GAMABA Award Quiz

Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA)

• The Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) recognizes artists for their unique skills in traditional Filipino art forms
• These artists are considered national treasures
• Their skills have reached a high level of technical and artistic excellence
• Their knowledge is passed on to their communities
• These skills are often steeped in pre-colonial traditions
• The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is the body responsible for selecting these individuals
• Republic Act No. 7355 formally established the GAMABA program in 1992

GAMABA Awardees

• The awardees' work preserves the cultural heritage of the Philippines
• They represent tangible and intangible cultural heritage that has been passed down through generations
• They contribute to the development of Filipino cultural diversity and creativity
• They are experts in traditional art forms
• Many of the awardees demonstrate expertise in various artistic media, including weaving, poetry, music, and others
• They are recognized for their contribution to the Filipino community
• The awards cover various art forms including music, dance, weaving, wood carving, poetry, storytelling, epic chanting and others.

Specific Awardees (Examples from provided text)

• Surat Mangyan and Hanunuo Ambahan poetry: Known for preserving the Mangyan script and Ambahan poetry for posterity. These poems have seven-syllable lines.
• Epic Chanter and Storyteller: Masters of various musical instruments and epic poetry, such as the kullilal, bagit, basalk (ring flute), and aroding.
• Playing Kudyapi: Excellent in the art of playing the two-stringed lute (kutiyapi) and other instruments.
• T'nalak Weaving: Preserving traditional abaca weaving techniques, showcasing red, black, and original abaca leaf colors.
• Inabal Weaving: Celebrated for the expressive and creative abaca ikat (tie and dye) weaving.
• Playing Yakan Instruments: Known for mastering various Yakan bamboo and metal instruments
• Chanting the Sugidanon Epic of the Panay Bukidnon: Continuously documenting oral literature, including epics. These epics were traditionally transmitted in the Kiniray-a language.
• Playing Kalinga Musical Instruments: Known for highlighting the Kalinga tradition of opposites and dualities in music and dance
• Mat Weaving: Masters of creating colorful mats with geometric patterns, demonstrating skill in design, and proportion.
• Metal Plating: Excelling in developing religious and secular artworks using silver, bronze, and wood, often in large-scale church artwork.
• Pis Syabit Weaving: Preserving and teaching the traditional weaving of pis syabit.
• Abel Weaving: Known for weaving traditional Ilocano textiles and inventing unique designs.
• Kattukong or Tabúngaw Hat Making: Experts in making this type of hat, showcasing skills passed down through generations.