Daigon, Iloilo’s Christmas caroling, eyed for National Living Treasures recognition

ILOILO CITY — Iloilo’s traditional Christmas caroling practice, Daigon, could be a candidate for national recognition under the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA), or National Living Treasures Award, but experts say further research and documentation are needed to establish its cultural significance and eligibility.

Dr. Felipe M. de Leon Jr., a member of the GAMABA Executive Council and former chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), identified Daigon, practiced in San Joaquin, Iloilo, and parts of Antique, as a promising subject for further study and possible nomination.

“Daigon has tremendous potential in San Joaquin, Iloilo, and Antique,” De Leon said at a recent press conference at the University of the Philippines Visayas Iloilo City campus.

He also cited Komposo, a Hiligaynon narrative ballad unique to Western Visayas; Binalaybay, or poetry; indigenous rituals, traditional dances, and martial arts; and Maasin, Iloilo’s sword-fighting tradition, as art forms deserving further research.

However, De Leon said cultural value alone does not automatically qualify a tradition or its practitioners for the award.

Under GAMABA criteria, a tradition must have been practiced for at least 50 years, demonstrate a high level of artistic excellence, and possess significant cultural value within the community.

He clarified that the 50-year requirement applies to the age of the tradition, not the age of the practitioner.

Candidates must also demonstrate exceptional technical skills and artistic mastery.

Their communities, in turn, must recognize the importance of the tradition they preserve.

“Is the presentation good? Do people enjoy the performances? Does the community recognize the tradition as important? These are some of the criteria,” he said.

Established under Republic Act No. 7355 in 1992, GAMABA recognizes outstanding practitioners of traditional and folk arts who preserve their craft and pass their knowledge on to future generations. The NCCA administers the award.

De Leon explained that traditional performing arts encompass more than formal stage performances.

They may include ritual practices, poetic exchanges, musical storytelling, and other forms of artistic expression deeply rooted in community life.

He cited Sugidanon, the epic chanting tradition of the Panay Bukidnon, which gained national recognition through Federico Caballero of Calinog, Iloilo.

Caballero, honored in 2000 for preserving and transmitting the community’s epic narratives, is the Visayas’ sole GAMABA awardee.

Joycie Alegra, a professor at UP Tacloban and also a member of the GAMABA Executive Council, stressed the need to study traditional arts within their cultural contexts.

Some dances, for instance, are closely associated with courtship, weddings, religious rituals, or other community practices.

Researchers must therefore understand the origins of these traditions, the meanings of their movements and terminology, and how practitioners acquired and transmitted their knowledge.

Alegra said documenting a tradition requires more than recording an interview or filming a performance.

Researchers must establish meaningful relationships with practitioners and examine the historical, artistic, and cultural knowledge underlying their work.