Bearers of traditional art can be nominated as Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan equal to National Artist

The National Artist Award, now an order, is dubbed as the highest state honor given to individuals who had done much in their artistic fields. For most people, it is the peak of artistry to be instituted as such, an honor, a title, and recognition for the mastery of their craft and their significant contributions. The specific rationale in order to be elevated to this order is to “have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts.” A reason both appealing yet unfree from certain biases which constitutes “art” itself.

On the other hand, the Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA), translated officially in English as the National Living Treasures Award, is given to artists in recognition of their contributions to our “cultural heritage”. The Award, unlike the former, is not instituted as an order, yet said to be an equivalent to the Order of the National Artists. A simple contrast between the two would say that the National Artist Award is given to masters of the fine arts and the like, while the GAMABA is given to the artists of indigenous and ethnic art. 

The previous hypothesis contains the entire problematique on this discourse, as it comprises how art is defined, with the Western notion of “craft” and the use of the terms “ethnic” and “indigenous”. With a careful analysis of the qualifications to be a national artist, it is apparent that it should not discriminate between these art forms, after all, we have broken the western standard of art and established a meaning for it inclusive of the richness of what we have to offer. More or less, it is really insignificant to still discriminate between the two and call one as the “fine arts” and the other as “craft”. This leads us back to the use of the term “likha” and “manlilikha” and the most confusing “living treasures” which doesn’t even translate to it’s FIlipino official title. 

In some sense, if we start to translate “manlilikha” to artist, and “likha” to art, the two “awards” will literally have the same meaning, another problematique. The only difference, and the convenience of using a different english translation, only leads to a discrimination between the forms. Then we ask our question, why is it so impossible to institute the art forms, awarded by the GAMABA, into the National Artist Award? It is for the better, as a form of a distinction? Or does it just increase the gap between what is considered as fine art vs indigenous. What makes a manlilikha ng bayan unqualified to build a Filipino sense of nationhood;  distinguish themselves; create a significant body of excellent work; and be nationally recognized, after all, these are the qualifications of a national artist? The only way they aren’t given the award is because of the categories of the National Artist Award. The GAMABA, on the other hand, specifically employs the term “indigenous”, “folk”, and “heritage”. This actually creates more confusion since a “National Artist” cannot qualify for GAMABA, yet GAMABA awardees are technically qualified for the other.

The divergence of these two awards is a reflection on the wide gap that still exists between the “fine” forms versus our “original” forms. It still has the trace of the colonial mindset as we appreciate the “foreign” form versus our own. How many people know about the “Order of the National Artists” compared to those who have just known the “Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan”? Why does one enjoy much spotlight, while the artists and arts of the other still need protection from other pressing socio-political issues? Moreover, why do the people of this cultural heritage still fight for their lands, while their art and culture is fetishized and commoditized? These questions are both hard and easy to answer, it is easy to explain by someone who sees the dialectics superficially, but a more deeper answer silences us on the larger narrative of the suffering not just of our “own” art forms but of our own people.

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, a National Living Treasure or Manlilikha ng Bayan is "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."

History[edit]

In 1988, the National Folk Artists Award was organized by the Rotary Club of Makati-Ayala. The distinctions were given by the organization until it was replaced by the GAMABA Law in 1992. The recipients of the National Folk Artists from 1988-1992 are not recognized by the government as the award was given by a private organization.

The National Living Treasures Award (Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan) was institutionalized in 1992 through Republic Act No. 7355. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts, which is the highest policy-making and coordinating body of the Philippines for culture and the arts, was tasked with the implementation and awarding. This is in line with UNESCO's criteria of Living National Treasures.

Criteria[edit]

To become a National Living Treasure, the candidate must possess the following qualifications:

1. is an inhabitant of an indigenous/traditional cultural community anywhere in the Philippines that has preserved indigenous customs, beliefs, rituals and traditions and/or has syncretized whatever external elements that have influenced it.
2. must have engaged in a folk art tradition that has been in existence and documented for at least 50 years.
3. must have consistently performed or produced over a significant period, works of superior and distinctive quality.
4. must possess a mastery of tools and materials needed by the art, and must have an established reputation in the art as master and maker of works of extraordinary technical quality.
5. must have passed on and/or will pass on to other members of the community their skills in the folk art for which the community is traditionally known.

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:

• ethnomedicine
• folk architecture
• maritime transport
• weaving
• carving
• performing arts
• literature
• graphic and plastic arts
• ornament
• textile or fiber arts
• pottery.

Other artistic expressions of traditional culture may be added, such as the case of the ethnomedicine category, which was added only in 2020.

Recipients[edit]

As defined by UNESCO, the bearers of intangible cultural heritage are to be known internationally as Living Human Treasures. The Filipino counterparts of this title are the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) awardees. There are currently sixteen declared GAMABA awardees, all of which have exemplified the highest standard in their respective field of expertise.

Is a form of indigenous tattooing of the Kalinga people in the Cordilleras?

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Is a composition of lime sand and water this is applied on walls and ceilings and allowed to harden and dry?

Is the applied art dedicated to clothing and lifestyle accessories?