Republic of the Philippines
Region V
Central Bicol State University of Agriculture
Impig, Sipocot, Camarines Sur
COLLEGE of EDUCATION
Name: Jubelee Claire O. Merced Course & Year: BSED 2-ENGLISH Date: 09/24/19
Compilation of GAMABA Artists
Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Awards or GAMABA is an award that
acknowledges folk and indigenous artists who, despite the modern times, remain true to
their traditions. It is administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
(NCCA) through Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Committee. GAMABA began as a
project of the Philippine Rotary Club Makati-Ayala. In 1992, it was adopted by the
government and institutionalized through Republic Act No. 7335. This award aims to
support and motivate these artists to preserve their artistic heritage for the present and
future generations. These artists are also recognized as the country's National Living
Treasures.
The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) or the National Living Treasures
Award gives recognition to Filipino traditional craftsmen or artisans whose skills have
reached a high level of technical and artistic excellence and who are tasked to pass on
to the present generation knowledge threatened with extinction. NCCA chairman Felipe
M. de Leon Jr. spearheaded the institutionalization of the award. The law was authored
by senators Edgardo J. Angara, Heherson Alvarez, Leticia Ramos-Shahani, Sotero
Laurel and congresswoman Kate Gordon. On April 3, 1992, President Corazon C. Aquino
signed Republic Act No. 7355, providing for the recognition of the national living
treasures, otherwise known as the Manlilikha ng Bayan, and the promotion and
development of traditional folk arts. On December 17, 1993, the first awarding ceremony
for the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan was held at the Malacañan Palace.
The National Living Treasures Award, alternatively known as the Gawad sa
Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA; lit. Award for the Creators of the Country) is conferred
to a person or group of artists recognized by the Government of the Philippines for their
contributions to the country's intangible cultural heritage. A recipient of the award, known
as a National Living Treasures or Manlilikha ng Bayan is defined as "a Filipino citizen or
group of Filipino citizens engaged in any traditional art uniquely Filipino, whose distinctive
skills have reached such a high level of technical and artistic excellence and have been
passed on to and widely practiced by the present generations in their community with the
same degree of technical and artistic competence.
History
The National Living Treasures Award (Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan) was
institutionalized in 1992 through Republic Act No. 7355. The National Commission for
Culture and the Arts, which is the highest policy-making and coordinating body of the
Philippines for culture and the arts, was tasked with the implementation. This is in line
with UNESCO's criteria of Living National Treasures.
Criteria
To become a National Living Treasure, the candidate must possess the following
qualifications:
1. is an inhabitant of an indigenous/traditional cultural community anywhere in the
Philippines that has preserved indigenous customs, beliefs, rituals and traditions
and/or has syncretized whatever external elements that have influenced it.
2. must have engaged in a folk art tradition that has been in existence and
documented for at least 50 years.
3. must have consistently performed or produced over a significant period, works of
superior and distinctive quality.
4. must possess a mastery of tools and materials needed by the art, and must have
an established reputation in the art as master and maker of works of extraordinary
technical quality.
5. must have passed on and/or will pass on to other members of the community their
skills in the folk art for which the community is traditionally known.
A traditional artist who possesses all the qualities of a Manlilikha ng Bayan candidate, but
due to age or infirmity has left them incapable of teaching further their craft, may still be
recognized if:
1. had created a significant body of works and/or has consistently displayed
excellence in the practice of their art, thus achieving important contributions for its
development.
2. has been instrumental in the revitalization of their community's artistic tradition.
3. has passed on to the other members of the community skills in the folk art for which
the community is traditionally known.
4. community has recognized them as master and teacher of their craft.
Categories
The categories are, but not limited to, the following categories of traditional folk arts:[2]
maritime transport
weaving
carving
performing arts
literature
graphic and plastic arts
ornament
textile or fiber art
pottery
Other artistic expressions of traditional culture may be added.
