D24

Getting to Know the Philippines Gawad sa Manlilikhang Bayan Awardees (2000)

Review

1. ALONZO SACLAG - Musician and Dancer

He is a Kalinga and he is from Lubugan, Kalinga.
He received no instruction, formal or otherwise, in the
performing arts. Yet he has mastered not only the Kalinga
musical instruments but also the dance patterns and
movements associated with his people’s rituals.
He actively advocates the documentation of their
philosophies before they become completely eroded by foreign
influences – whether cultural, political, or economic – and are
completely forgotten by his people.
He has for years urged the members of his community to
preserve their artifacts and archaeological sites.
Through his perseverance and efforts to preserve these artifacts, such as the Kalinga gong, the
Lubuagan branch of the National
Museum was built.
To guarantee that his knowledge in the performing arts is passed on to others, he formed the
Kalinga Budong Dance Troupe.

2. FEDERICO CABALLERO - Epic Chanter

Sulod-Bukidnon from Calinog, Iloilo
He ceaselessly works for the documentation of the oral
literature, particularly the epics, of his people.
Together with scholars, artists, and advocates of culture, he
painstakingly pieces together the elements of this oral tradition
nearly lost.
 He continued the oral tradition, collaborating with researchers to document what is
customarily referred to as Humadapnon and Labaw Dunggon epics.
He works with the Bureau of Nonformal Education, travelling from barangay to barangay,
trying to convince the older folk of the necessity and benefits of learning to read and write.

3. UWANG AHADAS – Musician

Yakan from Lamitan, Basilan
He mastered several Yakan musical instruments such
as the gabbang, a bamboo xylophone, agung and even the
female instrument called kwintangan.
He believes it is best for children to commence
training young, when interest is at its peak and flexibility
of the hands and the wrists is assured.
He dreams that many more of his people will discover
and study his art.
His purpose carries him beyond the borders of
Lamitato the other towns of Basilan where Uwang always
finds a warm welcome from students, young and old, who
eagerly await his coming.
Uwang’s teaching style is essentially hands-on. He
teaches by showing; his students learn by doing.
Activity 1

Identify if the following is true or false. Write the word TRUE if the statement is correct and
FALSE if it is the otherwise. Use the space provided for your answers.
_______1. Lang Dulay is a Bagobo from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.-
_______2. Salinta Monon is a Tagabawa Bagobo from Bansalan, Davao del Sur.
_______3. Lang Dulay is a traditional weaver of the tnalak or Tboli cloth.
_______4. Salinta Monon and her sister are the only remaining Bagobo weavers in her
community.
_______5. Lang Dulay and Salinta Monon are both clay weavers.-

Activity 3

1. All the Gawad sa Manlilikhang Bayan Awardees are truly admirable. In this activity, however,
you have to choose one of the awardees of 2000 that you admire most and give reasons why.
1. Do you like reading traditional Filipino Epics? Why or why not.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
____________________
2. If there is an elective class that will teach you all about the traditional epics of the Philippines
will you enroll in
that class? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
____________________

Reminder: must always bring the following

Scissors
Colored Papers
Glue
Ribbon