GAMABA Awardees: Preserving Traditional Folk Arts

GAMABA: Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan

• Established in 1992 through RA 7355 to preserve and promote traditional folk arts
• Aims to recognize and honor master craftsmen who have made significant contributions to the country's cultural heritage

Criteria for GAMABA Awardees

• Master/expert in their field
• Excellent quality of work
• Participated in the practice, preservation, and promotion of traditional folk arts for at least 50 years
• Well-respected and willing to pass on their skills and knowledge to others

Benefits of Being a GAMABA Awardee

• Php 200,000 cash award, plus a Php 50,000 stipend
• Hospitalization and life insurance coverage
• State funeral at the Libingan ng mga Bayani
• Place of honor and recognition in cultural events

GAMABA Awardees

Ginaw Bilog (1993)

• Poet from the Hanunuo Mangyan tribe
• Preserved Ambahan poetry on bamboo tubes
• Key to the Mangyan soul
• Has written Surat Mangyan, a Mangyan writing system

Masino Intaray (1993)

• Musician and storyteller from the Pala'wan tribe
• Master of the basal, kulilal, and bagit
• Skilled in playing the kutyapi and pagang, and using the arording (mouth harp) and babarak (ring flute)

Samaon Sulaiman (1993)

• Musician from the Maguindanao tribe
• Learned to play the kutyapi at 13 and became a master at 35
• Proficient in playing the kulintang, agong, gandingan, palendag, and tambul

Lang Dulay (1998)

• Textile weaver from the T'Boli tribe
• Known as the "Dream weaver" for her designs inspired by her dreams
• Created 100 designs, including the bulinglangit (clouds), bankiring (hair bangs), and kabangi (butterfly)

Salinta Monon (1998)

• Weaver from the Bagobo tribe
• Last Bagobo weaver; also called a princess
• Mastered the Binuwaya pattern, one of the most difficult designs

Alonzo Saclag (2000)

• Musician and dancer from the Kalinga tribe
• Leader of the Kalinga Budong Dance Troupe
• Expert in playing the tongali, a bamboo flute played using the nose

Federico Caballero (2000)

• Epic-chanter from the Sulod-Bukidnon tribe
• Arbiter of conflicts; has mastered 10 epics, including Labaw Donggon, Tikum Kadlum, and Amburukay
• Broke the stereotype that only women can be epic-chanters

Uwang Ahadas (2000)

• Musician from the Yakan tribe
• Mastered the kwintangan, agung, tuntungan, and gabbang by the age of 20
• Despite near-blindness, believed to be a form of retribution from nature spirits

Darhata Sawabi (2004)

• Textile weaver from the Tausug tribe
• Known for her pis syabit weaving, a traditional cloth tapestry worn as a head covering
• Supported her family by selling her weaving work

Eduardo Mutuc (2004)

• Metalsmith from the Kapampangan tribe
• Known for his silver plating, used to decorate religious art
• Inspired by religious designs, even in his secular art

Haja Amina Appi (2004)

• Weaver from the Sama tribe
• Known as the "Rainbow Weaver" for her vibrant colors and geometric patterns
• Weaves mat weavings (banig) and uses pandan leaves she harvests herself

Teofilo Garcia (2012)

• Casque maker from the Ilocano tribe
• Learned to make tabungaw hats at 15 years old
• Known for making strongkis hats, a traditional casque in Abra

Magdalena Gamayo (2012)

• Weaver from the Ilocano tribe
• Master weaver of Inabel cloth
• Has woven clothes for Imelda Marcos
• Known for her Sinansabong pattern, the hardest to make

Ambalang Ausalin (2016)

• Textile weaver from the Yakan tribe
• Skilled in weaving traditional Yakan cloth