07/10/2026
๐ณ๐ฏ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ ๐ช๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐๐ || ๐ณ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฌ, ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ข ๐. ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐!
The Local Government Unit of Paracelis, through the leadership of Mayor Marcos G. Ayangwa, MD, extends its warmest birthday greetings to ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐น๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ต๐ฎ ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ป (๐๐๐ ๐๐๐) Amparo Balansi Mabanag, who celebrates her 73rd birthday today, October 5, 2026.
MB Mabanag, from Paracelis, Mountain Province, was born on October 5, 1953. She is recognized as a master of Ga'dang manu'bak (beadwork) and ameru (embroidery), crafts she learned at age 14 from her aunts.
She was conferred the prestigious GAMABA award by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in December 2023, making her one of nine cultural masters honored that year and the third GAMABA from the Cordillera Region.
The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan, or National Living Treasures Award, is the highest honor bestowed by the Philippine government on traditional folk artists. Administered by the NCCA, it recognizes individuals whose skills and knowledge are vital to the preservation of the country's intangible cultural heritage.
As part of the 2026 National Indigenous Peoples Month celebration, the LGU Paracelis recognizes Mabanag not only as a National Living Treasure but as a living bearer of Ga'dang identity, whose work continues to inspire the youth to keep indigenous knowledge alive.
Mabiyayetam, MB Amparo B. Mabanag!
