Summary
Highlights
The video introduces Dayaw Season 4, which focuses on 'culture bearers' who have dedicated their lives to preserving vital cultural traditions. It explains the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) or National Living Treasures award, a distinction given by the Philippine government to outstanding traditional artists, institutionalized in 1992 through Republic Act 7355. The award recognizes individuals who embody the highest standards of their cultures and whose work showcases the creative spirit of Filipinos, preserving ancient traditions from being adulterated by modern influences.
Professor Elena Mirano, head of the GAMABA committee until 2015, discusses the award's sincerity in recognizing a living culture that forms a deep bedrock of Filipino identity. She emphasizes that GAMABA is a journey of self-discovery, helping Filipinos understand their origins and how they structure their space, time, and visual images. The award honors the best and most impactful artists who maintain these essential traditions.
The video acknowledges that many of the first GAMABA awardees have passed on, showcasing precious footage and recordings of these past masters, musicians, weavers, and chanters. Their gifts to the nation continue to live on, even after their demise.
Samon Sulaiman, a virtuoso of the two-string kudyapi from Mindanao, is celebrated for his mystical, delicate, and celebrative music. His performances were so profound that it was said he spoke through his instrument. Beyond his musical artistry, Sulaiman was a complete person: a good father, a farmer, an Imam, and even a barber, embodying a holistic notion of being in traditional culture. He represented the spirit of being Filipino and was an artist who generously shared his talent across the Philippines.
Masino Intaray, a chanter of epics and storyteller from the Maaga Valley in Palawan, was also a poet and musician. Recognized in 1993, he chanted portions of Palawan epics and recited lyrical poems, demonstrating his deep connection to the images and animals of his forest home. His music and dancing brought joy to villagers. Intaray's gift mirrored the traditional Palawan knowledge of forests, stars, and the cosmos, and he was honored for his creative memory, endurance, intellect, and spiritual purpose.
Ginaw Bilog from Oriental Mindoro dedicated his life to preserving the ambahan tradition, a poetic form used to express love, wisdom, advice, courtesies, and humor through seven-syllable lines and metaphor. He also mastered and revived the Surat Mangyan, a precolonial syllabary. His efforts were crucial in maintaining this tradition, which is largely unused in other parts of the country, and his children continue to carry on his legacy.
Lang Dulay, the first T'boli weaver to receive the GAMABA award, is admired for her mastery of weaving abaca fibers into tinalak cloth. She innovatively produced both traditional and contemporary designs without patterns, intuiting them directly. Her legacy extends beyond weaving; she was a respected leader who trained many students and emphasized the value of education. Her funeral, attended by many, showed the high esteem in which she was held, even more so than political officials.
Salinta Monon, a Tagabawa Bagobo weaver from Bansalan, Davao del Sur, preserved the identity of her people through intricate and colorful weaves. She specialized in the complex, small-scale ikat technique. A close friend of Lang Dulay, Monon was described as introspective, preferring to weave alone in her own weaving house, a testament to her focused dedication.
Haja Amina Appi, from Tawi-Tawi, was a humble yet exceptional mat weaver. Her 'banig' mats were renowned for their dizzying, complex geometric designs, high density, surface sheen, and surprising color combinations. The GAMABA committee honored her for the fine details of her work, including the straightness of her edging and mastery of complicated designs like the 'sasa' and 'kimakkawa'. She was an expert in all stages of mat weaving, from processing wild pandan leaves to using dyes, and was admired for her exuberant sense of color.
Darhata Sawabi of Jolo was recognized as perhaps the last master of the Tausug 'pis yabit', a square silk textile prized for its intricate design and suppleness. Though silk weaving had largely died out, Sawabi preserved its complex aesthetic in cotton and commercial threads. Her dedication to her craft was such that a single 'pis yabit' could take three months to weave, and despite the effort, she sold them for a modest price, highlighting the challenge many traditional artists face in valuing their work. Her legacy continues to inspire the revival of this intricate weaving tradition.
The episode concludes by emphasizing the critical importance of recognizing these deceased GAMABA awardees. Their work, though from quiet and humble individuals, significantly enriches society, offering a deeper appreciation of Filipino identity and culture. These masters may be gone, but their contributions are immortal, honoring the idea of a diverse yet inclusive nation that values its knowledge and pride.