KEYNOTE SPEECH OF SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA OPENING OF THE NATIONAL ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR (NACF) 2025 October 24, 2025 | Megatrade Halls, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City

October 24, 2025

Thank you very much, Ms. Gretchen Ho.

Bumabati po ako sa inyong lahat ngayong hapong ito. First of all, our friends, distinguished members of the Diplomatic Corps, thank you for taking time out this afternoon to join us.

Tell your other colleagues, it’s not just today, it’s opened yesterday until the 29th and we have plans of having a permanent, not just showroom, but a permanent store in the different regions of the country, so that all our MSMEs will have their […]

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From Loom to Law: Legarda weaves culture and economy at NACF 2025

October 24, 2025

Senator Loren Legarda led the opening ceremony of the 2025 National Arts and Crafts Fair (NACF) on October 24 at SM Megamall, reaffirming her commitment to Filipino creativity, cultural preservation, and inclusive economic growth.

Now in its 8th edition, the NACF has become a vital national platform for over 300 artisans from across the country, showcasing indigenous textiles, handcrafted accessories, and sustainable materials. From the Abel weaving of Abra to the Patadyong of Antique and the beadwork of Zamboanga, each piece […]

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Legarda: “Wisdom is not relic but root” in honoring GAMABA cultural masters

October 23, 2025

Senator Loren Legarda joined the recognition of the country’s Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) awardees as Cultural Skills Masters on October 23, at TESDA Women’s Center in Taguig City, honoring their artistry, indigenous knowledge and their role in shaping the soul of the nation.

Legarda addressed the awardees, cultural workers, and education leaders in this ceremony organized by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), in alignment with […]

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Legarda demands budget reform: “Let’s uproot a system left to worsen for decades”

October 21, 2025

Senator Loren Legarda called for major reforms in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the proposed budget of the agency. She pointed to years of overpricing and lack of transparency in how infrastructure projects are planned and carried out.

“We are uprooting a system that has been left to worsen, not just in past years, but decades,” Legarda said, acknowledging the challenges faced by the agency while pressing for immediate action. “The […]

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Senators eye “across-the-board” 15-30% DPWH price cut

October 20, 2025

Several Senators supported an “across-the-board cut” of 20 to 30% in the price of projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) during the agency’s Senate budget hearing on Monday, October 20, chaired by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.

According to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, “Iyong pinakaimportante na repormang ginagawa po namin ngayon, itinawag na po ito ni Senator Win Gatchalian, itinawag na din po ito ni Congressman Lean Leviste na kailangan ibaba natin ang cost of materials ng DPWH, kasi […]

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