Antido, Rhea Eladia Mae A.

Week 13 – Final Examination PHILARTS 1 (J)

REQUIRED QUESTION

The Philippines is a melting pot for culture, tradition, and the arts. Throughout the
years, the country has seen exemplary artists in their chosen fields, inspiring and
influencing people beyond their physical reach toward succeeding generations. As such, the
country gives honors to these artists whose contributions to the Philippine arts made
significant impacts by awarding them the highest national recognition possible.

One of these national recognitions is the Order of National Artist (ONA) or the Orden
ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining. It is the highest national recognition awarded to Filipino
individuals who have significantly made contributions to the development of various
Philippine art fields. Apart from that, another award given to Filipino artists is the Gawad
sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) or the National Living Treasure Award. Much like the
Order of National Artist, GAMABA is the highest national recognition bestowed to an
individual for their exceptional work as a traditional folk artist.

Although both of these awards are arguably similar in nature, there are significant
differences between the two. One of the most important distinctions between National
Artists and Manlilikha ng Bayan is the recipients. The ONA awards individuals who made
contributions to the Philippine arts as a whole, citing categories like Dance, Music, Theater,
Visual Arts, Literature, Film, Broadcast Arts, Architecture and Allied Arts, and Design
(Proposed ONA Guidelines, 2017). Meanwhile, the Gawad ng Manlilikha ng Bayan
recognizes individuals who specialize in traditional and folk art in the areas of Performing
Arts and Crafts, serving as a bridge between future generations and traditional art (NCCA,
n.d.).

As for the selection process, ONA conducts three different deliberations in order to
ensure that all nominees are befitting of the award. For the First Deliberation, the panel
consists of the ONA Council of Experts, while the Second Deliberation panel is comprised of
the ONA Jury of Experts across disciplines, with a maximum of three members from each of
the eight categories. Lastly, the Third Deliberation panel has the most panel members,
having the joint Board of Commissioners of NCCA, the Board of Trustees of CCP, as well as
the living National Artists (Proposed ONA Guidelines, 2017). On the other hand, GAMABA
employs the help of an Ad Hoc Panel of Experts, which consists of experts in the traditional
and folk art categories (NCCA, n.d.).

The benefits and privileges enjoyed by both ONA and GAMABA awardees are
relatively the same. Although, ONA awardees also have coverage by a life insurance policy
by the GSIS or private insurance companies, as compared to GAMABA awardees (NCCA,
n.d).

Undoubtedly, these two awards serve as a building block to further extend the reach
of Filipino Artists especially in terms of developing Philippine Arts. By supporting these
Antido, Rhea Eladia Mae A. Week 13 – Final Examination PHILARTS 1 (J)

artists, the country is, in turn, supporting the sustainability and preservation of the
country’s intangible cultural and artistic heritage.

QUESTION B

In today’s world, festivals serve as a way through which people celebrate culture,
heritage, and religion. In the Philippines, town fiestas and festivals are an annual affair,
with town residents preparing for months for the celebration. These festivals are a town’s
creative expression, being enjoyed by both residents and visitors. However, beyond the
surface enjoyment and fun, festivals also possess deeper meanings. Most often, culture and
identity are something that festivals implicitly carry. It is easy to think of festivals as a
town’s symbol.

Buraburon Festival, the representative festival of Burauen, Leyte, is a festival that

combines cultural, historical, and artistic aspects in order to create a mystifying
performance. Consisting of dancers known as Tribu Buraburon, the festival danced its way
to the 2017 Aliwan Festival, emerging as the Grand Champion. Such victory led the festival
to be more widely known, and the municipality to fully embrace it.

In the simplest sense, Buraburon Festival celebrates Burauen’s history. From what
the legend says, a long time ago, when a drought struck the whole province of Leyte and
dried up several water tributaries, the people had no choice but to flock towards a place
called “Buraburon,” where a large spring was located, with flowing water and sufficient
food resources and vegetation. These people were led there by a large bird emitting a
sound akin to “Buraburon.” The townspeople and others from the neighboring town get
their needs from that spring. Through the years, the name “Buraburon” which is translated
to “abundance of spring” went through the transmutation of the word “Burawon” and
eventually to “Burauen,” the town’s current name (Municipality of Burauen, n.d.).

