12/08/2026
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We welcome the support expressed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Lanao del Sur for the nomination of ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ of Tugaya for the ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ (๐ฎ๐จ๐ด๐จ๐ฉ๐จ) ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐
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This support is meaningful not only because it recognizes a Meranaw artisan from Lanao del Sur, but because it reflects a growing appreciation of the importance of our traditional arts and the people who continue to practice and preserve them.
It is also worth noting that this is not the first institutional recognition extended to Pangcogaโs work.
In 2024, the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage - BARMM (BCPCH) adopted a resolution recommending to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts that Lantong Pangcoga be considered for the GAMABA Award for his contributions to the preservation and promotion of traditional Meranaw artistry through woodcraft. The resolution is part of the BCPCHโs official Digital Gazette.
The support now expressed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Lanao del Sur under the leadership of Vice Governor Mohammad Khalid "Mujam" Raki-in Adiong, together with that earlier regional recognition and the support of the ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ โ ๐๐๐๐ under the leadership of its Elected Head Ms. Ayesha Merdeka Macatbar Alonto as the same time she is also the Director of MSU Meranaw Cultural Heritage Center , adds to the continuing conversation about the value of Meranaw traditional craftsmanship and the need to give our cultural masters the recognition they merit.
For us at Meranaw Ako, however, it is important to make a distinction.
An endorsement is an expression of support. It is not the final determination of a GAMABA award.
The recognition of a National Living Treasure follows its own national process and evaluation. We therefore welcome these endorsements not as a conclusion, but as part of the continuing documentation and recognition of Meranaw traditional arts and the artisans who carry them.
Lantong Pangcogaโs nomination gives us an opportunity to look more closely at the traditional knowledge preserved in our communities, particularly in Tugaya, where craftsmanship remains part of a living cultural tradition.
It also reminds us that cultural heritage is not preserved by objects alone. It lives through people who continue to practice, teach, and transmit knowledge from one generation to another.
We are grateful to the BCPCH for its earlier recognition and to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Lanao del Sur for its support. We likewise acknowledge the continuing work of the Southern Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts- NCCA, the Local Government Unit of Tugaya, and the many individuals and institutions that continue to give attention to Meranaw traditional arts.
Whatever the eventual outcome of the national evaluation, we believe that the attention being given to our cultural masters is itself important.
Our traditional artists deserve to be seen, their knowledge deserves to be documented, and the traditions they carry deserve to remain living traditions not merely memories of what once was.
๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐๐. ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ช๐จ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ช๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ค๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐ฉ, ๐จ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ช๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐ช๐จ.
