January 14, 1936: Abdulmari Asia Imao, first Muslim recipient of the National Artist Award, was born in Siasi, Sulu

On January 14, 1936, Abdulmari Asia Imao was born to a Tausug couple in Siasi, Sulu. He was the first Muslim recipient of the Philippine National Artist Award and also the distinction of being the first Asian recipient of the New York Museum of Modern Art fellowship grant to study in Europe.