GAMABA (Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan) or the National Living Treasures Award, established

in April, 1992 through Republic Act No. 7355, is the highest state honor given to deserving Filipino
citizens recognized by the Government of the Philippines for their contributions to the country’s
Intangible Cultural Heritage. Filipino people whose traditional arts embody traits that are uniquely
Filipino and practices its preservation and promotion are given such awards. As of today, there are
16 amazing GAMABA awardees with exceptional artworks in different fields worthy of honor.

GAMABA Awardees:

Ginaw Bilog is the first ever GAMABA awardee in 1993. Hailed from our very province,
Oriental Mindoro, MIMAROPA, he is a Hanonou Mangyan poet known for his efforts in
preserving the Mangyan poetry of Ambahan. Ambahan is a rhythmic poetic expression with a
meter of seven syllable lines and having rhythmic end-syllables. It is also often presented as a
chant without a determined musical pitch or musical instrument accompaniment.

Masino Intaray of Palawan, MIMAROPA, was also awarded in 1993 for his outstanding
contributions to the performing arts literature of the Philippines. Masino is a gifted poet, bard
artist, and musician. He is known for his performance of the local traditions of basal, kulilal
and bagit. Basal is a kind of musical ensemble played during the tambilaw (Offering to the
Lord of Rice), Kulilal is a lyrical poem about love being sung to the accompaniment of
kudyapi, while Bagit is an instrumental music reflecting the sound and movement of nature.

Samaon Sulaiman was a Filipino musician GAMABA awardee in 1993. He originated from
the region of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Sulaiman is
known for his mastery of the indigenous kutiyapi instrument. Kutiyapi is a Philippine two-
stringed, fretted boat-lute.

Lang Dulay, a T’boli princess from South Cotabato, Soccsksargen, is a renowned weaver
credited with the preserving her people’s tradition of weaving T’nalak, a dyed fabric made
from refined abaca fiber. She received the prestigious GAMABA in 1998.
 Salinta Monon, awarded on 1998, is a respected Bagobo weaver who dedicated her existence
to the preservation of the heritage craft. This weaver from Davao region is known for Bagobo
Tagabawa textile, she had mastered one of the most difficult and favored designs,
the binuwaya (crocodile). Salinta Monon was known as the “last Bagobo weaver”

Alonzo Saclag is a musician and dancer from the region of Cordillera Administrative Region.
He is instrumental in establishing the practice of children wearing traditional Kalinga clothing
for important school events as well as the teaching of Kalinga folk songs in schools. He also
lobbied for the broadcast of traditional Kalinga music along with contemporary music in their
local radio station. He received the GAMABA in 2000.

Federico Caballero, an epic chanter from Panay, Western Visayas, was a recipient of
GAMABA in the year 2000. He worked with researchers to piece together the epics of
Humadapnon and Labaw Donggon. He also encouraged the elders in the community to learn
how to read and write so that they can document and preserve their indigenous traditions and
beliefs. He is known for his work on the documentation of the oral literature, particularly the
ten epics.

A musician from Basilan, BARMM, Uwang Ahadas is gifted with a talent for music which he
learned by simply observing the performances of the older members of the Yakan community.
He is known for his mastery in playing traditional Yakan instruments such as the agung,
gabbang, and kwintangan kayu. He also received the GAMABA in the year 2000.

In 2004, Darhata Sawabi's dedication to the art of Pis Syabit weaving as well as her resilience
during the struggle earned her recognition as the National Living Treasures or the Gawad sa
Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) awardee. The Pis Syabit tapestry became the official
representation of the Tausug spirit and resilience. This remarkable artist originated from Sulu,
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

A metalsmith from Apalit, Pampanga, Eduardo Mutuc, received the GAMABA award in
2004. He is a known to be a practitioner of the craft of pinukpuk which involved the stamping
 of embellishments on metal sheets. Mutuc creates works of both secular and religious nature
using silver, wood and bronze mediums.

A teacher and a weaver from Tawi-Tawi, BARMM, Haja Amina Appi, was credited
for creating colorful pandan mats with complex geometric patterns. Her creations were
acclaimed for their precise sense of design, proportion and symmetry, and sensitivity to color.
Therefore, GAMABA was conferred to her in 2004.

Teofilo Garcia, a Filipino hatter known as a National Living Treasure. His contribution was
the making of Tabungaw Hats. Tabungaw hats are known to be Ilocano headwear. He is from the Ilocos region.

Magdalena Gamayo is known for being an “inabel” (Ilokano handwoven cloth) maker. MB
Magdalena Gamayo was conferred with the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan award in 2012 for
her excellent contribution to the cultural heritage of the country as a master textile weaver. She
became best known for weaving the sinan-sabong, since it is the most challenging pattern
among the four. She is also from Ilocos region.