GAMABA Awardees

 When a tradition becomes so ingrained to a society that it remains relevant up to the present, it becomes contemporary. Hence, anything traditional can become contemporary just by preserving the tradition itself and/or interpreting its function, use, ethics, and morality. In the Philippines, certain artists get nominated with the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or GAMABA award. It is an award conferred to give honor and pride to those traditional folk artists for their contributions to the country's intangible cultural heritage and to preserve their works, crafts, and skills. •Apuh Ambalang Ausalin is a master weaver from the city of Lamitan, Basilan. She is known for her mastery of the sinaluan and sputangan, an intricately designed textile of the Yakan community. •Haja Amina Appi is recognized as the master mat weaver of Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi. Her  sense of design, symmetry, and proportion were exhibited through her unique, multi-colored mats with complex geometric patterns. •Da...