LESSON 15

THE NATIONAL LIVING TREASURES:

GAWAD SA MANLILIKHA NG BAYAN or GAMABA AWARDEES FOR FOLK
LITERATURE
Introduction
Philippine literature has rich roots and colorful beginnings. During pre-colonial times, epics and folk tales
circulated the country. For instance: in Luzon, the Ifugaos had Hudhud, the Ilocanos had Biag ni Lam-ang, and the
Kalinga had Ullalim. In the Visayas, the Hiligaynons had Hinilawod. From Mindanao, the Maranaos had
Darangan. These epics are tales of heroism and adventure that are passed on to the next generation by mouth or
oral tradition.
National Living Treasures for Folk Literature

GINAW BILOG
Occupation: Poet
Cultural Community: Hanunuo Mangyan
Place of Origin: Panaytayan, Oriental Mindoro
Year Awarded: 1993
Ginaw Bilog was a master of the ambahan poetry, a form of poetic literature which is made up of seven-
syllable lines used to communicate messages through metaphors and imagery, sung and contains various messages
ranging from advice, to courtship, and to farewell. He used to record incessantly the ambahan poetry by the use of
bamboo tubes and old, dog-eared notebooks passed on to him by family and friends.

FEDERICO CABALLERO
Occupation: Epic Chanter
Cultural Community: Sulod-Bukidnon
Place of Origin: Calinog, Iloilo
Year Awarded: 2000
Federico Caballero works persistently for the documentation of oral literature. He has contributed much in
the recording of the dying tradition of epics. He was able to document ten epics in a language that is no longer
spoken. A worker in the Bureau of Nonformal Education, Caballero is considered as a bantugan, a person who has
achieved distinction. He is also a managhusay, an intermediary of conflicts.
oOo
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