National Artist Daisy Avellana passes away at 96

The country lost another National Artist Sunday in Daisy Avellana, who passed away at the age of 96. The Official Gazette's Twitter account announced Avellana's passing, and posted a link to Avellana's profile on the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. "In memoriam: Daisy H. Avellana, National Artist for Theater, January 26, 1917 - May 12, 2013," it said. Anvil Publishing posted a tweet expressing its condolences to Avellana's kin. "Our condolences to the family of National Artist Daisy Avellana who joined her Creator today," it said. An actress, director and writer, Avellana was born in Roxas City in Capiz on January 26, 1917. According to the NCCA site, Avellana staged and performed in breakthrough productions of classic Filipino and foreign plays, and encouraged the establishment of performing groups and the professionalization of Filipino theater. "Together with her husband, National Artist Lamberto Avellana and other artists, she co-founded the Barangay Theatre Guild in 1939 which paved the way for the popularization of theatre and dramatic arts in the country, utilizing radio and television," it added. Avellana starred in plays like Othello (1953), Macbeth in Black (1959), Casa de Bernarda Alba (1967), Tatarin. However, said the NCCA, she is best remembered for her portrayal of Candida Marasigan in the stage and film versions of Nick Joaquin’s Portrait of the Artist as Filipino. Avellana also directed Diego Silang (1968) and Walang Sugat (1971). The NCCA said her screenplays included Sakay (1939) and Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (1955). — BM, GMA News