Privilege Speech: National Arts Month 2024

Privilege Speech of Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda
National Arts Month 2024
February 6, 2024

Mr. President, dear colleagues, my beloved fellow Filipinos:

I stand before you today with pride and joy as we celebrate National Arts Month 2024 here in the hallowed halls of the Senate. National Arts Month is celebrated every February as promulgated by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 683, signed in 1991. The proclamation underscores the need to preserve, enrich, and evolve disciplines of theatre, dance, music, visual arts, architecture, literature, media arts, and film in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression.

I grew up in an environment immersed in art and culture, thanks to my late mother, Bessie Legarda, through her love for art and culture, I had the privilege of meeting respected Filipino artists. My childhood was a vibrant canvas painted with experiences in artists’ studios and galleries of renowned artists, such as H.R Ocampo, Vicente Manansala, and Ibarra dela Rosa – individuals whose art significantly contributed to shaping our national identity.

Understanding and valuing arts and culture are important in fostering a deep connection to our surroundings, a sense of pride in our roots, and unity, enabling us to embrace our diversity while celebrating our shared heritage.

Bilang ating pakikiisa sa pagdiriwang ng Pambansang Buwan ng mga Sining, naglunsad tayo sa linggong ito ng dalawang exhibit na magbabahagi ng kahanga-hangang talino at sining ng Pilipino. Mga exhibits na nagsasalarawan ng kahalagahan ng kultura at tradisyon sa paghubog at pagpapalalim ng sining sa bansa.

Today we launched KatHABI – a Textile Innovation that highlights the latest innovation in Philippine textiles, especially on the use of natural textile fibers like abaca, bamboo, banana, and pineapple for various textile applications. This is one of the initiatives to promote our country’s natural fibers and fabrics, enrich our culture, and contribute to the growth of our local fiber industry as stipulated under Republic Act No. 9242 or the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law.

Another exhibit that we opened today is the “Buhay na Dunong: Bukal ng Sining” to salute and cherish the notable achievement of the Aklan piña handloom weaving. We welcomed and celebrated the great news of Aklan piña weaving’s inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity last December 2023 as it recognizes and honors the diversity of Philippine craft traditions and culture in a context of world heritage.

Looking back in 2008, the Hudhud of the Ifugao and Darangen of the Maranao at Lake Lanao were included. In 2015, the Punnuk or tugging ritual of the Ifugao was also added. Besides these, several ICH elements have been listed on the UNESCO List of ICH, including the Buklog of the Subanen, which was added to the List of ICH in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2019, and the School of Living Traditions, which was included in the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices in 2021. Over the years, I have actively supported these causes and personally argued and spiritedly made a case for their significance.

May these exhibits express our utmost sincerity and participation in celebrating the National Arts Month. Isa lang ito sa maraming patunay na kapag pinagtutuunan natin ng pansin ang ating kultura, lilikha tayo ng isang pambansang espasyo kung saan ang sining ay magiging malawak na bahagi ng ating kolektibong pagkakakilanlan at malikhaing pagpapahayag.

The framing of the theme of yearly Arts Month led by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, “Ani ng Sining” strongly evokes the convergence of arts , culture, and nature. One cannot exist without the other. Napakatingkad ng bisa ng kalikasan sa kultura dahil dito nahuhubog ang ating tradisyon at paraan ng pamumuhay. Ang mga likas na yaman ay hugpungan ng ating pagkatao at kabuhayan. Higit sa lahat, matitiyak lamang natin ang mayamang ani ng sining kung kolektibo tayong nananawagan, kumikilos, at nagtutulong-tulong bilang bansa.

I also aspire for increased awareness and patronage toward slow fashion, exemplified by local brands, that seamlessly integrate Filipino artisanship, advocate for sustainability in fashion, and proudly showcase Philippine culture on global platforms. By prioritizing eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, and recycled fabrics, we can significantly decrease our reliance on resource-intensive materials like conventional cotton and synthetic fibers. It not only helps our local producers but also plays a vital role in environmental conservation. Embracing such practices not only contributes to the well-being of our community but also showcases our commitment to responsible and culturally rich fashion choices on an international scale.

Nais ko ding gamitin ang pagkakataong ito para kumalap ng suporta at tulong para sa ating mga lokal na magsasaka at nangangalaga ng kultura ng Pamagduman.

