GAWAD CCP PARA SA SINING 2024 – Marilyn B. Gamboa (Photo by Kiko Cabuena)
Marilyn “Lyn” B. Gamboa was initially befuddled when the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) named her as one of the recipients of the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining Award. For her, it didn’t make sense to be commended for simply doing what she loved: instilling Philippine arts and culture into the Filipinos’ lifestyle.
“I never worked to get an award,” said Negros Cultural Foundation, Inc. (NCFI) President Gamboa.
Long before stepping into her current path, Gamboa pursued an entirely different career. She studied Food and Nutrition at St. Scholastica’s College Manila, and at Wayne University.
But the universe seemed to have a different plan for her with the establishment of NCFI in 1987. Since then, Gamboa has served as its president, or as she jokingly enthused, a “slave.”
Passionately declaring her commitment to the NCFI’s mission of revitalizing the arts and culture of Negros, Gamboa plowed through one project after another. Through the foundation, she established the lifestyle museum Balay Negrense in Silay City and the Negros Museum in Bacolod City.
Thanks to Gamboa’s track record within and beyond the Negros Island, NCFI grew successful beyond her expectations. Still, she admitted to feeling intimidated by the job. “Being the president of a foundation like this [NCFI] is a thankless job. I find joy in what I’m doing because actually, there’s nobody else who would do this,” shared Gamboa.
Stumbling into the arts and culture scene wasn’t an accident for Gamboa. Her love for art was a beautiful legacy passed on by her mother Esperanza Buenaflor and father Tomas Besa. “They always brought culture to Tarlac where we lived. I remember artists coming into our home during the ‘50s,” she recalled.
Ultimately, what led Gamboa to her 38-year commitment to the NCFI was realizing the dwindling Filipino pride. “We really need to push the importance of being proud of our country; of our heritage,” she lamented. This admission only encouraged Gamboa to brave every struggle that came her way.
GAWAD CCP PARA SA SINING 2024 – L-R – CCP Trustee Ma. Carissa A. Coscolluela, Marilyn B. Gamboa, and CCP Pres. Kaye C. Tinga (Photo by Kiko Cabuena)
Gamboa’s responsibility in the Philippine arts and cultural landscape inspired her to forge historical connections with fellow art lovers and cultural organizations like the CCP. “I have a good relationship with artists. I think I should be proud of that,” she concluded, her eyes twinkling.
Along with the NCFI’s, Gamboa’s personal goal aligned with CCP’s mission and vision. She encourages Negrenses to visit museums, attend workshops, and engage in artmaking.
Apart from volunteerism and sheer willpower, Gamboa also relied on the genuine connections she made through the years to sustain the NCFI: “I always say to these young people that back then, volunteers weren’t prioritized. Now, under my care, we make sure to think of them first.”
Gamboa hopes more Filipinos would feel the same love for the Philippine heritage that pushes her to introduce it to the current and future generations. “They have to have passion. You need to love your country,” she stressed.
Alongside Generoso “Gener” Caringal, Jose Iñigo Homer “Joey” Ayala, Maria Lea Carmen Salonga, Jose F. Lacaba, Mario O’Hara, Julie Lluch, Gino Gonzales, and the Loboc Children’s Choir, Gamboa received the award. Zenaida “Nedy” R. Tantoco and the late Senator Edgardo J. Angara received the Tanging Parangal ng CCP posthumously.
Through her vibrant approach toward distributing the Philippine arts and culture, Gamboa beautifully restored Silay’s reputation as the Paris of Negros Island. She might have felt confounded to receive an award for simply following her heart, but she was sure of one thing: feeding and sharing her devotion to the Philippine heritage for as long as she could.
“Even if I’m already 100 years old, I plan to continue with my passion,” Gamboa joked with certainty.
Coinciding with the CCP’s 55th-anniversary celebration, the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining awarding ceremony took place on September 20 at 7 p.m. at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.
You may follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for faster updates. For more information, you may also check the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph).
