PRESS RELEASE | PR-289-2026
SINGAPORE, 11 September 2026 – The Philippine Embassy in Singapore warmly congratulates Ms. Imelda Cajipe Endaya on being conferred the Order of National Artist for Visual Arts, making history as the first woman to be named National Artist of the Philippines for Visual Arts.
On 9 September 2026, the Office of the President announced the conferment of the Order of National Artist on ten distinguished Filipinos, pursuant to Proclamation No. 1414, s. 2026, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The Order of National Artist is the highest national recognition bestowed upon Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts.
Ms. Cajipe Endaya has devoted decades to a socially engaged artistic practice that gives particular attention to women, community, identity, and the Filipino experience. She co-founded KASIBULAN, the longest-running feminist art collective in Southeast Asia, and founded PANANAW, a major visual arts journal dedicated to Philippine art.
The Embassy had the pleasure of welcoming Cajipe Endaya to the newly redeveloped Chancery and Sentro Rizal Singapore in January 2026, during her visit to Singapore for the opening of Fear No Power: Women Imagining Otherwise at the National Gallery and her participation in S.E.A. Focus, held alongside ART SG, through Silverlens Gallery.
Singapore audiences still have the opportunity to experience the works of our newest National Artist at Fear No Power, which brings together Cajipe Endaya and four other pioneering Southeast Asian women artists namely Amanda Heng of Singapore, Nirmala Dutt of Malaysia, Dolorosa Sinaga of Indonesia, and Phaptawan Suwannakudt of Thailand. The exhibition explores gender, identity, power, resistance, community, and social change through their artistic practices.
Fear No Power: Women Imagining Otherwise
National Gallery Singapore
City Hall Wing, Level B1, The Ngee Ann Kongsi Concourse Gallery
Until 15 November 2026
Free admission
The Embassy encourages the Filipino community and friends of the Philippines in Singapore to visit the exhibition and celebrate this historic recognition of a Filipina artist whose works continue to contribute to the cultural conversations of the Philippines and Southeast Asia.
The Embassy likewise congratulates the nine other newly conferred National Artists: Nicanor G. Tiongson and Gregorio C. Brillantes for Literature; Nunelucio Alvarado for Visual Arts; Gabriel Formoso for Architecture; Rafael โNonoyโ Froilan for Dance; Maria Beatriz โPatisโ Tesoro for Design; Armando โBingโ Lao for Film and Broadcast Arts; Teodoro Hilado for Theater; and Alfredo S. Buenaventura for Music. Mabuhay po kayo! /END.
