GAMABA

(GAWAD SA
MANLILIKHA NG
BAYAN)
The Contemporary in Traditional Art
 GaMaBa Awards
(Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan)
• The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan, or
the National Living Treasures Award, is
conferred on 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 Manlilikha ng Bayan Act.
• The National Commission for the Culture and
the Arts oversees its implementation.
• The main objective of the award is to honor
and support traditional folk artists and to 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
generations  and the promotion of the craft
both locally and internationally.
• In 2014, the Senate of the Philippines
adopted Senate Resolution No. (SRN)
765 aimed at  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 Bayan” written in
Baybayin, an ancient Filipino script used in the
Philippines in the 16th century.
 Criteria
1. Should be a Filipino citizen or group of citizens
belonging to an indigenous / traditional cultural
community anywhere in the Philippines, engaged in
Filipino traditional art in the following categories: folk
architecture, maritime transport, weaving, carving,
performing arts, literature, graphic and plastic arts,
ornament, textile or fiber art, pottery and other artistic
expressions of traditional culture;
2. Should have been engaged in the tradition and craft
for a significant period of time with at least 50 years
of existence and documentation;
3. Should have produced and performed of artistic,
distinctive, and superior quality;
4. Should possess mastery of the tools and materials
that are needed for the art and must have a
reputation for being an art master and craft maker in
the community where he / she belongs;
5. Should have passed on and/ or will pass on
the traditional crafts and skills to other
members of the community by virtue of
teaching;
6. In case when a Manlilikha ng Bayan
candidate is incapable of teaching further
his/ her craft and skill due to age or infirmity;
–      He / she should have created a significant
body of work and has contributed to the
development of the tradition and craft
–     He / she should have played a role in the
preservation and revitalization of the artistic
tradition in the community.
–      He/ she has been recognized as a master of
his / her craft and admired for his character and
integrity in his / her community.
List of Awardees
Ginaw Bilog is a Hanunoo
Mangyan poet from
Mansalay, Oriental 
Mindoro.
He is considered as a master
of the Ambahan poetry.
This wisdom is his key to
the understanding of the
Mangyan soul.
In 1993, he was given the
Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan award.
 Ambahan
• Ambahan is a poetic literary form composed
of seven-syllable lines used to convey
messages through metaphors and images.
• The ambahan is sung and its messages
range from courtship, giving advice to the
young, asking for a place to stay, saying
goodbye to a dear friend and so on.
• Such an oral tradition is common place
among indigenous cultural groups but the
ambahan has remained in existence today
chiefly because it is etched on bamboo tubes
using ancient Southeast Asian, pre-colonial
script called surat Mangyan.
Masino Intaray was born
near Makagwa Valley. He
was a skilled and
proficient player of the
basal (gong), aroding
(mouth harp), and
babarak (ring flute).
He was also well-versed in
kulilal (songs) and bagit
(vocal music).
In 1993, he was given the
“Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan” award.
Samaon Sulaiman is
kutyapi master and
teacher of his instrument
in Libutan and other
barangays
of Maganoy town, 
Mindanao.
He is proficient
in kulintang, agong, 
gandingan, palendag,
and tambul. 
In 1993, he was given the
“Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan” award.
Lang Dulay is a T'boli artist
from Lake Sebu, South
Cotabato. She is
considered as a traditional
weaver of "t'nalak" or
"tinalak" cloth. Her art is
considered excellent
because of the “fine even
quality of the yarn, the
close interweaving of the
warp and weft, the
traditional forms and
patterns, the chromatic
integrity of the dye, and the
consistency of the finish”
In 1998, she was given the
“Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan” award.
Salinta Monon was a
Tagabawa-Bagobo 
weaver from Bansalan,
Davao del Sur.  She was
cited for demonstrating the
creative and expressive
aspects of the Bagobo
abaca ikat weaving called
inabal at the time when it
was threatened with
extinction.
In 1998, she was given the
“Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan” award.
Alonzo Saclag is a Kalinga 
master of dance and the
performing arts from
Lubuagan, Kalinga. He
has also mastered the
dance patterns and
movements associated
with his people’s ritual.
He is the founder of the
Kalinga Budong Dance
Troupe.
In 2000, he was given the
“Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan” award.
Federico Caballero is a Sulod-
Bukidnon epic chanter
from Kalinog, Iloilo. He
ceaselessly work for the
documentation of the oral
literature, particularly the
epics, of his people.
He is considered as a bantugan.
He strives to dispense justice
in the community through his
work as a manughusay – an
arbiter of conflicts.
In 2000, he was given the
“Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan” award.
Uwang Ahadas is
from Lamitan, Basilan.
He is a Yakan, a people to
whom instrumental music
is of much significance,
connected as it is with
both the agricultural cycle
and the social realm.
He is a hands-on-teacher to
those who wants to learn
playing Yakan instruments
including the
kwintangan, kayu,
and tuntungan.
In 2000, he was given the
“Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan” award.
Darhata Sawabi is a
weaver of pis syabit -
the traditional cloth
tapestry worn as a
head covering by the 
Tausug of Jolo, from
Barangay Parang, in
the island of Jolo, Sulu.
In 2005, she was given
the “Gawad sa
Manlilikha ng Bayan”
award.
Eduardo Mutuc is
from Apalit, Pampanga.
He has dedicated his
life to creating religious
and secular art in silver,
bronze and wood.
In 2005, he was given
the “Gawad sa
Manlilikha ng Bayan”
award.
Haja Amina Appi was
recognized as the
master mat weaver
among the Sama
indigenous
community of Ungos
Matata, Tandubas,
Tawi-Tawi. 
In 2005, she was given
the “Gawad sa
Manlilikha ng Bayan”
award.
Teopilo Garcia is a hat
weaver from San
Quintin, Abra. He is
known for tabungaw,
which can last up to
three to four
generations if taken
care of properly.
In 2012, he was given the
“Gawad sa Manlilikha
ng Bayan” award.
Magdalena Gamis a 
Filipino master
weaver who makes
“inabel”, an Ilokano
handwoven cloth. 
In 2012, she was given
the “Gawad sa
Manlilikha ng Bayan”
award.
 Other Recognized Awards for Filipinos
Ani ng Dangal or "Harvest of Honors" is a
state recognition given by the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts under
the Office of the President of the Republic
of the Philippines. It is an annual event in
the Philippines celebrated as a highlight
and concluding rite of the Philippine Arts
Festival.
The Ani ng Dangal is given to a natural-born
Filipino artist or group that has reaped top
honors in international events. 
The Palanca Awards aims to develop
Philippine Literature in the following
manner:
• By providing incentives for writers to craft
their most outstanding literary works;
• By being a treasury of the Philippine’s
literary gems from our gifted writers; and
• To assist in their eventual dissemination to
our people, particularly students.
The Philippine National Book Awards, or
simply the National Book Awards, is
a Philippine literary award sponsored by
the NBDB (National Book Development
Board) and the MCC (Manila Critics'
Circle).
The yearly awards have been given since
1982 by the Manila Critics' Circle, starting
in 2008 the administration of the award
changed to the NBDB.
The Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas is
an award given by the Unyon ng mga
Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL).
UMPIL is the Writers' Union of the
Philippines (Filipino: Unyon ng mga
Manunulat sa Pilipinas, UMPIL) is an
organization of Filipino writers in the
Philippines. 
Established in 1974, the organization was first
known by the English version of its name, the
Writers' Union of the Philippines. 
It has the primary goal of promoting Philippine
literature, uniting writers in the Philippines, and
providing seminars, workshops, and symposia.
Ang Pedro Bucaneg Award ang
pinakamataas na pagkilalang iginagawad
ng Gunglo Dagiti Mannurat nga Ilokano iti
Filipinas (GUMIL Filipinas) sa mga lalaking
manunulat na Ilokano. Iginagawad ito
doon sa mga tinitingalang lalaking
manunulat na Ilokano na nakapagbigay ng
natatanging ambag sa pag-unlad ng
panitikang Iluko.
The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM)

