Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Quarter 1 – Module 4: Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan
First Edition, 2020
Through media people nowadays can easily get to know the different artists in their fields and
recognize these artists from their efforts through award-giving bodies. These artists are the bearers of our
culture.
Since the pre-Spanish era, the Philippines are rich in its culture. Ancestors are the living
heritage or culture bearers of this country. They developed these native art forms which portray the
significant life of the Filipinos. People know very little about the art forms that exist up to the present
time. These artists are doing what they value and love to modify and keep the traditional art alive.
People can learn from the vast knowledge of these indigenous people who can live longer not only
the techniques to survive but also the distinct identity of being Filipino.
In this lesson, you will learn about our sixteen (16) National Living Treasures, known as the
Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) awardees from the National Commission for Culture and the
Arts or NCCA. The awardees produce art forms that are woven into everyday life. These show how
pre-colonial traditions continue through to the present time.
As envisioned in Republic Act No. 7355
Known as Manlilikha ng Bayan Act was established in 1992 and shall mean citizen engaged in
any traditional art uniquely Filipino, whose distinct skills have reached such a high level of technical
and artistic excellence, and have passed it on to in his or her community with the same degree of
technical and artistic competence.
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
The highest policy and coordinating body for culture and the arts of the state. It has to search
for the finest traditional artist of the land who adopts a program that will ensure the transfer of their
skills to others, undertakes measures to promote a genuine appreciation of and crafts and give pride
among our people about the genius of Manlilikha ng Bayan.
The Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) Awardees
As Filipino who recognize the unique identities of our fellow Filipinos, it is the right to see their
contribution to the community. The country is rich with various elements of tangible and intangible
cultural heritage which has passed on the new generation. Culture as part of our Philippine identity
includes a variety of arts that enhance by our National Living Treasure artists who are recognized in their
special contribution to the national heritage. These are Filipino citizen who is engaged in any traditional
art forms and has contributed to the development of cultural diversity and the creativity of humanity.
Awardee Contribution Region
GAMABA Awardees f or the year 1993
Surat Mangyan and Ambahan poetry
Preserve the Hanunuo Mangyan script and
Ambahan (poem consisting of seven-
syllable lines) and promote it on every Panaytayan, Mansalay,
occasion so that the art will not be lost but Oriental Mindoro,
preserved for posterity. Region IV-B
MIMAROPA
Ginaw Bilog
(d. 2003)
Epic Chanter and Storyteller
An outstanding master of the basal (gong
music), kulilal (highly lyrical poem) and
bagit (instrumental music played on the Pala’wan, Palawan
kusyapi), also played the aroding (mouth Island,
harp) and babarak (ring flute) and above Region IV-B
all, he was a prolific and preeminent epic MIMAROPA
chanter and storyteller
Masino Intaray
(d. 2013)
Playing Kudyapi
He achieved the highest level of excellence Mamasapano,
in the art of kutiyapi or kudyapi (two- Maguidanao, Western
stringed lute) playing and also proficient in Midanao
kulintang, agong (suspended bossed gong Bangsamoro
with wide rim), gandingan (bossed gong Autonomous Region in
with narrow rim), palendag (lip-valley Muslim Mindanao
flute), and tambul. (BARMM)
Samaon Sulaiman
(d. 2011)
GAMABA Awardees for the year 1998
T’nalak Weaving
She is credited with preserving her
people’s traditional T’nalak using abaca
fibers as fine as hair which traditionally T’boli/Lake Sebu, South
has three primary colors, red, black, and Cotabato, Mindanao,
the original colors of abaca leave recreated Region XII
by her nimble hands-the crocodiles,
SOCCSKSARGEN
butterflies, and flowers.
Lang Dulay
(d. 2015)
Inabal Weaving
She was awarded for fully demonstrating
the creative and expressive aspects of the
Bagobo abaca ikat (to tie or bond) weaving Tagabawa Bagobo/
called inabal (traditional textile of Bagobo) Bansalan, Davao del Sur,
at a time when such art was threatened Region XI
with extinction.
Davao Region
Salinta Monon
(d. 2009)
GAMABA Awardees f or the year 2000
Playing Yakan Instruments
He referred to for his ability and mastery Yakan/ Lamitan, Basilan
in playing different Yakan instruments Island,
(made of bamboo, wood, and metal) and Bangsamoro
for imparting his insight to the youngsters Autonomous Region in
of his locale. He keeps on performing and Muslim Mindanao
instruct despite his diminishing visual
(BARMM)
perception, keeping the Yakan melodic
custom alive and thriving.
Uwang Ahadas
Chanting the Sugidanon Epic of the
Panay Bukidnon
He continuously works for the
documentation of the oral literature, in Sulod-Bukidnon/
particular the epics, of people. These ten Calinog, Iloilo, Panay
epics, rendered in a language that, though Island,
related to Kiniray-a, is no longer spoken. Region VI
Western Visayas
Federico Caballero
Playing Kalinga Musical
Instruments
His lifestyle work is to paint a portrait of
his people to record a tradition of
opposites and dualities, a peoples’ Kalinga, Northern Luzon
character recorded in cadences each Island,
aggressive and gentle. Play Kalinga Cordillera Administrative
musical instruments dance patterns and Region (CAR)
moves related to rituals.
