Manlilikha ng Bayan motif in ancient Filipino Script
GAMABA is a shortened phrase for "Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan". It is an outstanding award made to recognize the brilliance of Philippine traditional art and the artists behind them. What this award also entails are programs organized by the NCCA in cooperation with the GAMABA artists that will ensure the preservation of traditional folk art. GAMABA artists, being practitioners of traditional art, mostly come from indigenous communities. This further adds to the authenticity and cultural value of their creative works, thus elevating the prominence of Philippine folk art while preserving and promoting its greatness to the world stage.
So far, there are 16 Filipinos recognized as GAMABA Artists. They all come from different fields, namely film, visual arts, textile, literature, dance, and music. This site features two GAMABA Artists for textile Lang Dulay and Salinta Monon.
Source:
“GAMABA: Gawad Sa Manlilikha Ng Bayan.” National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 14 Aug. 2020, ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/gamaba/.