Remembering Franz Arcellana (Part 2)

Now I like to share my experience in the selection of Franz as National Artist (1990). I was then chair of the literary arts committee under a subcommission of the arts headed by Eddie Romero in the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). In the multi-layered process of selection, the nominations for each category in the arts were discussed by the members of the heads and members of the subcommission (together with the arts department heads of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). The chosen one is then endorsed to the board of the CCP meeting jointly with the commissioners of the NCCA. The final decision was made in the Palace.

At our level Franz and NVM turned up with the highest and uncannily the same number of votes. It was a big quandary for us. Both were equally deserving of the award. What followed are now hazy. But in the second balloting to break the tie, Franz won by one vote over NVM.