Legarda Highlights Cultural Preservation and Creative Collaboration in Kislap-Diwa 2024: Engkuwentro

The Engkuwentro, a collaborative engagement between the artists and poets who will participate in the Kislap-Diwa 2024, was successfully held on December 3, Tuesday at the Education Hall of the National Museum of Natural History. Organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in collaboration with the National Museum of the Philippines, the Society For Strategic Education Studies (S4SES), and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, the event brought together visual artists, poets, and cultural advocates for an engaging exchange of ideas and inspiration.

Kislap-Diwa was initiated through the creative discourse between National Artist Virgilio Almario and Senator Loren Legarda, inspired by their shared dedication to preserving and promoting Filipino culture and heritage. The first edition of Kislap-Diwa, held in August 2023, featured a public exhibit by 12 artists and 12 poets collaborating on artistic interpretations of pre-colonial artifacts in the National Museum of Anthropology. Legarda saw the importance of this project in deepening appreciation for the country’s rich cultural roots that for the continuation of this significant initiative, the Dangal ng Haraya Tagapagtaguyod ng Sining at Kultura ensured the funding for Kislap-Diwa 2024 under the NCCA .

“Sa mabilis na agos ng modernisasyon, hindi natin hahayaang unti-unting mabalot ng alikabok ang ating kultura, sining, at tradisyon—mga pamana ng ating lahi na sumasalamin sa ating pagkakakilanlan. Kaya’t sa abot po ng ating makakaya ay patuloy nating isinusulong ang mga proyektong tulad nito na tila liwanag sa dilim, isang pagbibigay pugay sa mga kwento, obra, at tradisyong nagbibigkis sa ating mga puso at muling bumubuhay sa ating adhikain bilang isang bayan,” Legarda said.

The four-term Senator also highlighted the importance of passing cultural heritage and knowledge to future generations. She stressed that keeping these traditions alive is important to build a deeper sense of national identity and pride.

“Higit pa sa sining, ang Kislap-Diwa ay sumasalamin sa ating determinasyon na itaguyod at ipamana ang ating kultura at kasaysayan sa susunod na henerasyon. Ito ay sagisag ng nag-aalab nating adhikaing tumindig sa diwa ng pagka-Pilipino at pagkamakabansa—isang liwanag na patuloy na sisinag at magsisilbing tanglaw sa kinabukasan ng ating bayan,” Legarda stressed.

The Kislap-Diwa 2024 Exhibit, slated to open in February 2025, will explore traditional narratives like the Manobo epic Agyu, the detailed art of Aklan’s handwoven piña, and rich musical traditions of the Maranao’s Kulintangan, among others.#