National Living

GAMABA Treasures Award: Gawad

sa Manlilikha ng Bayan
 OVERVIEW

In this new millennium, the indigenous and tribal cultural

and artistic heritage of the Philippines is threatened by
modernization and globalization.
Many members of Philippine tribal and indigenous
communities move to the city to seek better economic
opportunities.
Thus, they leave behind the rich and unique language and
practices that have thrived for many years.
 OVERVIEW

In response to this concern of art and cultural preservation,

the Philippine government in 1992 enacted Republic Act
7355. This institutionalized the National Living Treasures
Award or the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan.
Through this law, the NCCA “conducts the research the
research for the finest traditional artists of the land, adopts a
program that will ensure the transfer of their skills to others,
and undertakes measures to promote a genuine
appreciation”
 OVERVIEW

of and still pride among our people about the genius
of the Manlilikha ng Bayan.
 The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan, or the National Living
Let’s Think Treasures Award, is conferred on
of this! Filipinos who are at the forefront of
the practice, preservation, and
promotion of the nation’s traditional
folk arts.
Formalized in 1992, through
Republic Act No. 7355, the
WHAT IS Manlilikha ng Bayan Act.
GAMABA? The National Commission for the
Culture and the Arts oversees its
implementation.
 The main objective of the
award is to honor and support
Let’s Think traditional folk artists and to
of this! see to it that that their skills
and crafts are preserved.
The award is tied with a
program that ensures the
transfer of their skills to new
WHAT IS generations and the promotion
of the craft both locally and
GAMABA? internationally.
 In 2014, the Senate of the
Philippines adopted Senate
Let’s Think Resolution No. (SRN) 765 aimed at
of this! recognizing the accomplishments of
the country’s living treasures.
The award logo is a
representation of the human form
used in traditional cloth. Below the
logo is the phrase “Manlilikha ng
WHAT IS Bayan” written in Baybayin, an
GAMABA? ancient Filipino script used in the
Philippines in the 16th century.
Let’s Think
of this!

WHAT IS
GAMABA?
The recipients of this great national honor are
exemplary individuals whose life, works, and
identify are described as part of our national
character.
NCCA cited “as Filipino they bring age-old
customs, crafts and ways of living to the
attention and appreciation of Filipino life. They
provide us with a vision of ourselves and of our
nation, a vision we might be able to realize
someday, once we are given the opportunity to
be true to ourselves as these artists have
remained truthful to their art.”
A recipient of the National Living
Treasures Award or the Gawad sa
Manlilikha ng Bayan, as also cited, is
generally described as “a citizen engaged
in any traditional art uniquely Filipino
whose distinct are skills have reached such
as a high level of technical and artistic
excellence and have been passed on to and
widely practiced by the present generation
in his/her community with the same degree
of technical and artistic competence”
The NCCA follows the guidelines in
identifying and recognizing a person as
Manlilikha ng Bayan in the field of folk epic
literature, music, textile and mat weaving
dance, metal work, and casque production.
He or she is an inhabitant of an
indigenous/traditional cultural community
anywhere in the Philippines that has preserved
indigenous customs, beliefs, ritual and traditions
and /or has syncretized whatever external
elements that have influenced it.
He or she must have engaged in a folk art tradition
that has been in existence and documented for at
least 50 years.
He or she must have consistently performed or
produced, over a significant period, works of
superior and distinctive quality.
He or she must posses 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.
He or she must have passed on and/or will pass
on to the other members of the community their
skills in the folk art or 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
(deterioration) has left him or her incapable
of teaching further his or her craft, may still
be recognized if the following are meet:
He or she had created a significant body of works
and/or has consistently displayed excellence in the
practice of his or her art, thus achieving important
contributions for its development.
He or she has been instrumental in the
revitalization of his or her community’s
artistic tradition.
He or she has passed on to the other
members of the community skills in the
folk art for which the community is
traditionally known.
His or her community has recognized him
or her as master and teacher of his or her
craft.
 Artist Occupation and Place of
Origin
Poet
Hanunuo Mangyan
GINAW BILOG Panaytayan, Oriental Mindoro
Musician and Storyteller
MASINO INTARAY Palawan
Brookes Point, Palawan
Musician
SAMAON SULAIMAN Maguindanao
Mamasapano, Maguindanao
 Artist Occupation and Place of
Origin
Textile Weaver
LANG DULAY T’boli
Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
Textile Weaver
SALINTA MONON Tagabawa Bagobo
Bansalan, Davao del Sur
Musician and Dancer
ALONZO SACLAG Kalinga
Lubugan, Kalinga
 Artist Occupation and Place of
Origin
Epic Chanter
FEDERICO CABALLERO Sulod-Bukidnon
Calinog, Iloilo
Musician
UWANG AHADAS Yakan
Lamitan, Basilan
Textile Weaver
DARHATA SAWABI Tausug
Parang, Sulu
 Artist Occupation and Place of
Origin
Metalsmith
EDUARDO MUTUC Kapampangan
Apalit, Pampanga
Mat Weaver
HAJA AMINA APPI Sama
Tandubas, Tawi-tawi
Casque Maker
TEOFILO GARCIA Ilocano
San Quintin, Abra
 Artist Occupation and Place of
Origin
Textile Weaver
MAGDALENA GAMAYO Ilocano
Pinili, Ilocos Norte