Legarda eyes global stage for NACF: “Next Stop, Frankfurt”

Senator Loren Legarda opened the National Arts and Crafts Fair (NACF) 2025 with a bold vision: to bring the richness of Filipino Indigenous crafts to the global stage.

Speaking to the media during the fair’s launch, Legarda shared plans to expand NACF beyond national borders.

“I’ll continue to support this every year because I envisioned this more than 10 years ago,” she said. “And I will probably do a National Arts and Crafts Fair per region as well. I want to bring this to Frankfurt, like I brought the Frankfurt Book Fair, literary and cultural programs.”

Earlier this month, Legarda led the Philippine delegation to the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025 as Guest of Honour, held in Germany from October 15 to 19. As the visionary behind the country’s participation, Legarda also championed Filipino literature, Indigenous knowledge systems, and cultural diplomacy on the world stage.

Now in its 8th edition, NACF 2025 gathers micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from Indigenous peoples and cultural communities across the Philippines.

“This is really a conglomeration of all micro, small, and medium enterprises from our Indigenous peoples, from our cultural communities,” Legarda explained. “You don’t just buy souvenirs here. These are decades of work.”

The fair features Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) awardees, Schools of Living Traditions (SLT), and community artisans supported by government programs such as Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Kabuhayan and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Shared Service Facilities.

“We’ve been helping them, not just for the past nine years, maybe 30 years.” Legarda said.

The senator who chairs the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts, also emphasized that NACF is designed to be inclusive and empowering.

“The prices here are one-fifth or one-tenth cheaper than elsewhere because we do not charge for their booths. Everything they earn goes to them.”

Beyond commerce, Legarda sees NACF as a cultural classroom.

“It’s like you’re able to go to different provinces—Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and see it in one place,” she said. “These are the arts and crafts and the artisanal work of our local communities that are difficult to reach. They’re in the mountains, in remote barangays.”

Legarda also called on Filipino youth to engage more deeply with Indigenous traditions:

“Alamin ang kasaysayan, ang hirap, at ang ibig sabihin ng mga disenyo. Dapat alam nila yung diperensya ng Dagmay at T’nalak, ng Tiboli at Mandaya, ng Kalinga at Mountain Province.”

As NACF 2025 continues to grow, Legarda’s vision is clear: to elevate Filipino heritage, empower communities, and ensure that Indigenous excellence resonates far beyond Philippine shores.

NACF is a project of the DTI, with the full support of the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Design Center of the Philippines.

With over 300 exhibits, the fair runs from October 23 to 29, 2025 at Megatrade Halls 1-3 of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. (30)

Legarda, nais dalhin ang NACF sa global stage: “Next Stop, Frankfurt”

Binuksan ni Senadora Loren Legarda ang National Arts and Crafts Fair (NACF) 2025 nang may matapang na layunin: ang dalhin ang yaman ng mga katutubong sining at gawang-kamay ng Pilipino sa pandaigdigang entablado.

Sa pakikipanayam sa media sa pagbubukas ng fair, ibinahagi ni Legarda ang kanyang plano na palawakin ang NACF.

“I’ll continue to support this every year because I envisioned this more than 10 years ago,” aniya. “And I will probably do a National Arts and Crafts Fair per region as well. I want to bring this to Frankfurt, like I brought the Frankfurt Book Fair, literary and cultural programs.”

Noong unang bahagi ng Oktubre, pinangunahan ni Legarda ang delegasyon ng Pilipinas sa Frankfurt Book Fair 2025 bilang Guest of Honour, na ginanap sa Germany mula Oktubre 15 hanggang 19. Bilang tagapagtaguyod ng pakikilahok ng bansa, isinulong din ni Legarda ang panitikan ng Pilipino, mga katutubong sistemang kaalaman, at diplomasyang pangkultura sa pandaigdigang antas.

Ngayong nasa ikawalong taon na, pinagsasama ng NACF 2025 ang mga micro, small, at medium enterprises (MSME) mula sa mga katutubong pamayanan at komunidad pangkultura sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa.

“This is really a conglomeration of all micro, small, and medium enterprises from our Indigenous peoples, from our cultural communities,” paliwanag ni Legarda. “You don’t just buy souvenirs here. These are decades of work.”

Tampok sa fair ang mga Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) awardees, Schools of Living Traditions (SLT), at mga artisan mula sa komunidad na sinusuportahan ng mga programa ng pamahalaan tulad ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Kabuhayan at Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Shared Service Facilities.

“We’ve been helping them, not just for the past nine years, maybe 30 years.” ani Legarda.

Bilang tagapangulo ng Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts, binigyang-diin din ng senadora na ang NACF ay idinisenyo upang maging inklusibo at nagbibigay-kapangyarihan.

“The prices here are one-fifth or one-tenth cheaper than elsewhere because we do not charge for their booths. Everything they earn goes to them.”

Higit pa sa kalakalan, nakikita ni Legarda ang NACF bilang isang silid-aralan ng kultura.

“It’s like you’re able to go to different provinces—Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and see it in one place,” aniya. “These are the arts and crafts and the artisanal work of our local communities that are difficult to reach. They’re in the mountains, in remote barangays.”

Nanawagan din si Legarda sa mga kabataang Pilipino na mas palalimin ang pag-unawa sa mga katutubong tradisyon:

“Alamin ang kasaysayan, ang hirap, at ang ibig sabihin ng mga disenyo. Dapat alam nila yung diperensya ng Dagmay at T’nalak, ng Tiboli at Mandaya, ng Kalinga at Mountain Province.”

Habang patuloy na lumalago ang NACF 2025, malinaw ang pananaw ni Legarda: itaas ang dangal ng pamanang Pilipino, bigyang-lakas ang mga komunidad, at tiyaking maririnig ang kahusayang katutubo lampas sa mga baybayin ng bansa.

Ang NACF ay proyekto ng DTI, sa buong suporta ng Tanggapan ni Senadora Loren Legarda, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), at Design Center of the Philippines.

May higit sa 300 kalahok, gaganapin ang fair mula Oktubre 23 hanggang 29, 2025 sa Megatrade Halls 1–3 ng SM Megamall sa Lungsod ng Mandaluyong. (30)