THE GAWAD MANLILIKHA NG

BAYAN
(GAMABA)
NATIONAL ARTISTS
(THE NATIONAL LIVING
TREASURES)
 BACKGROUND OF THE AWARD
• In April 1992 the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or
the National Living Treasure Award was
institutionalized through Republic Act No.7355.
• Tasked with the administration and implementation of
the Award is the National Commission for Culture
and the Arts (NCCA),the highest policy making and
coordinating body for culture and the arts of the
State.
• First awarded in 1993 to three outstanding artists in
music and poetry the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan
has its roots in the 1998 National Folk Artists Award
organized by the Rotary Club of Makati-Ayala.
• As a Filipino they bring age-old customs,crafts
and ways of living to the attention and
appreciation of Filipino life.
• As envisioned under R.A.7355, “Malilikha ng
Bayan” shall mean a citizen engaged in any
traditional art uniqely 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
generation in his/her community with the same
degree of technical and artistic competence
• 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.
 HISTORY

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. This is in line with UNESCO’s
criteria of Living National Treasures.
 CATEGORIES
• folk architecture
• Maritime transport
• Weaving
• Literature
• Graphic and plastic arts
• ornament