Alonzo Saclag
GAMABA Awardees for the year 2004
Mat weaving
She was recognized as the master mat Ungos Matata,
weaver. Her colorful mats with their Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi,
complex geometric patterns showcased Bangsamoro
her precise sense of design, proportion, Autonomous Region in
and symmetry and sensitivity to color. Muslim Mindanao
(BARMM)
Hajja Amina Appi
(d. 2013)
Metal Plating
He is an artist who has devoted his
existence to developing religious and
secular artwork in silver, bronze, and
wood. His intricately detailed retablos,
mirrors, altars, and carosas are in church
buildings and non-public collections. A Apalit, Pampanga,
range of these works are quite large, some Region III
exceeding forty feet, whilst some are very Central Luzon
Eduardo Mutuc
small and feature very nice and refined
craftsmanship.
Pis syabit Weaving
She remained devoted and persevered with
her mission to teach the artwork of pis Tausug/ Parang,
syabit weaving. Her strokes firm and sure, Sulu,
her color sensitivity acute, and her Bangsamoro
dedication to the best of her products Autonomous Region in
unwavering. Muslim Mindanao
(BARMM)
Darhata Sawabi
(d. 2005)
GAMABA Awardees for the year 2012
Abel Weaving
She has been a master in abel weaving
from Pinili, Ilocos Norte. She is not only
weaving traditional Ilocano textiles but
also designs new patters. One of her
designs employs a difficult weaving
technique called pililian meaning partially.
The weave produces a one of a kind design
that takes after a string of flowers thus its
name, inubon a sabong. She did not Pinili, Ilocos Norte
Magdalena formally study such traditional art. Region I
Gamayo Instead, she watched closely as her aunt Ilocos Region
made and imitated the patterns.
Kattukong or Tabúngaw Hat
Making
When he finishes fieldwork as a farmer, he
focuses on the cultivation and
development of tabúngaw (Ilokano term for San Quintin, Abra,
úpo). At the age of fifteen (15) he learned Cordillera Administrative
the art of Kattukong or tabúngaw hat Region (CAR)
making and basket weaving from his
grandfather.
Teofilo Garcia
GAMABA Awardees f or the year 2016
Yakan Weaving
Apuh Ambalang, is significantly respected
in all of Lamitan. Her ability is regarded
unique: she can bring forth all designs and
actualize all textile categories ordinary to
the Yakan community, who are known to Lamitan, Basilan Island,
be among the finest weavers within the
Bangsamoro
Southern Philippines. She can perform the
Autonomous Region in
suwah bekkat (cross-stitch-like
embellishment) and suwah pendan Muslim Mindanao
(embroidery-like embellishment) (BARMM)
techniques of the bunga sama category.
She has the complex knowledge of the
Ambalang Ausalin
whole weaving process, mindful at the
same time as the cultural significance of
each textile design or category.
B’laan Mat Weaving
Since she was a child, she was bright and
careful in tangle weaving. Her
perseverance took place because of her
supportive husband. The thin strips of the
pandanus romblon (Pandanus copelandii Upper Lasang, Sapu
merr. Bariu) rise matrixed through deft
Masla, Malapatan,
fingers performing an individual rhythm,
Saranggani
the beat guided by her eyes. The unwoven
strips are held tight at the other end of Region XII
her body, as toes curl and close around, SOCCSKSARGEN
Estelita Tumandan not only these strips but, as it were, the
abstraction that other people call design.
Bantilan
The arc of her torso determines the
dexterity of feet and toes. Hand/eye
coordination happens inside a frame of
milliseconds.
B’laan Ikat or Tie-dye Fabric Weaving
Yabing Masalon Dulo, called as “Fu
Yabing”, was only fourteen (14) years old
when she started weaving. All her younger
years were spent in sharpening her skills
and imparting the knowledge to younger
generations of B’laan weavers.
Amguo, Landan,
Polomolok, South
She follows her mother’s movements back
Cotabato
and forth. She colors the fibers, counts the
Region XII
thread, and observes the rhythmic dance
SOCCSKSARGEN
Yabing Masalon Dulo of a weaver’s dreams woven into unique
soulful pieces.
GAMABA 2023
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared nine Manlilikha ng Bayan for 2023
through Proclamation No. 427 signed by the Office of the Executive Secretary last December 15.
Under the law, a “Manlilikha ng Bayan” is defined as “a citizen or a group of citizens engaged in any
traditional art uniquely Filipino” and who would be considered as “master and maker of works of
extraordinary technical quality.”
They are considered a link between the past where their folk art flourished and the present where their
artistic skills must be sustained.
The nine recipients of the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan are as follows:
1. Adelita Romualdo Bagcal, an Ilocano master of oral traditions from Banna, Ilocos Norte
2. Abina Tawide Coguit, an Agusan Manobo embroiderer from La Paz, Agusan del Sur
3. Sakinur-ain Mugong Delasas, a Sama master of traditional dance from Bongao, Tawi-Tawi
4. Bundos Bansil Fara, a T’boli brasscaster from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
5. Marife Ravidas Ganahon, a Higaonon mat weaver from Malaybalay, Bukidnon
6. Amparo Balansi Mabanag, a Ga’dang embroiderer from Paracelis, Mountain Province
7. Samporonia Pagsac Madanlo, a Mandaya ikat weaver from Caraga, Davao Oriental
8. Barbara Kibed Ofong, a T’boli ikat weaver from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
9. Rosie Godwino Sula, a T’boli chanter from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/marcos-names-manlilikha-ng-bayan-2023/
