October 11, 2012
REINERIO ALBA
The book “Guardians of Tradition, the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan,” published by Adarna House, Inc., gets launched on Sept 14, 2012, during the 33rd Manila International Book Fair.
The book follows the experiences of Banog and Kiko as they discover the Philippines’ National Living Treasures, namely: Uwang Ahadas, Hadja Amina Appi, Ginaw Bilog, Federico Caballero, Lang Dulay, Masino Intaray, Salinta Monon, Eduardo Mutuc, Alonzo Saclag, Darhata Sawabi, and Samaon Sulaiman.
National Living Treasures are Filipinos who have been awarded under the National Commission for Culture and the Art’s Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or the National Living Treasures Award as institutionalized through Republic Act No. 7355. The said award is given to Filipinos practicing the following categories of traditional folk arts.: folk architecture, maritime transport, weaving carving, performing arts, literature, graphic and plastic arts, ornament, textile or fiber art, pottery and other artistic expressions of traditional culture.
The book educates young people on these artist’s dedication to their craft, along with the tradition of their forebears.
The book was authored by Mae Astrid Tobias, a prize-winning writer of children’s stories and former president of Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (KUTING). Astrid passed away in 2009.
Illustrations were done by Rommel Joson, Dean’s Awardee for Visual Arts in Ateneo de Manila University in 1999, who graduated magna cum laude in UP College of Fine Arts in 2006.
The book is available in bookstores nationwide. For more details, you may call 352-6765 or e-mail adarnahouse@adarna.com.ph.
