The names of the new National Artists were released recently and there was no screen actor in the list.

Nora Aunor was the last actress elevated to the ranks of National Artist. Did the superstar set the bar too high?

It was not an easy ride for Nora to get to her National Artist status. She was already being nominated for the award as early as 1991. When her name finally reached Malacañang, she was turned down twice. Her supposed drug case in the US in 2005 haunted her for years. Nora was finally declared National Artist in 2022.

But what really made her a National Artist? Simple: SHE REVOLUTIONIZED THE FILM INDUSTRY. With her very Pinay looks, she even changed the standard of beauty in entertainment. The ultra-mestizas who were once the peg for leading lady roles became female villains in the movies because of her. And, of course, there was her magnificent acting talent.

Nora is a rarity. But looking at the artistry of other actors in local cinema, there are actually other names in showbiz who deserve to join her in her elite group that also includes Fernando Poe, Jr., Rolando Tinio and Fides Cuyugan-Asensio. Tinio and Asensio became National Artists for Theater & Literature and Music, respectively, but they were also actors on the big screen.

Below is a list of actors who, in the opinion of this writer, also have a place in that elite circle of National Artists for Film and Broadcast Arts.

Vilma Santos. Until 2013, she could not get past the Level 1 committee. By 2018, she finally reached Level 2, but got stuck there. The judges in the various levels have a lot of respect for her as an actress.

But she is forever being compared to her archrival Nora Aunor, who was not afraid to face the camera even with warts and all — for the sake of realism. Vilma is vainer and that’s a point used against her. But with more projects in the future in the same level as Sister Stella L., Bata-Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa and Dekada 70, she may finally get her National Artist award.

Rosa Rosal. She elevated villain roles into an art form during her days at LVN Pictures where she made life miserable on the big screen for the actresses Tessie Quintana, Celia Flor and Delia Razon. But when she was given the chance to play lead characters, she came out in four classic films: Anak-Dalita, Badjao, Biyaya ng Lupa and Sakada.

As an actress, she could have been greater than Nora and Vilma if only she reached superstar status. And by the second half of her life, she became more identified as a humanitarian. In fact, that was what gave her the Ramon Magsaysay Award.

Dolphy. The National Artist award had become slippery for him because some of the judges felt that he made a caricature of his gay roles in the movies. And at the end of the film, his LGBTQ character had to conform to the norms of society by going straight.

Unfortunately for Dolphy — and this, the judges should understand — the censors back then would not have allowed the exhibition of his movies if his gay characters did not “reform.” But someday, there may be a new set of judges who will appreciate the contributions of Dolphy in the field of comedy.

Eddie Garcia. He will always be regarded as the most versatile actor in Philippine movies. He started out as a villain, but branched out into other aspects of acting and appeared in various genres: drama, comedy, action, sex (he did “bomba” movies) and, yes, even gay roles. He loved to joke that the only role he had not yet played was that of an infant.

What pulls him down in his quest for the National Artist award is his “manoy” roles. Remember those years when he’d camp it in the movies?

But starting from the time he did Death Row, even the critics began applauding his works. Before he breathed his last in 2018, he was awarded best actor in the Gawad Urian for ML. The trophy was placed beside him in bed as he fought for his life.

In the future, the judges may just overlook his “manoy” years and finally give him the award for National Artist.