Contemporary

Philippine Arts from

1
Lesson

7 Living with the Artists

As you learned in the previous lesson, the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) or the
National Living Treasures Awards is given by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
(NCCA) to recognize Filipino artists who have practiced and preserved the customs, beliefs, rituals
and traditions of the indigenous community where they belong. This recognition means that these
artists have contributed significant art forms that are timeless amidst our fast-paced environment
and multifaceted culture. Though considered as traditional arts by origin, the works of the
awarded artists are also contemporary for they continue to be observed and practiced in their
community. However, in the middle of the discussion of the former lesson, have you ever asked
yourself what made these arts so important? This module will help you understand and
appreciate the value of these remarkable arts.

What is It

The following are some of the significant contributions of the artists through their arts.
1. Unique Identity.
Traditional arts reflect our diverse heritage and cultural traditions. This is evident in all arts
created by the artists who receive the GAMABA award. One of these arts is weaving. Though
weaving has long been part of our traditions, the use of different materials and the different
tedious process make each art unique.
Haja Amina Appi of Ungos Matata, Tawi-Tawi shows how pandan can be weaved into
mats with vibrant colors, beautiful geometric designs and fine symmetry. These mats are
usually used by their people for prayer or as a gift to the newly-weds.
In Luzon, weaving is preserved through Magdalena Gamayo who used traditional
patterns. Her work is marked by her ability to replicate designs with excellence and
consistency.

Another artwork of the same kind is t’nalak (a fine abaca cloth) by Lang Dulay of Lake
Sebu, South Cotabato. She worked on traditional designs like bulinglangit (clouds), kabangi
(butterfly), crocodiles, and flowers.
As you can see, though these artists worked on the same art (weaving), their artworks in
their community is still uniquely created showing the identity of their community (Estrella, 2020).

2. Exemplary Skills.
The artwork of Eduardo Mutuc from Pampanga shows how his skills developed from being
a farmer to one of the furniture carvers. To earn an income, he really practiced his skills and
became one of the most respected creators of religious and secular arts today. He was awarded in
2004 for his detailed and lifelike pieces of varying sizes: altars, mirrors, retablos, and carosas
made with wood, silver, and bronze.
Uwang Ahadas, on the other hand, shows his exemplary skill in music. At a young age,
he learned to play music with his siblings. Though kwintangan was usually played by a
woman, he mastered playing it. It is made of logs used to call abundant harvest of grains.
Another musician who has shown superb skills is musician Samaon Sulaiman who was
a master of the kutyapi, a two-stringed lute. He was also proficient in playing other instruments
such as the kulintang, agong (a suspended gong with a wide rim), gandingan (agong with a
narrow rim), and tambul.

3. Way of Life
Alonzo Saclag of Lubuagan, Kalinga mastered local musical instruments, along with
dance patterns associated with rituals. These performances are performed during celebrations or
communal agreement such as peace pacts. To pass this tradition, Saclag took a formal education
reaching radio stations and creating Kalinga Budong Dance Troupe.
Hearing the tales as told by his mother, epic chanter Federico Caballero of Calinog, Iloilo
learned Suguidanon, a Central Panay epic. Though Central Panay is located in the mountains, the
epic tells about characters and settings that reflect that his people might have lived once in
seashores in the past. Also, this epic was usually chanted by a binukot, a woman of high status.
Regardless of education and social status, women were not given authority. Instead, they were
trained for embroidery and memorization of epic. Caballero is known to keep the local oral
traditions through his chants (Gowey, 2016).

4. Enduring Values
Values are usually reflected in literary arts such as poem. Thus, the Mangyan script is one of
the four remaining syllabic scripts in the country which was preserved through Ginaw Bilog of
Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro. He was most popular in writing ambahan (a metaphoric poem
comprising seven-syllable lines) on traditionally used bamboo tubes. His poems about advising the
young, bidding a friend goodbye, and asking for a place to stay show how Filipinos express
their affection to their family and friends.
Values is not only reflected in the art product but also on the process in which it is
created. In textile weaving, we can see the artists’ dedication to their work as they intricately
put different elements of arts such as color, harmony and shape to create a distinct and
vibrant 3 design. Spirituality is also evident among Filipino artists as they use subjects related
to their faith such as the textile designs by Darhata Sawabi of Sulu and carvings by Eduardo
Mutuc.
There are countless values that are reflected on the artists’ work but one thing that is
evident to their works is their unselfish desire to share their knowledge and skills to the next
generations to enjoy and to see as part of their beings as Filipinos.
5. Vision.
The traditional art shows the artist’s vision. Moreover, it also inspires us to make the
existing art as an inspiration to enhance the art or create our own artwork. Teofilo Garcia is a
gourd hatmaker from San Quintin, Abra. Since he is a farmer, he sees the need of gourd casques.
He used the tabungaw (gourd) plant for useful protective hats to help the farmers overcome
heat during farming. Because the hat was made creatively and finely, he joined a festival to show
his artwork. Who would have thought that a simple hat to help our farmers would soon become a
recognized art? He did.
Also, Salinta Monon, a respected textile weaver from Davao Del Sur, isolated herself
from her family for months to finish her art. She once dreamt of establishing the art through
teaching new would-be weavers.
In conclusion, the artworks of our GAMABA awardees are indeed living treasures. Their
arts do not only express an idea or feelings but they also carry significant contributions that are
imbibed through generations. and inspired the contemporary arts that we use and see today.

Assessment
DIRECTIONS: Read each question and choose the letter of your answer.

1. Artists receive GAMABA awards because they have the following except…
A. He/she has an artwork.
B. He/she is engaged in an art tradition.
C. He/she is a member of an indigenous community.
D. He/she has a significant contribution to the community

2. A GAMABA awardee must also have an artwork that is timeless. What is a timeless art?
A. The artist is still alive.
B. It has an influence in the community.
C. It has a contribution to the community.
D. It’s relevance to our way of life continues until today.

3. What is the significant work that is popular in Sulu by Darhata Sawabi?

4. What is the Panay epic that is passed on through oral communications?

5. Who among the artists below is highly regarded because of his excellence in playing
kwintangan which is usually played by a woman?
A. Ginaw Bilog C. Alonzo Saclag
B. Teofilo Garcia D. Uwang Ahadas

6. Based on the given examples in the discussion, which two Filipino values are evident
in the contemporary artforms?
A. physical and spiritual C. social and spiritual
B. emotional and spiritual D. personal and spiritual

7. To acknowledge our GAMABA Award recipients, we must the

8. “She once dreamt of establishing the art through teaching new would-be weavers.”
How would you characterize the artist in this line?
A. optimistic C. dreamer
B. generous D. visionary
9. Visiting the province of Mindoro, particularly the community of Mangyans, Ana looks
for a particular art form they are famous for. What kind of artforms would you possibly
recommend to her?
I. epic II. Carvings III. Poetry IV. weavings
A. I & II C. III & IV
B. I & III D. I & IV

10. To promote tourism in Tawi-Tawi, you are tasked to make an advertisement. Which of the
following information can help you in making an advertisement?
I. Magdalena Gamayo II. mat weavings III. Haja Amina Appi IV. embroidery
A. I & II C. II & III
B. II & III D. III & IV