CONTEMPORARY ART

1. Public Art
2. Photography
3. Mixed-media
4. National Artists and GAMABA

Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan

The National Living Treasures Award, alternatively known as the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA; lit. Award
for the Creators of the Country) is conferred to a person or group of artists recognized by the Government of the
Philippines for their contributions to the country's intangible cultural heritage. A recipient of the award, known as a National
Living Treasures or Manlilikha ng Bayan is defined as "a Filipino citizen or group of Filipino citizens engaged in any
traditional art uniquely Filipino, whose distinctive skills have reached such a high level of technical and artistic excellence
and have been passed on to and widely practiced by the present generations in their community with the same degree of
technical and artistic competence."
A traditional artist who possesses all the qualities of a Manlilikha ng Bayan candidate, but due to age or infirmity has left
them incapable of teaching further their craft, may still be recognized if:

1. had created a significant body of works and/or has consistently displayed excellence in the practice of their art,
thus achieving important contributions for its development.
2. HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE REVITALIZATION OF THEIR COMMUNITY'S ARTISTIC TRADITION.
3. has passed on to the other members of the community skills in the folk art for which the community is traditionally
known.
4. community has recognized them as master and teacher of their craft.
The categories are, but not limited to, the following categories of traditional folk arts:

 folk architecture  literature

Recipients

 GINAW BILOG (D. 2003), ARTIST AND POET, MANSALAY, ORIENTAL MINDORO POETRY (AMBAHAN), 1993
 Masino Intaray (d. 2013), musician and epic chanter, Brooke's Point, Palawan, Poetry (Kulilal and Bagit)Music (Basal
/ Gong), 1993
 Samaon Sulaiman (d. 2011), musician, Mamasapano, Maguindanao Music (Kutyapi), 1993
 Lang Dulay, (d. 2015) textile weaver, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Weaving (T’nalak), 1998
 Salinta Monon (d. 2009), weaver, Bansalan, Davao del Sur, Weaving (Abaca – ikat / Inabal), 1998
 Alonzo Saclag, musician and dancer, Lubuagan, Kalinga, Music and Dance (Kalinga), 2000
 FREDERICO CABALLERO, EPIC CHANTER, SULOD- BUKIDNON, ILOILO, POETRY AND EPIC CHANT
(SUGIDANON), 2000
 Uwang Ahadas, musician, Lamitan, Basilan, Music (Yakan specifically Kulintang, kwitangan kayu, gabbang, agung,
and tuntungan), 2000
 Darhata Sawabi, (d. 2005), weaver, Parang, Sulu, Weaving (Pis Syabit), 2004[
 Eduardo Mutuc, metalsmith / metal sculptor, Apalit, Pampanga, Metalwork (Bronze and Silver), 2004
 Haja Amina Appi (d. 2013), weaver, Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi, Weaving (Mat), 2004
 Teofilo Garcia, casque maker, San Quintin, Abra, Casque Making (Tabungaw), 2012
 Magdalena Gamayo, master weaver, Pinili, Ilocos Norte, Weaving (Inabel), 2012[
 Ambalang Ausalin, master weaver, Lamitan, Basilan, Weaving (Yakan tennun), 2016[
 Estelita Tumandan Bantilan, master weaver, Malapatan, Sarangani, Weaving (B'laan igem), 2016
 Yabing Masalon Dulo, master weaver, Polomolok, South Cotabato, Weaving (Ikat), 2016

NATIONAL ARTISTS

1. Fernando Amorsolo - the first National Artist. According to Nick Joaquin, the work of this National Artist for Visual
Arts is the rapture of a sensualist utterly in love with the earth, with the Philippine sun, and is an accurate
expression of his own exuberance.
2. Atang Dela Rama – the Queen of kundiman, she believed that zarzuela and kundiman best express the Filipino
soul; in line with this belief, she performed for the Aetas or Negritos of Zambales and the Sierra Madre, the
Bagobos of Davao and other Lumad of Mindanao.
3. Napoleon Abueva - the youngest National Artist awardee and is also considered as the Father of Modern
Philippine Sculpture.
4. Guillermo Tolentino - the artist behind the UP Oblation.
5. Kidlat Tahimik - the Father of Philippine Independent Film.
6. Ryan Cayabyab - famous for his timeless love songs, he is called Maestro and Mr. C.
7. Ishmael Bernal - the Genius of Philippine Cinema, the director behind the immortalized movie with the classic line
“Walang himala!” (Himala).
8. Lamberto V. Avellana - the Boy Wonder of Philippine Movies, he was the first to use the motion picture camera to
establish a point-of-view.
9. Salvador Bernal - sensitive to the budget limitations of local productions, he harnessed the potential of
inexpensive local materials, pioneering or maximizing the use of bamboo, raw abaca, and abaca fiber, hemp
twine, rattan chain links and gauze cacha.
10. Botong Francisco – one of "The Triumvirate", he single-handedly revived the forgotten art of mural and remained
its most distinguished practitioner for nearly three decades.
11. Rolando Tinio – his chief distinction in theater arts is as a stage director whose original insights into the scripts he
handled brought forth productions notable for their visual impact and intellectual cogency.
12. Lino Brocka - director for film and broadcast arts, espoused the term "freedom of expression" in the Philippine
Constitution. He took his social activist spirit to the screen leaving behind 66 films which breathed life and hope
for the marginalized sectors of society – slum dwellers, prostitute, construction workers, etc.
13. Levi Celerio - a National Artist for Literature and Film, he made it to the Guinness Book of World Records as the
only person able to make music using just a leaf. He received his scholarship at the Academy of Music in Manila
that made it possible for him to join the Manila Symphony Orchestra, becoming its youngest member. A great
number of his songs have been written for the local movies, which earned for him the Lifetime Achievement
Award from the Film Academy of the Philippines.
14. Ronald Allan Poe – a cultural icon of tremendous audience impact, and cinema artist, his films featured image of
the underdog and the mythical hero was projected in his films.
15. Ramon Obusan’s – his documentaries helped in the development and promotion of Philippine dances through
broadening and deepening the Filipino understanding of his own cultural life and expressions. He had effected
cultural and diplomatic exchanges using the multifarious aspects and dimensions of the art of dance.
16. Cesar Legaspi – a pioneer "Neo-Realist" of the country, he is remembered for his singular achievement of refining
cubism in the Philippine context.
17. Arturo Luz – inspired and develop Filipino artistic community that nurtures impeccable designs by establishing the
Luz Gallery that professionalized the art gallery as an institution and set a prestigious influence over generations
of Filipino artists.
18. Victorio Edades – the "Father of Modern Philippine Painting", he introduced a liberal arts program that offers
subjects as art history and foreign languages that will lead to a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. This development
brought about a first in Philippine education since art schools then were vocational schools.
19. Vicente S. Manansala - his paintings are described as visions of reality teetering on the edge of abstraction.