The National Living Treasures Award, alternatively known as the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA), is conferred to a person or group of artists recognized by the Government of the Philippines for their contributions to the country's intangible cultural heritage. A recipient of the award, a National Living Treasure or Manlilikha ng Bayan is "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."Executive Order No. 236, s. 2003 Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
History In 1988, the National Folk Artists Award was organized by the Rotary Club of Makati-Ayala. The distinctions were given by the organization until it was replaced by the GAMABA Law in 1992. The recipients of the National Folk Artists from 1988 to 1992 were not declared as GAMABA even after the GAMABA Law was enacted, creating a gap in the legal recognition of traditional artists previously recognized as National Folk Artists. Of those recognized as National Folk Artists from 1988 to 1992, only Fidel Antiporda Go from Vigan City was given a marker, where it read that the award was given to him by the National Commission of the Philippines (NCCA) in 1990. The other pre-GAMABA Law National Folk Artists are publicly unknown, since a list of the recipients is virtually missing in online public records.
The National Living Treasures Award (Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan) was institutionalized in 1992 through Republic Act No. 7355. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts, which is the highest policy-making and coordinating body of the Philippines for culture and the arts, was tasked with the implementation and awarding. This is in line with UNESCO's criteria of Living National Treasures.
Criteria To become a National Living Treasure, the candidate must possess the following qualifications:
is 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. must have engaged in a folk art tradition that has been in existence and documented for at least 50 years. must have consistently performed or produced over a significant period, works of superior and distinctive quality. 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. 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:
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. has been instrumental in the revitalization of their community's artistic tradition. has passed on to the other members of the community skills in the folk art for which the community is traditionally known. community has recognized them as master and teacher of their craft.
Awards and Incentives The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan recipients, as exemplified in Republic Act No. 7355 shall receive a plaque or medal bearing the logo of the award. A duplicate of this is to be donated to and permanently displayed in the pertinent provincial museum or largest cultural center.
An initial grant of One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) and Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) a month thereafter for life.
Categories
The categories are, but not limited to, the following categories of traditional folk arts: ethnomedicine folk architecture maritime transport weaving carving performing arts literature graphic and plastic arts ornament textile or fiber arts pottery. architecture
Other artistic expressions of traditional culture may be added, such as the case of the ethnomedicine category, which was added only in 2020.
Recipients As defined by UNESCO, the bearers of intangible cultural heritage are to be known internationally as Living Human Treasures. The Filipino counterparts of this title are the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) awardees.
There are currently twenty-five declared GAMABA awardees, all of which have exemplified the highest standard in their respective field of expertise.
Recipients +Image Name Category / declaration Ethnic group / communityNative of Proclamation Year of declaration Ginaw Bilog(For) faithfully preserving the Mangyan script and poetry by writing it on bamboo, and by promoting it in every occasion, so that this art will not be lost, but will be preserved for posterityHanunuo Mangyan cultural community Mansalay, Oriental MindoroPresidential Proclamation No. 383, May 17, 19941993Masino IntarayAs a gifted poet, musician, epic chanter and storyteller, with the Basal and Kulilal Ensemble of Makagwa Valley, has been faithfully promoting and preserving the musical and literary tradition of the Palawan people Pala’wan Brooke's Point, PalawanPresidential Proclamation No. 384, May 17, 19941993Samaon SulaimanHighest excellence in the art of Kutyapi playing and manifested his unwavering dedication and commitment to his art Maguindanao Mamasapano, MaguindanaoPresidential Proclamation No. 385, May 17, 1994 1993Lang DulayHighest excellence in the art of abaca-ikat (T’nalak) weaving and manifested her unwavering dedication and commitment to her artT'boli Lake Sebu, South CotabatoPresidential Proclamation No. 1189, March 27, 