Recipients
As defined by UNESCO, the bearers of intangible cultural heritage are to be known
internationally as Living Human Treasures. The Filipino counterparts of this title are the
Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) awardees. There are currently sixteen
declared GAMABA awardees, all of which have exemplified the highest standard in their
respective field of expertise. The award is only given to individuals or groups that have
exhibited the highest possible standard in intangible cultural heritage. A master of the
heritage does not automatically qualify an individual or group for the award as the craft of
the master should exude a higher meaning to the highest standard set by the highly critical
council of the GAMABA board. Due to this lengthy and critical process, only sixteen of the
thousands of traditional masters have been conferred with the award.
Recipients
Ginaw Bilog (d. 2003), artist and poet, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro Poetry
(Ambahan), 1993
Masino Intaray (d. 2013), musician and epic chanter, Brooke's Point, Palawan,
Poetry (Kulilal and Bagit)Music (Basal / Gong), 1993
Samaon Sulaiman (d. 2011), musician, Mamasapano, Maguindanao Music
(Kutyapi), 1993
Lang Dulay, (d. 2015) textile weaver, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Weaving
(T’nalak), 1998
Salinta Monon (d. 2009), weaver, Bansalan, Davao del Sur, Weaving (Abaca – ikat
/ Inabal), 1998
Alonzo Saclag, musician and dancer, Lubuagan, Kalinga, Music and Dance
(Kalinga), 2000
Frederico Caballero, epic chanter, Sulod- Bukidnon, Iloilo, Poetry and Epic Chant
(Sugidanon), 2000
Uwang Ahadas, musician, Lamitan, Basilan, Music (Yakan specifically Kulintang,
kwitangan kayu, gabbang, agung, and tuntungan), 2000
Darhata Sawabi, (d. 2005), weaver, Parang, Sulu, Weaving (Pis Syabit), 2004
Eduardo Mutuc, metalsmith / metal sculptor, Apalit, Pampanga, Metalwork (Bronze
and Silver), 2004
Haja Amina Appi (d. 2013), weaver, Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi, Weaving (Mat), 2004
Teofilo Garcia, casque maker, San Quintin, Abra, Casque Making (Tabungaw),
2012
Magdalena Gamayo, master weaver, Pinili, Ilocos Norte, Weaving (Inabel), 2012
Ambalang Ausalin, master weaver, Lamitan, Basilan, Weaving (Yakan tennun),
2016
Estelita Tumandan Bantilan, master weaver, Malapatan, Sarangani, Weaving
(B'laan igem), 2016
Yabing Masalon Dulo, master weaver, Polomolok, South Cotabato, Weaving
(Ikat), 2016
GAMABA Awardees
1) Ginaw Bilog
Poet
Hanunuo Mangyan
Panaytayan, Oriental Mindoro
1993
Died in 2003
Ginaw Bilog helped preserved the Mangyan literary tradition by documenting the pieces
of ambahan recorded not only on bamboo tubes but also on notebooks passed on to him.
The ambahan is a poetic literary form composed of seven-syllables. It is usually sung.
2) Masino Intaray
Musician and Storyteller
Pala’wan
Brookes Point, Palawan
1993
Died in 2013
Masino Intaray has mastered the traditions of his people—the Palawan, Batak, and
Tagbanwa in the highlands of southern Palawan. He is skillful in basal (gong music
ensemble), kulilal (lyrical poem expressing passionate love sang with the accompaniment
of the kusyapi), and bagit (instrumental music depicting nature).
Basal – is kind of musical ensemble Played during the “tambilaw”, a ritual Of rice sharing
among the Palawan People as an offering to the Lord of rice and during the “tinapay”, a
rice wine drinking.
3) Samaon Sulaiman
Musician
Magindanao
Mama sa Pano, Maguindanao
1993
Died in 2011
Samaon Sulaiman is a master in the use of the kulintang and kutyapi of the
Maguindanaons. His extensive repertoire of dinaladay, linapu, minuna, and binalig has
demonstrated not only his own skills but their culture.
