Art Appreciation

Chapter 13

Awards and Recognitions for

Artist: The Gawad Manlilikha ng
Bayan (GAMABA)

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Chapter 13

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS FOR ARTIST: THE GAWAD

MANLILIKHA NG BAYAN (GAMABA)
Introduction

In this chapter, you will be learning about the awards and recognition that is given
to award-winning artists in the Philippines through the award Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan or the National Living Treasures Award. Criteria to continue for searching the
finest traditional artists of the land will also be discussed as well as the categories. In a
way, you will be familiar of the standard of the highest policy-making and coordinating
body for culture and the arts of the State in selecting the finest artist to be awarded
and able to apply to oneself on becoming a possible future awardee.

Specific Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

- Identity national GAMABA Artists

- Identify the national artist’s contribution to society

Duration

Chapter 13: GAMABA = 2 hours

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In April 1992, the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or the National Living Treasures
Award was institutionalized through Republic Act No.7355. Tasked with the
administration and implementation of the Award is the National Commission for Culture
and the Arts (NCCA), the highest policy-making and coordinating body for culture and the
arts of the State. The NCCA, through the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Committee and an
Ad Hoc Panel of Experts, conducts the search 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 of and instill pride among our
people about the genius of the Manlilikha ng Bayan.

First awarded in 1993 to three outstanding artists in music and poetry, the
Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan has its roots in the 1988 National Folk Artists Award
organized by the Rotary Club of Makati-Ayala. As a group, these folk and traditional
artists reflect the diverse heritage and cultural traditions that transcend their
beginnings to become part of our national character. As Filipinos, 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.

As envisioned under R.A. 7355, “Manlilikha ng Bayan" shall mean 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.

The National Living Treasures Award, alternatively known as the Gawad sa

Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA; lit. Award for the Creators of the Country) conferred to a
person or group of artists recognized by the Government o 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

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 and in lined with UNESCO’s criteria of Living National
Treasures.

As a group, these folk and traditional artists reflect the diverse heritage and
cultural traditions that transcend their beginnings to become part of our national

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character. As Filipinos, 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.
They are our National Living Treasures.

Criteria

To become a National Living Treasure, the candidate must possess the following
qualifications:

1. 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.

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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:

 Folk architecture
 Maritime transport
 Weaving
 Literature
 Graphic and plastic arts
 Ornament4carving
 Perfoming arts
 Textile or fiber art
 Pottery

Other artistic expressions of traditional culture may be added.

Hereunder are some of the GAMABA awardees and their work of art:

1. Darhata Sawabi – a Tausug weaver of Pis Syabit, the traditional cloth

tapestry worn as a head cover;

2. Eduardo Mutuc - an artist from Apalit, Pampanga who has dedicated his life
to creating religious and secular art in silver, bronze, and wood;

3. Haja Amina Appi – recognized as master mat weaver among the Sama
indigenous community for her unique designs, straightness of her edging (tabig), and
fineness of her sasa and kima-kima.

4. Alonzo Saclag - a Kalinga master of dance and the performing arts who
mastered not only the Kalinga musical instruments but also her dance patterns and
movements associated with her peoples' ritual.

5. Federico Caballero - a Sulod Bukidnon epic chanter from Kalinog, Iloilo who
ceaselessly works for the documentation of the oral literature, particularly the epics of
his people;

6. Uwang Ahadas - a Yakan musician who is a master of the kwintangan, kayu,

and tuntungan instruments;

7. Lang Dulay - a T'boli traditional weaver of T'nalak or T'boli cloth made of

colorful abaca fabrics;

8. Salinta Monon - a Tagbanua Bagobo traditional weaver of distinct abaca

fabrics called inabal;

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9. Ginaw Bilog - is a Hanunuo Mangyan poet who is considered as a master

of ambahan poetry;

10. Masino Intaray - a prolific and pre-eminent epic chanter and story-teller
recognized for his outstanding mastery of various traditional musical instruments of the
Palawan people such as basal, kulilal, and bagil.

Other famous Filipino Artists and their Artwork

1. Ang Kiuko (Painting: The Crucifixion)

2. Diosdado Lorenzo (Painting: Still Life Paintings)
3. Fernando Cueto Amorsolo (Painting: Portrait of Presidents- M.Quezon; M. Roxas;
and S.Ozmeña)
4. Guillermo Tolentino (Sculpture: Oblation and the Bonifacio Monument)
5. Hernando Ocampo (Painting: The Contrast)
6. Juan Luna (Painting: Spoliarium)
7. Napoleon Abueva (Sculpture: Allegorical Harpoon)
8. Solomon Saprid ( Sculpture: Tikbalang)
9. Victorio Edades (Painting: The Builders)
10. Vicente Rivera (Painting: Supplication)

References/Additional Resources/Readings

Ariola, Mariano M. Ed.D.(2018) Art Appreciation

Leoño, roman D. and Agtani, Jenny Marsha B. (2018) Art Appreciation for College
Students
Menoy, Jesus Z. (2009) Introduction to the Humanities: A Holistic Approach

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