19981998Salinta MononHighest level of excellence in the art of abaca-ikat (Abaca – ikat / Inabal) weaving and manifested her unwavering dedication and commitment to her artTagabawa-Bagobo communityBansalan, Davao del SurPresidential Proclamation No. 1188, March 27, 1998 1998Alonzo SaclagKalinga Musician and Dance Kalinga Lubuagan, Kalinga2000Federico CaballeroEpic Chanter of Kinaray-a and other languages Panay-Bukidnon Sulod- Bukidnon, Iloilo2000Uwang AhadasYakan musicYakan Lamitan, Basilan2000Darhata SawabiPis syabit weavingTausūg Parang, Sulu2004 Eduardo MutucPinukpuk bronze and silver metalwork KapampanganApalit, Pampanga2004Haja Amina AppiMaster mat weaverSama-BajauTandubas, Tawi-Tawi2004Teofilo GarciaThe Preservation Of The Native Headgear Known As The Tabungaw By Keeping The Tradition Alive In His CommunityIlocanoSan Quintin, AbraPresidential Proclamation No. 474, September 13, 2012 2012Magdalena Gamayo(She) has contributed to the development of the Ilocano abel by using traditional designs in her work as well as perfecting weaving techniques that further enhance the uniqueness of these designsIlocanoPinili, Ilocos NortePresidential Proclamation No. 474, September 13, 2012 2012Ambalang AusalinRecognized for her commitment to the safeguarding and promotion of the Yakan tennun (tapestry weaving) traditionYakan Lamitan, BasilanPresidential proclamation no. 126, signed January 6, 2017 2016Estelita Tumandan BantilanRecognized for her commitment to the safeguarding and promotion of the B'laan igem (mat weaving) traditionBlaan Malapatan, SaranganiPresidential proclamation no. 126, signed January 6, 2017 2016Yabing Masalon Dulo Recognized for her commitment to the safeguarding and promotion of the B'laan mabal tabih (ikat weaving) traditionBlaan Polomolok, South CotabatoPresidential proclamation no. 126, signed January 6, 2017 2016Adelita BagcalRecognized for her commitment to safeguarding and promoting the Dallot and other ilocano oral traditionsIlocanoBanna, Ilocos NortePresidential Proclamation NO. 427, December 15, 2023 2023Abina CoguitSuyam embroidery tradition of the Agusan ManoboAgusan Manobo La Paz, Agusan del SurPresidential Proclamation NO. 427, December 15, 2023 2023Sakinur-ain DelasasRecognized for her commitment to safeguarding and promoting the Same igal (dance) traditionSama-BajauBongao, Tawi-TawiPresidential Proclamation NO. 427, December 15, 2023 2023Bundos FaraRecognized for his commitment to safeguarding and promoting the T'boli temwel (brasscasting) traditionT'boli Lake Sebu, South CotabatoPresidential Proclamation NO. 427, December 15, 2023 2023Marife GanahonRecognized for her commitment to safeguarding and promoting the Higanon ikaw (mat weaving) traditionHigaononMalaybalay, BukidnonPresidential Proclamation NO. 427, December 15, 2023 2023Amparo MabanagRecognized for her commitment to safeguarding and promoting the Ga'dang manu'bak and ameru (beadworks and embroidery) traditionsGa'dangParacelis, Mountain ProvincePresidential Proclamation NO. 427, December 15, 2023 2023Samporonia MadanloRecognized for her commitment to safeguarding and promoting the Mandaya dagmay (ikat weaving) traditionMandayaCaraga, Davao OrientalPresidential Proclamation NO. 427, December 15, 2023 2023Barbara OfongRecognized for her commitment to safeguarding and promoting the T'boli t'nalak (ikat weaving) traditionT'boli Lake Sebu, South CotabatoPresidential Proclamation NO. 427, December 15, 2023 2023Rosie SulaRecognized for her commitment to safeguarding and promoting the T'boli lingon (chanting) traditionT'boli Lake Sebu, South CotabatoPresidential Proclamation NO. 427, December 15, 2023
Lapses in the Award System
There have been multiple constructive criticisms of the system by which the award was crafted. Critics have argued against the discriminatory reason that created a separation between those implied as "traditional", "indigenous", and "craft" arts (where recipients are given the Gawad Manlilikha Award or National Living Treasures Award) with those implied as "fine arts" (where recipients are given the National Artists Award). The separation of the fields have caused discrimination, rather than inclusion, since "traditional" arts should be on the same merit and system as those identified as "fine arts", which is a term mostly applied by older Filipino crafters of the law, who crafted the GAMABA law, as "Western art". Critics argue that it is insignificant to still discriminate between the two and call one as the "fine arts" and the other as "craft".
The terminology used in the award is also a source of discourse and problematique. "Manlilika" directly means "artist", making the GAMABA Award and the National Artist Award the same thing by translation, but the two are still separated by a system that views "traditional" arts as not "fine arts", which the system only applied to "Western arts", diminishing and discriminating actual traditional Filipino arts in the process. While in doing so, the same system itself notes that the two awards have allegedly the "same" ranking.