Phl marks centennial year of National Living Treasure Haja Amina Appi

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared 25 June 2025 to 24 June 2026 as the Centennial Year of Manlilikha ng Bayan (National Living Treasures Awardee) Haja Amina Appi.

Haja Amina Appi, a mat-weaving virtuoso from the Sama cultural community, was born on 25 June 1925 and passed away at the age of 88 on 2 April 2013.

Known for her artistic transformation of traditional Sama mats, once typically plain white, she was recognized with the National Living Treasures Award, or Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA), in 2004 by the Philippine government through the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

Crafting vibrant pandan mats adorned with intricate geometric patterns, her work was celebrated for its meticulous design, balanced proportions, symmetrical compositions, and refined use of color.

According to Proclamation No. 963, the NCCA, through the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Executive Council, recommended the declaration of the Centennial Year of Haja Amina Appi to promote greater appreciation among Filipinos for the valuable and intangible cultural contributions of the Manlilikha ng Bayan.

President Marcos has tasked the NCCA to lead, coordinate, and supervise the observance of the Centennial Year and to identify programs, activities, and projects in celebration of Appi’s legacy.

“All agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, are hereby directed, and all local government units, non-government organizations, and the private sector are hereby encouraged, to render the necessary support and assistance to the NCCA, and to actively participate in the observance of the Centennial Year of Manlilikha ng Bayan Haja Amina Appi,” the proclamation read.