• Artists and Artisans

• GAMABA artists
• National artists
• Somewhat an
elitist view
categorizing the
“Fine Arts”
• Creates for
aesthetics
• “high art”
• functional
utilitarian art
• Folk traditions and
practitioners are
seen as craftsman
or artisans
• Done by hand, in
small quantity
 “Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan”
 National Living Treasures Award
 Republic Act No. 7355
 April 1992
 National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
 The highest policy-making and coordinating body for culture and the arts
of the State
 search for the finest traditional artists of
the land
 adopts a program that will ensure the
transfer of their skills to others and
 undertakes measures to promote a
genuine appreciation of and instill pride
among our people about the genius of the
Manlilikha ng Bayan
 First awarded in 1993 to three
outstanding artists in music and poetry
 has its roots in the 1988 National Folk
Artists Award organized by the Rotary
Club of Makati- Ayala
1. He/she 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.
2. He/she must have engaged in a
folk art tradition that has been in
existence and documented for at
least fifty (50) years.
3. He/she must have consistently
performed or produced over a
significant period, works of
superior and distinctive quality.
4. He/she 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.
5. He/she 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
him/her incapable of teaching
further his/her craft, may still be
recognized if:
1. He/she had created a
significant body of works
and/or has consistently
displayed excellence in the
practice of his/her art, thus
achieving important
contributions for its
development.
 Whang Od’s
apprentice and
niece, Grace.

2. He/she has been

instrumental in the
revitalization of his/her
community’s artistic tradition.
3. He/she has passed on to the
other members of the community
skills in the folk art for which the
community is traditionally known.
4. His/her
community has
recognized
him/her as
master and
teacher of
his/her craft.
 Folk architecture
 Maritime Transport
 Weaving/ Carving,
 Performing Arts
 Literature
 Graphic and Plastic Arts
 Ornament
 Textile or Fiber Art
 Pottery and other artistic
expressions of traditional
culture.
1. specially
designed gold
medallion,
2. an initial grant of
P100,000, and
3. P10,000 monthly
stipend for life.
In consonance with the
provision of Republic Act
No. 7355, which states
that “the monetary grant
may be increased
whenever circumstances
so warrant,” the NCCA
board approved:
an additional
monthly personal
allowance of P14,000 for
the awardees
 FUN FACT!

You’ve been seeing Whang-

Od’s photos throughout the
presentation, BUT she is not
yet a GAMABA awardee!

1. There were proposal to have her as one of the National Artists of the Philippines or as one of the National Living
Treasures, A hashtag campaign (#WangOdNationalArtist) started on September 2015.
2. Her nomination to the National Living Treasures (GAMABA or Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan in Tagalog) was
officially received by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts on October 21, 2017 for deliberations.
3. The Philippine Senate also unanimously passed a resolution supporting and nominating her to the GAMABA on
February 28, 2018.
4. In June 12, 2018, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts announced that the prestigious Dangal ng
Haraya Award will be given to Whang-od on June 25, 2018.
 Question:

Why was she not awarded a

NATIONAL ARTIST or
GAMABA?

Filipino anthropologist and University of the Philippines Baguio professor Analyn Salvado-Amores said that
though she has no objections on Whang-od's nomination to the GAMABA, Whang-od might not get conferred
because she earns from tattooing and one of the requirement for a GAMABA award is to practice the craft without
making any profit from it
 READ Republic
Act No. 7355

Filipino anthropologist and University of the Philippines Baguio professor Analyn Salvado-Amores said that
though she has no objections on Whang-od's nomination to the GAMABA, Whang-od might not get conferred
because she earns from tattooing and one of the requirement for a GAMABA award is to practice the craft without
making any profit from it
 Apalit, Pampanga ang Gawad
Filipino folk musician of Manlilikha ng Bayan noong
the Yakan people taong 2005. Carver