Ang pamagduman ay paraan ng pagtatanim ng malagkit na bigas na isinasagawa ng munting komunidad sa Sta. Monica, Pampanga. For centuries, the magduduman have been tirelessly working to protect and sustain the community’s intangible cultural heritage. The heartfelt efforts of Pampanga’s local government, the Department of Tourism for Central Luzon, and passionate local researchers converge to defend the time-honored tradition of Pamagduman. Together, they are fervently working towards its nomination as a UNESCO-inscribed Intangible Cultural Heritage, recognizing its profound significance. At kailangan nila ang ating tulong.

Batay sa inilabas na datos ng Philippine Statistics Authority noong Marso nakaraang taon, naitala na nananatiling isa sa mga pinakamahirap na sektor noong 2021 ang pagsasaka na pumapangalawa sa pangingisda. Hindi maikakailang itinataguyod ng sektor ng agrikultura ang araw-araw nating pamumuhay. Ang kanilang mga bisig ay pinatatag at hinahapo ng pagbubungkal ng lupa. Bagaman ipinasa limang taon na ang nakararaan ang Republic Act 11203 o Rice Liberalization Law na naglalayong paunlarin ang pagsasaka at magkaroon ng seguridad sa pagkain, ano na nga ba ang ating narating sa layuning paunlarin pa ang agrikultura ng bansa?

Kung inyo pong matatandaan, inihain ko sa Senado noong ika-apat ng Mayo 2023 ang Senate Bill 2136, na nag-aatas na ideklara ang ika-dawampu’t dalawa ng Enero bilang National Farmer’s Day upang kilalanin ang malaking kontribusyon, sipag, at tiyaga na ipinamamalas ng ating mga lokal na magsasaka. Bagaman ang pagsasaka ay kabahagi ng agham, hindi maikakaila na ang katutubong pagsasaka natin ay napayabong ng mga katutubo dala ng kanilang pagiging malikhain at makakalikasan.

Hindi natin maihihiwalay ang sining at kulturang Filipino sa kalikasan sapagkat karamihan ng ating mga pinangangalagaan at itinatanghal na mga buhay na dunong at pamanang kultura ay gumagamit ng ating likas na yaman. Ang bulak na ginagamit sa paghabi ng Ifugao Ikat. Ang pinya na ginagamit ng mga Akeanon. Ang abaka ng mga Blaan at Tboli.

Ano ang ating aaninhin kung wala nang nagtatanim?

Kaya naman ngayong Pambansang Buwan ng mga Sining, sama-sama nating kilalanin ang ating mga buhay na dunong at sining, bumisita tayo sa mga komunidad, suportahan natin ang mga manlilikha at artista ng bayan, tulungan natin ang mga magduduman. Sapagkat kung tunay nating itinataguyod ang Bayang Malikhain, makaaani tayo ng sining kung sasamahan natin ang taumbayan na siyang nangangalaga, bumubuhay, at nagpapadaloy ng ating sining at kultura.

Bilang Chairperson ng Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts, isinulong ko ang pagtataguyod ng mga batas at polisiya na nangangalaga sa ating sining at kultura. Itinaguyod natin ang National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 (Republic Act No. 10066) bilang author at co-sponsor at isinulong ang pagsasabatas ng Cultural Mapping Law bilang principal author at sponsor. Katuwang ang NCCA at Department of Foreign Affairs ay muling nakalalahok ang ating bansa sa Venice Biennale matapos ang limang dekadang hiatus.

Atin ding isinusulong ang Senate Bill 624 na naglalayong bumuo ng mga Institute of Living Traditions upang masiguro ang pagiging buhay at masigla ng ating mga tradisyon, sining, at buhay na dunong sa iba’t ibang komunidad.

Naging katuwang din tayo sa pagsusulong ng Philippine Contemporary Art Network na inilunsad noong Enero 2018 sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Vargas Museum. Sinuportahan din natin ang 2016 curatorial intensive ng Independent Curators International katuwang ang NCCA at Metropolitan Museum of Manila. Noong 2017 ay pinondohan natin ang pagpapaunlad ng Philippine Studies sa School of Oriental and African Studies London. Taong 2018 ay pinondohan naman natin ang pagpapaunlad ng Philippine Studies sa Berlin, Germany.

Iilan lamang ang mga ito sa ating pagsusumikap na linangin ang larang ng sining at kultura. Bilang tayo ang may kapangyarihan na gumawa ng mga batas at polisiya na mangangalaga sa ating yamang Filipino, gampanan natin ito, panindigan natin ito. Halina’t makisining, bayang malikhain!
Maraming salamat at isang luntiang Pilipinas sa ating lahat!