Legarda: From culture to commerce, creativity drives the change

Senator Loren Legarda joins the nation in celebrating Philippine Creative Industries Month this September, a milestone established by Republic Act No. 11904 or the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, which Legarda co-authored. The law recognizes the creative sector as a driving force of economic growth, cultural pride, and national identity.

“From culture to commerce, creativity drives the change,” Legarda emphasized, as she highlighted the significant contribution of the creative industry.

Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts, cited data from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) showing that creative industries generated ₱1.94 trillion in value and provided jobs to 7.51 million Filipinos in 2024.

“These numbers mark a significant rise from ₱1.72 trillion and 7.26 million jobs in 2023. Current data accounts for 7.3 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This means that Filipino talent is powering industries, livelihoods, and innovation at scale,” Legarda explained.

Further underscoring the value of creative industries in both culture and commerce, Legarda emphasized the success of the National Arts and Craft Fair (NACF) last year, an annual fair initiated and envisioned by the four-term Senator in partnership with DTI, which gathered over 250 exhibitors from across the country, serving on a national and global stage in promoting and preserving Filipino cultural heritage.

“As a long advocate of cultural preservation, I am proud that we bolstered our partnerships with local artisans, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and key collaborators, including DTI and the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCAA),” Legarda added.

Among the many exhibitors at NACF were communities whose stories embody the link between culture and livelihood.

For instance, Merlina Lumakin is a proud member of Sto. Niño de Plaridel Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SNP-MPC) in Baybay, Leyte. This cooperative began in 2001 with just 23 members and now has grown to over 400. Their craft is rooted in tradition and passed down through generations, creating pandan-based products like bags, boxes, slippers, coin purses, clutches, and more.

“Malaking impact [NACF] kasi halimbawa sa mga ganito, ma-meet natin ‘yung buyers. So, lalong tumaas ‘yung demand. ‘Yung weavers naman, nakabigay tayo ng livelihood o income, job,” Lumakin explained. (The NACF has a significant impact. Events like this let us meet buyers directly, which boosts demand even more. For our weavers, it means livelihood, income and jobs.)

Also, from Yakan Village in Zamboanga City, Angelita “Angie” Ilul leads Angie’s Yakan Handloom Weaving, a social enterprise that empowers the village through traditional weaving. What began as a simple placemat turned into a mission to uplift the Yakan tribe.

“Malaking tulong po ‘yung livelihood po na binibigay po ni Sen. Loren Lagarda, lalong-lalo po sa mga Yakan weavers para makabenta,” Ilul said. (The livelihood support from Sen. Loren Legarda is a big help, especially for Yakan weavers who now have more chances to sell their products.)

This is the result of Legarda’s foresight, a creative industry that not only uplifts culture but also powers local economies and proves that Filipino talent is a force for progress.

“When we invest in creativity, we also build futures,” Legarda concluded.

This month-long celebration of the Philippines Creative Industries Month, with the theme “We Are a Creative Nation,” marks a significant milestone as the nation anticipates NACF 2025, scheduled to take place on October 23-29, 2025, at SM Megamall Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City. (30)

Legarda: Mula kultura hanggang kalakalan, ang pagkamalikhain ay nagtutulak ng pagbabago

Nakikiisa si Senador Loren Legarda sa paggunita ng bansa sa Philippine Creative Industries Month ngayong Setyembre.

Ito ay isang pag-alaala sa Republic Act No. 11904, o ang Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, na iniakda ni Legarda.

Ang batas na ito ay kumikilala sa malaking papel ng creative sector sa ekonomiya, kultura, at pagkakakilanlan ng bansa.

“Mula kultura hanggang kalakalan, ang pagkamalikhain ay nagtutulak ng pagbabago,” sabi ni Legarda.

Ayon pa kay Legarda, na siyang pinuno ng Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts, mula sa datos ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), naghatid ang creative industries ng 7.51 milyong trabaho at may kabuuang halaga na P1.94 trilyon noong 2024.

“Tayo ay masaya dahil lumago pa ang kontribusyon ng creative industries sa bansa ayon sa datos ng DTI mula sa P1.72 trilyon at 7.26 milyong trabaho. Ito ay 7.3% ng gross domestic product ng bansa. Ibig sabihin nito ay malawak ang ambag ng talentong Pilipino sa bansa.”

Naging matagumpay ang National Arts and Craft Fair (NACF) noong nakaraang taon, na nilahukan ng 250 na exhibitor, at nagtipon ng mga artisan ng bansa upang ipagmalaki ang likhang Pilipino.

“Masaya ako bilang matagal nang nagsusulong ng cultural preservation dahil napalakas pa ang ating relasyon sa mga artisano, at mga micro, small, and medium enterprise, pati na ang DTI at National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA),” paliwanag ni Legarda.

Kabilang sa mga lumahok ay ang grupo ni Merlina Lumakin ng Sto. Niño de Plaridel Multi-Purpose Cooperative sa Baybay, Leyte, na lumago na ang mga miyembro mula 23 sa 400.

Nakatuon silang panatilihin ang tradisyon, at layong ipasa sa mga susunod na henerasyon ang paggawa ng mga produktong gawa sa pandan tulad ng bag, kahon, tsinelas, at iba pa.

“Malaking impact [ang NACF] kasi halimbawa sa mga ganito, m-ameet natin ‘yung mga buyers. So, lalong tumaas ‘yung demand. Yung mga weavers naman, nakabigay tayo ng livelihood o income, job,” paliwanag ni Lumakin.

Ganito rin ang naranasan ni Angelita “Angie” Ilul ng Yakan Village, Zamboanga City, na may-ari ng Angie’s Yakan Handloom Weaving, na nagmula sa paghahabi ng placemat, naging misyon na iangat ang tribong Yakan.

“Malaking tulong po ‘yung livelihood po na binibigay po ni Sen. Loren Legarda, lalong-lalo po sa mga Yakan weavers para makabenta.”

Ito ay resulta ng pananaw ni Legarda sa kinabukasan ng creative industries, na isang malakas na puwersa sa ekonomiya.

“Makabubuo tayo ng mas magandang kinabukasan sa pagpundar sa pagiging malikhain natin,” wika ni Legarda.

Gaganapin ang NACF 2025 sa Oktubre 23-29 sa SM Megamall Megatrade Hall sa Mandaluyong City. (30)