Rhap Salazar, the Pinamalayan singing sensation who wowed Emmy-award winning talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, was among 41 Filipino artists honored by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Friday for bringing pride and honor to the country through excellence in arts and culture.

In simple ceremonies held at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang, President Arroyo led the recognition of the 41 artists  in various fields with trophies sculptured by National Artist Abdul Imam.

The other notable awardees included Brillante Mendoza, who won best director at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival for his film ”Kinatay”; Pepe Diokno, who garnered the award for the best Debut Film at the 66th Venice International Film Festival; and Gina Pareño, who won as Best Supporting Actress at the 3rd Asian Film Awards.

Salazar, who hails from Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro, received the “Ani ng Dangal” award for being the Grand Champion Performer of the World at the 13th World Championships of Performing Arts.

The 2nd ”Ani ng Dangal”, organized by the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA), is part of the celebration of the National Arts Month this February as per Presidential Proclamation No.683 in 1991.

In a related development, NCCA executive director and Presidential Adviser on Culture Cecile Guidote Alvarez said the Philippines was declared by the ASEAN as its Culture Capital for 2010 to 2011.

Because of this, Guidote said Philippines was chosen to host the 4th ASEAN-Ministers for Culture and Arts Meeting and SOMCAplus 3 Meeting from March 23 to 26 at Clark in Pampanga.