11/04/2026
The nation honors National Artist Benedicto โBenCabโ Cabrera on his 84th Birthday.
Benedicto R. Cabrera, who is famously recognized by the signature "Bencab," highlighted the significance of drawing over decorative color in his creations. He embarked on his artistic path in the mid-1960s as a lyrical expressionist. His portrayals of solitary scavengers rising from a bleak landscape act as powerful critiques of the social conscience, confronting a community that has long endured poverty and neglect.
Hailing from Malabon, Bencab has given the iconic scavenger figure the name "Sabel." To him, Sabel represents a deep sense of dislocation, despair, and isolation, symbolizing the fragility of human dignity in the face of life's challenges and the stark inequalities that exist within Philippine society.
To read more about NA Cabrera, please visit ncca.gov.ph.
