzalan and gifted with two children namely Cristina Maria and Antonio Maria Cayabyab.
