Module 10

• Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA)


  Another group of exceptional individuals in the Philippines, conferred with the National Living Treasures Award

  
• Republic Act No. 7355

  institutionalized the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayanin April 1992
• Manlilikha ng Bayan


  A citizen 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 generation in his/her community with the same degree of technical and artistic competence

  
• Previously, there were a total of 16 GAMABA Awardees, but nine cultural masters were conferred the title in December 2023. Currently, we have twenty-five GAMABA awardees
• Requirements to become a Manlilikha ng Bayan


  • Possess a mastery of tools and materials needed for the traditional, folk art and be a maker of works of extraordinary technical quality
  • Have consistently produced works of superior quality over significant a period
  • Have engaged in a traditional and folk art which has been in existence and documented for at least fifty (50) years
  • Command respect and inspire admiration of the country with his character and integrity
  • Must have transferred and/or willing to transfer to other members of the community the skills in the traditional and folk arts for which the community has become nationally known
• A candidate who, due to age or infirmity, has left him/her/them incapable of teaching further his/her/their craft, may still be recognized provided that he/she/they must possess the qualifications as enumerated above
• Benefits and Privileges of an Individual GAMABA Awardee

  • The rank and title of Manlilikha ng Bayan, as proclaimed by the President of the Philippines
  • The GAMABA gold-plated medallion minted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and citation
  • A lifetime emolument and materials and physical benefits comparable in value to those received by the highest officers of the land
  • A state funeral, the arrangements for and the expenses of which shall be borne by the Government, upon the death of the Manlilikha ng Bayan
  • A place of honor, in line with protocol precedence, in state functions, national commemoration ceremonies and all other cultural presentations

  
• Benefits and Privileges of a Group GAMABA Awardee

  • The rank and title of Manlilikha ng Bayan, as proclaimed by the President of the Philippines
  • The GAMABA plaque for the group
  • A one-time award of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 200,000.00), net of taxes
  • The group shall designate its leader who will represent and attend events and functions on behalf of the group. The said representative will also have a place of honor, in line with protocol precedence, in state functions, national commemoration ceremonies and all other cultural presentations
• GAMABA Awardees in different Categories

  • Ginaw Bilog (Hanunuo Mangyan poet)
  • Masino Intaray (Musician and Storyteller from Southern Palawan)
  • Alonzo Saclag (Master of dance and performing arts from Kalinga)
  • Federico Caballero (Panay-Bukidnon epic chanter)
  • Samaon Sulaiman (Maguindanaon musician, master of the kutyapi)
  • Uwang Ahadas (Exemplary musician of the Yakan of Lamitan, Basilan, master of the kwintangan kayu)
  • Darhata Sawabi (Pis syabit weaver from Barangay Parang, Jolo, Sulu)
  • Haja Amina Appi (Master mat weaver of the Sama indigenous community from Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi)
  • Lang Dulay (Exemplary tnalak weaver from the Tboli in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato)
  • Magdalena Gamayo (Ilocano master weaver from Pinili, Ilocos Norte)
  • Estelita Bantilan (B'laan igem/mat weaver from Malapatan Sarangani)
• Gamayo


  Ilocano master weaver from Pinili, Ilocos Norte
• Gamayo's expertise


  • Weaving high quality Ilocos' textile called abel, a kind of blanket made up of cotton weaved in different patterns
  • Started weaving at the age of 16
  • Her handworks are finer with more thread counts, and more intricate designs with up to 5 thread colors
• Gamayo's efforts to preserve the art of abel weaving

  Mentored her cousin's daughter-in-law, sister-in-law and her community people
• Estelita Bantilan


  2016 awardee, a well known B'laan igem/mat weaver from Malapatan Sarangani
• Estelita Bantilan is credited with creating some of the biggest, most beautiful mats to be seen anywhere in Southeast Asia
• Estelita Bantilan's efforts to preserve and promote the tradition of B'laan weaving


  Opened a mat weaving center in Malapatan
• Estelita Bantilan's nickname "Princess"


  A term of endearment spoken with lightness of heart and genuine respect, especially from the other mat weavers of her community
• Ambalang Ausalin


  Yakan Textile Weaver and a GAMABA Awardee in 2016
• Ambalang Ausalin is highly esteemed in all of Lamitan because her skill is deemed incomparable: she is able to bring forth all designs and actualize all textile categories typical to the Yakan
• Ambalang Ausalin's mastery


  • Executing the suwah bekkat (cross-stitch-like embellishment) and suwah pendan (embroidery-like embellishment) techniques of the bunga sama category
  • Mastering all categories of Yakan cloth, with her artistry and craftsmanship best expressed in the bungasama, sinalu'an, and saputangan
• Salinta Monon


  Bagobo textile weaver from Bansalan, Davao del Sur
• How Salinta Monon learned weaving

  Started at the age of 12 through the guidance of her mother
• Salinta Monon's products


  • Traditional Bagobo fabrics made up of abaca fibers
  • High quality textiles and intricate designs
• Salinta Monon is regarded as the best weaver in her community
• Salinta Monon spent all her life weaving and preserved the art of the Bagobo
• Yabing Masalon Dulo


  Third GAMABA Awardee in 2016, commonly known as "Fu Yabing", a Filipino textile master ikat weaver and dyer
• At the time of her death, Yabing Masalon Dulo was one of only two surviving master designers of the mabal tabih art of the indigenous Blaan people of southern Mindanao

  
• Two of Yabing Masalon Dulo's tabih are considered masterpieces, one of which is displayed in the Philippine National Museum
• Yabing Masalon Dulo's efforts to preserve the Blaan weaving tradition


  Taught the craft of tabih to her only daughter Lamina Dulo Gulili and women in her community
• Yabing Masalon Dulo's honorific "Fu"


  Given as a Blaan elder
• Teofilo Garcia


  Ilocano casque maker from San Quintin, Abra
• Teofilo Garcia's tabungaw


  • Made up of native gourd called upo, rattan and bamboo
  • Decay resistant, elegant and remarkable
• Teofilo Garcia's efforts to innovate and produce good quality headpieces

  1. Never stops innovating

  2. Passed on the art of making tabungaws by teaching his children the skills
• Eduardo Mutuc


  Metalsmith from Apalit, Pampanga, who created numerous wood carving and metal art with religious and secular themes
• How Eduardo Mutuc creates his metal artworks

  1. First draws his design on a sheet of paper, then transfers and carves it to a block of wood

  2. Covers the wood with a sheet of silver, and carefully hammers the metal until it copies the design

  3. Dips the metal into molten silver
• Eduardo Mutuc's artworks added splendor to the church design
• Through the years of producing metalwork, Eduardo Mutuc perfected his art and passed on the skills to his students
• President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has issued Proclamation No. 427, declaring nine artists as "Manlilikha ng Bayan for 2023" in recognition of their distinctive skills, which reached a high level of technical and artistic excellence

  
• Adelita Bagcal


  Manlilikha ng Bayan, Ilocano Oral Traditions
• Adelita Bagcal's expertise


  • Championing the performance of the waning Ilocano oral tradition "Dallot" and other oral traditions since she was fifteen
  • Dallot is centered on courtship and wedding and is performed during social gatherings
  • Adelita is the only remaining master of the art that requires command of the Ilocano language and the figures of speech to recite a majestic piece
• Despite the decline of Dallot practitioners, Adelita Bagcal's efforts have ensured its survival and brought attention to the importance of preserving the rich heritage of Ilocano oral traditions