‘Mangi-endorse tayo pay kuma ditoy ili tayo for the GAMABA tapnu haan nga agpatingga diyay knowledge tatta nga generation’ - Gov. Edduba mentions Cirilo “Sapi” Bawer

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Kalinga Governor James S. Edduba called for the timely endorsement of the province’s cultural practitioners to the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) during the orientation and workshop on the Philippine Development Plan for Culture and the Arts (PDP-CA) 2024–2029, held on April 23 at Golden Berries in San Juan.

The GAMABA is the Philippines’ highest recognition for traditional folk and indigenous artists. It is administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and honors individuals who preserve and pass on cultural heritage.

Speaking during the event, Edduba emphasized the urgency of preserving indigenous knowledge, stressing that such efforts are crucial to ensure traditions are sustained and that the knowledge of the present generation does not fade.

The governor said the province should continue to endorse local cultural practitioners like Cirilo “Sapi” Bawer so their contributions can be sustained, similar to those of Alonzo Saclag, also known as Apo Kesu.

Bawer, who hails from Lubuagan, is among Kalinga’s well-known cultural bearers and master artists. He is a director, choreographer, dancer, educator, curator, and ethnographer.

“…, mangi-endorse tayo pay kuma ditoy ili tayo tapnu haan nga agpatengga ken Apo Kesu—dapat kuma nga maikkan met laeng dagiti dadduma nga practitioners ti ugugali tayo ti acknowledgment. We can think of Mr. Bawer… tatta kuma nga timely met nga mai-endorse.

Ti mayat met ket kompleto paylang gamin ti adda kanyatayo, kasla kuma dagiti weavers, bead, pot, ken uray dagiti gong makers idiay Lubuagan,” he said.

Kalinga is home to rich culture and heritage, including GAMABA awardee Alonzo Saclag, who was honored in 2000 for his mastery and preservation of traditional Kalinga music, dance, and performing arts.

The governor added that sustaining indigenous knowledge is not only about recognition but also about ensuring that cultural practices are passed on and integrated into the identity of younger generations.

“Dagitoy ti adda kanyatayo nga taga-Kalinga, and it’s really important nga ma-acknowledge kuma… tapnu haan nga agpatengga diyay knowledge ti tatta nga generation. It should be passed on to the next generation tapnu maipatuloy latta ditoy kultura tayo,” he added.

Meanwhile, GAMABA awardees across the region include Abra’s Teofilo Garcia, who was honored in 2012 for his craftsmanship in making the tabungaw (gourd helmet) and preserving indigenous helmet-making traditions; and Mountain Province’s Amparo Mabanag, recognized in 2023 for her mastery of Ga’dang beadwork and embroidery, helping preserve textile traditions.