PBBM, NCCA lead 2023 GAMABA Conferment Ceremony
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. led the conferment ceremony of the 2023 Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) at the historic Metropolitan Theater in Manila on May 7, 2025. This ceremony is the first time in GAMABA history wherein nine awardees will be honored in a single conferment—marking the highest number of recipients in a single year.
The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA), or the National Living Treasures Award, is the highest recognition bestowed by the Philippine government to individuals or groups who have demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication in preserving and promoting traditional Filipino arts. Established through Republic Act No. 7355 in 1992, GAMABA aims to honor those who have mastered indigenous crafts and have actively passed on their knowledge to succeeding generations.
The ceremony opened with Manlilikha ng Bayan Adelita Romualdo Bagcal who led a dallot, an oral tradition sung or chanted in Ilokano. NCCA Executive Director Eric B. Zerrudo delivered an opening message highlighting the GAMABA as a source of inspiration among Filipinos.
“Nawa’y maging inspirasyon kayo ng bawat Pilipino—mula sa mga kabataan sa paaralan hanggang sa mga lider ng bayan—upang higit pang yakapin ang ating pagka-Filipino. Panahon na upang sa bawat sulok ng bansa ay marinig ang tinig ng ating katutubo, upang sa bawat proyekto ng pag-unlad ay maisama ang kaalamang mula sa ating mga ninuno,” said Zerrudo.
On behalf of the nine new awardees, Manlilikha ng Bayan Hadja Sakinur-Ain Mugong Delasas of the Sama community in Tawi-Tawi, delivered a message for their well-deserved conferment. Delasas emphasized the importance of sustaining the practices of not only the nine newly honored traditional artists but of all traditional artists in the country.
“Nawa ay bigyan pa kami ng lakas na ituloy ang aming sining at maisalin sa mga susunod na henerasyon. Maunawaan at pahalagahan sana hindi lamang kaming siyam, ngunit ang lahat na traditional artist na patuloy na nagsusumikap upang ipagpatuloy ang kanilang kultura sa kabila ng lakas ng impluwensya ng bagong panahon,” said Delasas, urging the public to help preserve and safeguard the traditional roots of the Filipino people.
Beyond recognizing individual excellence, the GAMABA is a vital mechanism for the preservations and promotion of the Philippines’ intangible cultural heritage. By honoring these living treasures, the award reinforces the importance of cultural continuity across generations.
In his speech, President of the Republic of the Philippines Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. extended his congratulations and gratitude to the nine new GAMABA recipients.
“Sa ating mga malilikha ng bayan, maraming salamat po sa pagtuturo ng kahalagaan ng ating katutubong kultura. Sa gitna ng makabagong mundo, kayo ang tinig ng ating pinagmulan. Be assured that this administration, through the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, will continue to champion traditional art, indigenous knowledge, and cultural sustainability,” said Marcos Jr. He also urged the country, especially the youth, to continue to support the efforts of the country’s traditional artists.
“Kasabay ng pangakong ito ay panawagan po sa lahat ng Pilipino, lalong-lalong sa ating mga kabataan. Kinalanin natin at ipagmalaki natin ang sariling atin. Support the continuation of the priceless legacies that have been passed on to us by our cultural masters. It is our civic duty to keep these traditions alive. For within them lie our voice, our strength, and the very essence of our identity. Isabuhay natin ang pagiging bagong Pilipino na may disiplina, mahusay, at mahal ang Inang Bayan,” he said.
Together with NCCA Chair Victorino Mapa Manalo, President Marcos Jr. bestowed the medal and plaque to the awardees accompanied by their families.
Manlilikha ng Bayan Magdalena Gamayo and Teofilo Garcia, awarded in 2012, and Estelita Bantila, awarded in 2016, also graced the prestigious conferment ceremony. Also in attendance are NCCA Deputy Executive Director for Administration and Support Services Marichu G. Tellano, NCCA Deputy Executive Director for Operations Bernan Joseph R. Corpuz, the NCCA Board of Commissioners, Manila Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan, LGU leaders, families of the GAMABA awardees, and NCCA and GAMABA Secretariat.