The festival’s entire performance centers around this legend, using the legend’s
narrative to create an enticing performance that showcases Burauen’s roots. Known as the
“Spring Capital of Leyte,” Burauen is the fountainhead of two large bodies of water, the
Daguitan River and Marabong River. To represent this, the festival uses large clay pots as
props, symbolizing the water that people get from the town. Another symbol is a large
eagle, symbolizing the large bird that led all the people from neighboring towns toward the
municipality. The dancers also wear colorful costumes, and curly-haired wigs, signifying
the Burawanon natives. Apart from the representation of historical and cultural narrative,
the whole production is dedicated to the Mamanwa Tribe and promotes awareness
regarding the protection of endangered Philippine Eagles (Meniano, 2018). To promote
youth empowerment, all dancers are from the various elementary and secondary schools of
Burauen.
Antido, Rhea Eladia Mae A. Week 13 – Final Examination PHILARTS 1 (J)

Buraburon Festival is entirely under the management of the Local Government Unit
of Burauen, financing and supporting the whole production from start to finish. Being
under the LGU made it possible for the Buraburon Festival to be well-financed, with the
government officials, especially the municipal mayor completely supporting them.

QUESTION D

Miss Universe, as a global pageant, has no doubt become a celebration of beauty,

inclusivity, and cultural diversity. Throughout the years, the pageant has been a champion
of individuality and self-expression, all the while still acknowledging heritage and custom.
One way through which it is displayed is through the National Costume competition. It is
one of the most awaited portions of the entire pageant annually, as candidates flaunt their
country’s best. Of course, these costumes have never failed to entice and astonish, not only
pageant lovers but also critics, taking into account the deeper meaning behind all that
shining glitters.

The same can be said for Miss Universe Philippines candidates, who puts so much
effort and thought into their respective costumes. The artistry and glamour that national
costumes encapsulate are something that mesmerizes people. But for these candidates, the
National Costume Competition serves as an opportunity to showcase the Philippines’
diverse and colorful culture on a global stage. Thus, it is no surprise that Philippine queens
have such impressive costumes.

Miss Universe 2012 1st runner-up Janine Tugonon has proudly worn a Maranao
princess-inspired national costume. It was designed by acclaimed designer Pitoy Moreno,
featuring a sheer silver dress with intricate beading and embroidery. Her maroon sash is
decorated with tribal patterns, and the tiara and veil work perfectly to retain the regal look.
Her national costume is the embodiment of elegance, glamour, and royalty (Manila Bulletin
Entertainment, 2023).

Meanwhile, Miss Universe 2014 Top 10 semi-finalist Mary Jean Lastimosa sashayed
a white Flores de Mayo-inspired Filipiñ a. The costume was designed by Colombian
designer Alfredo Barraza (Smith, 2021). The white silk Filipiñ a lined with colorful florals
screams the rich culture of Flores de Mayo in the Philippines. The headdress further
emphasizes the costume’s representation. With her national costume, she managed to
portray the fresh summerly look of the Philippines during the months of April and May.

On the other hand, Miss Universe Philippines 2017 Rachel Peters flaunted a golden
Sarimanok costume for her national costume. The gold-plated body suit and the knee-high
golden boots have effectively portrayed a Sarimanok’s mystic. But the most important
piece of the costume is the train that transforms into wings. The sarimanok headdress
helped drive the costume home (Smith, 2021).
Antido, Rhea Eladia Mae A. Week 13 – Final Examination PHILARTS 1 (J)

However, among those three, Janine Tugonon’s Maranao princess-inspired national

costume managed to stand out. Despite its simplicity, the dress’ completely embodied and
showcased the Philippines’ ethnic culture. Her interpretation and portrayal have also
contributed to the effective conveyance of the costume. Compared to the other two,
Tugonon’s costume might appear lackluster. But undeniably, among them, it perfectly
encapsulated the Philippines and the diverse culture it boasts.

References:

Manila Bulletin Entertainment. (2023, January 3). Memorable Philippine national costumes
at Miss Universe. Retrieved from https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/03/memorable-
philippine-national-costumes-at-miss-universe/

Meniano, S. (2018, September 5, 2018). Leyte festivals to join Asia’s grandest parade in
Singapore. Retrieved from https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1047077

Municipality of Burauen. (n.d.). History of Burauen. Retrieved from

https://burauenleyte.gov.ph/history-of-burauen/

National Commission for Culture and the Arts. (2017, April 27). Proposed ONA Guidelines.
Retrieved from https://ncca.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ONA-
Guidelines-1.pdf.

National Commission for Culture and the Arts. (n.d.). Gawad sa Manlilika ng Bayad
Guidelines. Retrieved from https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-
profile/gamaba/national-living-treasures-guidelines/?
fbclid=IwAR3_zzUCG1lqlPvZXhqMd5vKHrrgHqkxb0ONpCMhV_3TEixdVgFjVLxLycY

Smith, C. (2021, May 16). Pinoy pride parade: Miss Universe Philippines national costumes
from 2010 to 2021, ranked worst to best. Retrieved from
https://philstarlife.com/style/100556-miss-u-ph-national-costumes-from-2010-to-
2021