4) Lang Dulay
Textile Weaver
T’boli
Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
1998
Died in 2015
The T'bolis are known for their use of abaca fibers in textile weaving. Lang Dulay
continued this tradition and preserved the culture of their community through patterns of
crocodiles, butterflies, flowers, mountains, and streams and of Lake Sebu in her works.
5) Salinta Monon
Textile Weaver
Tagabawa Bagobo
Bansalan, Davao del Sur
1998
Died in 2009
Salinta Monon started learning weaving traditional Bagobo textiles from her mother at the
age of 12. Her family is among the remaining Bagobo weavers in the community.
6) Alonzo Saclag
Musician and Dancer
Kalinga
Lubugan, Kalinga
2000
Alonzo Saclag has worked for the preservation of Kalinga culture. He lobbied that the
abandoned Capitol Building be turned into a museum, that schools implement the practice
of donning the Kalinga costume for important events, and that traditional Kalinga music
should be broadcasted alongside contemporary music in the local radio station. He also
formed the Kalinga Budong Dance Troupe to guarantee that his knowledge in the
performing arts is passed on to others.
7) Federico Caballero
Epic Chanter
Sulod-Bukidnon
Calinog, Iloilo
2000
Federico Caballero, a Panay-Bukidnon from the mountains of Central Panay, has worked
hard to document the oral literature of his people. He has preserved the epics that use a
language that has long been dead by working together with scholars, artists, and
advocates of culture.
8) Uwang Ahadas
Musician
Yakan
Lamitan, Basilan
2000
Uwang Ahadas has made it his life's work to preserve and promote Yakan culture through
the traditional music and instruments of his tribe. He has mastered tha gabbang, the
agung, the kwintangan kayu, and others.
9) Darhata Sawabi
Textile Weaver
Tausug
Parang, Sulu
2004
Died in 2005
Darhata Sawabi is one of the master weavers in the island of Jolo. Like most women in
their tribe, she has learned the art of weaving the pis syabit, the traditional cloth tapestry
worn as head cover by the Tausug of Jolo, from her mother.
10) Eduardo Mutuc
Metalsmith
Kapampangan
Apalit, Pampanga
2004
Eduardo Mutuc dedicated his life in sculpting retablos, mirrors, altars, and carosas from
silver, bronze, and wood. Some of his works can exceed 40 feet while the others feature
smaller size and delicate craftmanship.
11) Haja Amina Appi
Mat Weaver
Sama
Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi
2004
Haja Amina Appi is recognized as the master mat weaver among the Sama indigenous
community of Ungos Matata. Her mats are known for their complex geometric patters,
proportion, and unique combination of colors.
12) Teofilo Garcia
Casque (tabungaw) Maker
Ilocano
San Quintin, Abra
2012
Teofilo learned how to make gourd casques and weave baskets from his grandfather at
the age of 16. Since he learned the craft, he never stopped experimenting with other
designs. He previously used nito (vine trimmings) to decorate the headgear and then used
with other materials such as bamboo after his supplier from Cagayan passed away.
13) Magdalena Gamayo
Textile (inabel) Weaver
Ilocano
Pinili, Ilocos Norte
2012
In her profile, it was reported that Magdalena has taught herself the traditional patterns of
binakol, inuritan (geometric design), kusikos (spiral forms similar to oranges), and sinan-
sabong (flowers). She has learned the art of weaving from her aunt and started
harnessing her innate skills at the age of 16. She may be in her late 80s but she still
manages to arrange threads on the loom, which is the hardest task in textile weaving.
GINAW BILOG MASINO INTARAY SAMAON SULAIMAN
LANG DULA SALINTAMONON
ALONZO SACLAG
FEDERICO CABALLERO UWANG AHADAS DARHATASAWABI
EDUARDO MUTUC
HAJA AMINA APPI TEOFILOGARCIA
MAGDALENA GAMAYO
Submitted by:
JUBELEE CLAIRE MERCED
BSED 2-ENGLISH
