GAMABA & National Artists Awardees

GAMABA & National Artists Awardees

Reflection:

     Collectively, as a group, each one of us look up in awe to these GAMABA and National Artists Awardees. As the current millennial kabataan, we realize that our preferences and tastes are easily influenced especially by Western culture (like the U.S.) and even by our neighboring countries like South Korea and Japan. As much as they influence our choices, they may also influence the way we speak, act, dress and even the way in which we produce Art. This is exactly why these recognized GAMABA and NAAs are incredible. As the pioneers of Philippine Art, they have maintained true to their Filipino roots and culture; their Art something to marvel and to be proud of. In a way, they have prompted us to actually stop and take a deep breath and ponder at our pagiging Pinoy. What makes a Filipino a Filipino? Unwavering faith, persistence, creativity and resourcefulness are among the many Pinoy distinguishable traits. We Filipinos are naturally artistic people in any art form that we could muster and produce. This is evident way back to our ancestors when weaving, painting in kwebas and batok tattooing was a common practice. Today, only a few actually immerse themselves in Philippine Art, we also think, sadly, that perhaps the Pinoy youth today will abandon our own culture in exchange for other cultures that they deem as “sosyal”. We should not allow our Art to die. Even in the midst of advancing commercialism, we must not forget where we came from. We must not be foreigners in our own land. These individuals have encouraged us to embrace our cultural heritage and to look back at our yesterday and be proud of what we have become and to tangkilik what is ours. Hopefully, this will deliver a message to the Filipino youth to follow these GAMABA and National Artists Awardees’ footsteps, do our country proud and carry on the Philippine legacy.