How does one become a GAMABA awardee?
The selection and proclamation process is led by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). Nominees are evaluated based on their mastery of a traditional art form, dedication to cultural preservation, and ability to pass on their knowledge.
This rigorous process includes field visits, interviews, and community documentations to verify the authenticity, relevance, and continuity of the practice. The NCCA’s Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Executive Council, composed of experts in culture, arts, and anthropology, recommends outstanding individuals for recognition.
The final proclamation is formalized through Presidential Proclamation No. 427, s. 2023, signed by President Marcos Jr., officially declaring the nine new National Living Treasures. The Philippine Senate likewise supports this proclamation through Senate Resolution No. 959.
Keeping the tradition alive
Recipients of the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) are honored not only with the nation’s highest cultural recognition but also with substantial support from the government to sustain their practice and well-being. Each awardee receives a gold-plated medallion minted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, an initial grant of ₱200,000 upon conferment, and a lifetime monthly stipend of ₱50,000. These financial grants aim to affirm the value of their cultural contributions and assist them in continuing their work within their communities.
In addition to monetary support, GAMABA awardees are entitled to a maximum of ₱750,000 in medical and hospitalization benefits. In the event of their passing, they are accorded a state funeral—an honor that reflects the nation’s deep respect for their legacy. These privileges reflect the Philippine government’s commitment to the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage and to upholding the dignity and well-being of the living bearers of tradition.
The awardees
For the first time in GAMABA’s history, nine awardees will be honored in a single conferment—marking the highest number of recipients in a single year.
Adelita Romualdo Bagcal from Banna, Ilocos Norte is master of dallot, a traditional form of improvised, sung poetry often performed during community gatherings and rituals. Her performances preserve the oral traditions of the Ilocano people and serve as living testimonies of indigenous storytelling and lyrical expression.
Rosie Godwino Sula who hails from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato is a respected T’boli chanter of k’lawan and sudsung, ancient epic songs passed down through generations. Through her voice and memory, she has safeguarded T’boli oral literature, which encapsulates the community’s values, history, and cosmology.
Abina Tawide Coguit from La Paz, Agusan del Sur is a Manobo artisan renowned for her traditional embroidery and beadwork that adorn ritual clothing and accessories. Her pieces are both artistic expressions and symbolic representations of Manobo identity and spiritual beliefs.
Sakinur-ain Mugong Delasas from Bongao, Tawi-Tawi is a Sama master of igal, a traditional dance form performed during weddings and religious celebrations. She has mentored younger generations, ensuring the continuity of movement vocabulary and spiritual significance in Sama cultural ceremonies.
Bundos Bansil Fara also from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato is a T’boli brasscaster who practices kemas, the intricate technique of lost-wax casting to produce bells, bracelets, and other ornaments. His craftsmanship preserves a metallurgical tradition rooted in both function and ornamentation.
Marife Ravidas Ganahon from Malaybalay, Bukidnon is a Higaonon mat weaver who uses indigenous materials like pandan leaves to create banig that feature geometric patterns and motifs. Her work helps conserve traditional weaving techniques that are central to Higaonon communal life.
Amparo Balansi Mabanag from Paracelis, Mountain Province is a Ga’dang embroiderer whose textile work showcases intricate, hand-stitched patterns that reflect the cosmology and social structure of the Ga’dang people. Her skills contribute to the continuity of this endangered art form.
Samporonia Pagsac Madanlo from Caraga, Davao Oriental is a Mandaya weaver of ikat or tie-dye weaving, producing textiles used in rituals and traditional attire. Her technique involves a complex process of resist-dyeing and loom weaving, safeguarding a culturally rich tradition.
Closing the roster of awardees is Barbara Kibed Ofong from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, another T’boli master weaver of t’nalak, a sacred cloth made from abaca fibers dyed using the ikat method. Her work, often guided by dreams, carries deep spiritual meaning and symbolizes the T’boli connection to nature and ancestry.
