IF THE national government has the Order of National Artists (Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining), the City of Davao has the Gawad Sining Dabaw.
The Order of National Artists is the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts and it is jointly administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and conferred by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation by both institutions.
Davao is proud to have produced two National Artists — Ang Kiukok for Visual Arts (2001) and Agnes Locsin for Dance (2022). We also consider Victorio Edades, the father of Philippine modern art, who was conferred the Order of National Artist in 1976 for visual arts, as a Davaoeño artist because he retired in Davao City and made it his home.
The Gawad Sining Dabaw is a recognition program of the city initiated by the newly established Davao City Office for Culture and the Arts headed by Oscar “Oca” Casaysay, who also recently served as Executive Director of NCCA. Part of the office’s mandate is the development of “a recognition program for artistic achievement through awards, incentives, and services to artists and cultural workers who contribute significantly to Davao City’s cultural legacy.”
During the closing of National Arts Month (NAM) last February 28, 2025 in Davao City, the first of such event held in Mindanao by the NCCA, the first Gawad Sining Dabaw awarding ceremony was held.
Traditionally, NAM opening and closing events have always been held in Metro Manila, being the national capital. In recent years, NCCA wanted a more inclusive celebration that would include other parts of the country. This year, Davao City hosted the culmination program at Taboan, Matina Town Square (MTS) and it was attended by no less than the NCCA Chair, Victorino Mapa Manalo.
Because the Davao City Office for Culture and the Arts has just been created, its budget is still being processed, so Oca asked the Rotary Club of Downtown Davao (RCDD), of which he is an honorary member, to be its community partner in giving the inaugural Gawad Sining Dabaw.
RCDD President Anthony John “AJ” Modiquello, who is also a performing artist himself, positively responded and was grateful for the opportunity to partner with the City Government of Davao in support of culture and arts. February is Rotary’s month to celebrate peace and conflict resolution, one of its seven areas of focus, and RCDD believes that art promotes a culture of peace.
And the first recipients of the Gawad Sining Dabaw are not only outstanding artists and cultural workers, they are also dedicated peacebuilders. So Rotary, which is committed to peace, is pleased and honored to be asked to take part in this recognition program.
The Gawad Sining Dabaw 2025 awardees are:
- Nestor T. Horfilla, Founder of Kaliwat Theater Collective, now known as Kaliwat Performing Artists Collective. An anthropologist by training, he is a theater director and dramaturg of more than 110 theater productions focused on telling the multicultural stories of Davao and Mindanao that were performed around the Philippines and in other countries. He is a sought-after festival director and exhibition curator working with the country’s tourism department and various local government units. He pioneered the development of new culture and eco-tourism projects in the Davao Region. He is a passionate community educator and program director of various grassroots cultural action programs in indigenous communities. He also served as the executive director of the renowned Kulturang Atin Foundation as well as the executive director of MINDULANI, a Gawad CCP Awardee. A true embodiment of a people’s artist and activist, he has documented and contributed to the development of the community theater and cultural action in Mindanao as well as created a cultural mapping toolkit and guide for inventory of intangible cultural heritage. He is one of the pillars of the Mindanao Theater Network.
- Elenita “Boots” Cruz Dumalo, Founder of the Kathara Dance-Theater Collective. An outstanding Davaoeña artist and cultural development worker whose talents encompass visual arts, literary arts, theater arts, music and dance is being recognized for her groundbreaking work in integrating art and advocacy. She has brought honor to Davao City through her exceptional achievements not only in promoting and developing Mindanao culture and arts, but Filipno culture and arts, to the rest of the world. Her dedication to conserving and promoting Mindanao indigenous folklores and traditions have resulted in the production of at least 25 original dance theater pieces that blazed new trails for dance and theater approaches in Davao and Mindanao. This significant contribution earned her the highest recognition from the Tribal Communities Association of the Philippines and the Supreme Council of Elders with her conferment of the tribal title, “Bia Itulah” in 2005. As founder and convener of the BaiHinang Women Artists’ Group, she has helped create a thriving ecosystem and support group for women artists in Davao City. She is known for promoting women’s issues through art, believing that art is a powerful tool for raising awareness as well as a meaningful catalyst for empowering women. A true creative soul, her life embodies artistic activism which is the dynamic practice of combining the creative power of the arts to mobilize for social change and help build a better Davao and Mindanao. She is also a recipient of the Datu Bago Award in 2023.
- Sabino V. Ibarra (Posthumous), Founder, Magallanes Elementary School Rondalla. A self-taught music maestro, he was considered the “Father of Davao Rondalla,” having dedicated his life to promote and nurture the love for rondalla among Davaoeños. He honed his musicality as a member of the school band while he was training to get his degree in Elementary Education from the International Harvardian University. He learned to read music notes by being mentored by the legendary Guillermo Anajao, who composed the music of “Tayo’y Dabawenyo,” the official hymn of the City of Davao. He was credited for starting the award-winning school rondalla at Magallanes Elementary School as well as the San Pedro Church rondalla in 1960. He also taught music and organized school rondalla at various schools in Davao, including the University of Mindanao, the Ateneo de Davao University, and the Davao City National High School. A mainstay in all of the city’s Araw ng Dabaw celebrations, he has brought honor to Davao through the many national rondalla competitions he participated in, notably at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He has remained humble and low-key throughout his remarkable career as a music educator and artist. He died peacefully in his sleep on his 90th year after learning that his significant contribution to Davao’s culture and arts finally got the recognition it deserved.
As we celebrate the 88th Araw ng Davao, we give honor to these amazing artists and cultural workers who have significantly contributed to Davao City’s rich artistic harvest and cultural legacy.
