SENATOR Robin Padilla has filed a resolution urging the government to declare the late musician Freddie Aguilar a National Artist for his contributions to Filipino music and culture.
In Senate Resolution No. 1364 filed on June 3, Padilla said Aguilar’s music played a major role in expressing social and political issues over the years.
“Given his achievements and contributions, Freddie Aguilar must be considered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) for recommendation to the President as one of the country’s National Artists,” Padilla said.
He also highlighted Aguilar’s iconic song “Anak,” which has been translated into 27 languages and became a hit in 56 countries, selling 30 million copies worldwide.
“Ferdinand Pascual Aguilar, also known as Freddie Aguilar, who was born on Feb. 5, 1953, rose to fame in the late 1970s for his powerful and heartfelt compositions using folk rhythms and kundiman music,” Padilla said.
He also cited Aguilar’s other socially charged songs such as “Bayan Ko,” “Pulubi,” “Anak ng Mahirap,” “Sa Kuko ng Agila,” “Luzviminda,” “Bulag, Pipi at Bingi,” and “Mindanao.”
“Aguilar’s musical talent, as attested by his over 20 recorded albums in a career for over five decades, continues to inspire generations of Filipino musicians and social activists,” Padilla added.
Aguilar was earlier recognized by the Senate in 2018 through a resolution filed by then Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III.
