Sanchez, Franchezca R.

4BIO5

October 11, 2013 Art Appreciation

Daisy H. Avellana National Artist for Theater 1999

She was born Daisy Hontiveros on January 26, 1917, in Roxas City, Capiz. She was an actor, director and a writer. Her major contribution in the field of Theater is that she was able to increase the excellence of Philippine theater performances since she starred on Breakthrough Theater productions not only in classic Filipino plays but in foreign productions as well. She encouraged other theater performers to establish performing groups and she also professionalized Filipino theater. Known as The First Lady of the Philippine Theater Her husband was Lamberto Avellana, a film and stage director. Daisy and Lamberto Avellana co-founded the Barangay Theater Guild (BTG), together with forty-eight colleagues, in 1939. Due to the establishment of Barangay Theater Guild, the theatre and dramatic arts in the Philippines became popular since it uses radio and television to give the viewers what theater and dramatic art is all about. She was conferred the National Artist for Theater in 1999. She is best remembered for her portrayal of Candida Marasigan in the stage and film versions of Nick Joaquins Portrait of the Artist as Filipino. List of some of the contributions of Avellana in Theater: STARRED IN PLAYS Othello (1953) Macbeth in Black (1959) Casa de Bernarda Alba (1967) Tatarin

DIRECTIONAL CREDITS Diego Silang (1968) Walang Sugat (1971)

SCREEN PLAYS Sakay (1939) Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (1955)

Avellana died on May 12, 2013, at the age of 96