Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan

GAMABA awardees
In April 1992, the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan or the National Living Treasures ginaw bilog
Award was institutionalized through
Republic Act No. 7355. Tasked with the
Poet
administration and implementation of the
Hanunuo Mangyan
Award is the National Commission for
Oriental Mindoro
Culture and the Arts, the highest policy- 1993
making and coordinating body for culture
and the arts of the State. The NCCA, Ginaw Bilog, Hanunoo Mangyan from Mansalay, Mindoro,
through the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan grew up in such a cultural environment. Already steeped in
the wisdom that the ambahan is a key to the understanding
Executive Council, conducts the search for
of the Mangyan soul, Ginaw took it upon himself to
the finest traditional artists of the land,
continually keep scores of ambahan poetry recorded, not
adopts a program that will ensure the only on bamboo tubes but on old, dog-eared notebooks
transfer of their skills to others, and passed on to him by friends.
undertakes measures to promote a genuine
appreciation of and instill pride among our masino intaray
people about the genius of the Manlilikha ng
Bayan.
Musician and Storyteller
Pala’wan
Brookes Point, Palawan
1993

An outstanding master of the basal, kulilal and bagit is

Masino, a gifted poet, bard artist, and musician who was
born near the head of the river in Makagwa valley on the
foothill of Mantalingayan mountain. Masino is not only
well-versed in the instruments and traditions of the basal,
kulilal and bagit but also plays the aroding (mouth harp)
and babarak (ring flute) and above all is a prolific and pre-
eminent epic chanter and story teller.