■ Given to men and women between the ages of 18-40 who have shown selfless
dedication to their profession that has resulted in outstanding contributions to their
individual fields and the well-being of their fellowmen.
■ Started by Jaycees (Junior Chamber International), a multinational civic organization
The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL)

■ The counterpart of TOYM

■ Qualifications:
– Filipino Citizen
– At least forty-one years old
– Has good moral character
– Has made noteworthy contributions to his/her profession or to the development of
the nation
Thirteen Artist Awards (TAA)

■ Started in 1970 by Cultu8ral Center of the Philippines

■ Created to motivate upcoming generatons of visual artists.
■ Its name was coined by the CCP director Roberto Chabet who likened the initial set of awardees to
the Thirteen Moderns who pioneered the modernist movement in Philippines.
■ Awardees were often avant-garde in their concept and experimental with their work that their
collection were often expressed in varying forms and mediums.
■ It happens every three years( Started 2009)
■ Selection were made by the CCP Visual Director (but as of 1988, through nominations of different
art councils and organizations in the Philippines.
■ Awardees’ work will be displayed in the Bulwagang Juan Luna (CCP Main) with prize and trophy.
■ Qualifications
– A Filipino citizen less than forty years old
– Artworks must be relevant to the present situations\work must be relevant to the
present situations
– Work must be evident of integrity, uniquenss, and thougt-provoking ideas
– Artists must have been continuously producing artworks as documented through
solo and group exhibitions
– The artist should be nominated by one of the following people or organizations:
■ Art council
■ Art groups
■ Heads or dean of art schools
■ Museum or gallery curators
■ Art critics
■ Former TAA awardees
Gawad CCP Para sa Sining

■ The highest award the Cultural Center of the Philippines can give to artists or group of artists
whose body of works has constantly show high quality and has contributed to the development of
their chosen art form.
■ Art forms: Visual arts, music, dance, theater, film, literature, broadcast arts, technical theater, and
production design, and it has three categories
– CATEGORY A- Artists who continuously produce quality work; created or developed unique
style; won distinctive national and international competitions
– CATEGORY B- Artists who made great contributed to the development of their art and craft
in their regions.
– CATEGORY C- Recognizes people and cultural workers who have contributed to the cultural
development of art in the country through research, curatorship, and administration.
■ Given during the awarding ceremony of Tanging Parangal ng CCP recognizing
individuals who brought positive change in Philipiine Arts.
 Thoughts to think about?
• What other artist awards are
existing in the Philippines? In the
regions?
• Are there other arts forms and artists
that are still unrecognized? Can we
identify them?