Frederico Caballero (Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan)

- Federico Caballero is a Filipino chanter of Philippine epic poetry. Caballero is a

recipient of the National Living Treasures Award.

- Born on December 25, 1938, Caballero is of the Panay-Bukidnon people from the Central
Panay mountains.

- He is known for his work on the documentation of the oral literature, particularly the ten
epics. These epics are rendered in an extinct language related to Kinaray-a.

Caballero, who is also called Nong Pedring, learned about epics from his mother and his
grandmother, Anggoy Omil who would chant these to him and his siblings as a lullaby. When
Anggoy and his mother died, he went on to continue the traditions and documented these epics
which are referred to as the Labaw Dunggon and Humadapnon epics with researchers. He
worked with the Bureau of Nonformal Education, to teach people how to read and write and
would promote the tradition of epic chanting despite the initial objection of his children.
He also worked as the manughusay in his local community, an arbiter who helps resolves
disputes and conflicts in the community. He is considered as a bantugan due to his positive
influence extending beyond his community.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts recognized him as a National Living Treasure
in the year 2000 for "weaving the fabric of oral tradition".
That's why Federico Caballero was conferred the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan award in 2000 for
-
his expertise in the Sugidanon, the epics of Central Panay.

Caballero is married to Lucia (who is a binukot, a title similar to a princess in Panay-Bukidnon tradition and
-
has three children.