Kalinga Province pays tribute to Manlilikha ng Bayan Alonzo Saclag Sr.

Tabuk City, Kalinga – On December 4, the Philippine flag was flown at half-mast as the entire Province of Kalinga mourned the death and honored the life and legacy of Manlilikha ng Bayan Alonzo Saclag Sr., who passed away on November 29 at the age of 83.

Honoring Saclag’s legacy, Governor James Edduba ordered the half-mast display of the Philippine flag through an Executive Order. The province also paid tribute to the iKalinga GAMABA awardee, whose remains were brought to the Provincial Capitol on the same date for an ecumenical service.

During the event, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Kalinga, headed by Vice Governor Dave Odiem, read a resolution expressing appreciation and respect for the life and contributions of Saclag, which was then handed over to the family.

In a statement, Edduba said Kalinga is fortunate to have a national artist (a Manlilikha ng Bayan), which proves that the people of Kalinga possess exceptional talent and can meaningfully contribute to the country.

“The life and works of Alonzo Saclag Sr. shall continue to inspire generations to come. He taught us that we can contribute to our country, that our rich tradition, culture, and pool of talents have much to give,” said Edduba in an interview, adding that he hopes other artists in the province will continue the works left behind by the Manlilikha ng Bayan.

The iKalinga cultural icon’s state funeral will be held in his hometown, Lubuagan, on December 7.

Saclag’s notable accomplishments

Saclag, who was born in Lubuagan, Kalinga on August 14, 1942, was a recipient of the prestigious Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (National Living Treasures Award) in 2000. The GAMABA is the country’s highest honor for traditional and indigenous artisans, artists, and cultural practitioners.

The iKalinga musician and dancer was honored with the award for his dedication to cultivating and preserving Kalinga’s traditional arts, music, rituals, and craftsmanship. According to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Saclag immersed himself in traditional arts through observation and experience, which he later channeled into preserving Kalinga heritage through teaching, documentation, and safeguarding cultural practices.

The NCCA noted that Saclag devoted his energy to numerous preservation efforts, such as urging his community to conserve artifacts and archaeological sites, and lobbying for two years with the Kalinga PLGU to fund the conversion of the old Capitol building into a museum — a persistence that led to the establishment of the Lubuagan branch of the National Museum.

He also visited schools to discuss cultural preservation with administrators, which eventually resulted in the practice of wearing Kalinga attire during important school events. He further introduced skits and creative presentations that helped schoolchildren learn their local songs.

To ensure that his deeply rooted knowledge of Kalinga culture, which he acquired since childhood by observing his elders, would be passed on to future generations, Saclag formed the Kalinga Budong Dance Troupe, where he personally taught young members traditional music and dance.