PASAY CITY, Philippines — The halls of the Philippine Senate were transformed into a vibrant tapestry of indigenous artistry this week as Senator Loren Legarda officially opened the “Schools of Living Traditions” (SLT) exhibit. The showcase highlights the government’s ongoing efforts to preserve the country’s “vanishing” traditional crafts, music, and indigenous knowledge.
Legarda, a long-time advocate for cultural preservation, emphasized that the exhibit is more than just a display—it is a call to action to protect the intellectual property and heritage of the Philippines’ various ethnolinguistic groups.
The Schools of Living Traditions are community-led centers where master craftsmen and “living treasures” teach the younger generation traditional skills that are not typically taught in formal classrooms. From the intricate Binakol weaves of the North to the rhythmic Kulintang music of the South, the SLTs serve as a vital link between the past and the future.
“Our cultural heritage is under constant threat from modernization and globalization,” Senator Legarda said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “These schools ensure that the wisdom of our ancestors—the way they weave, the way they build, and the way they live in harmony with nature—is not lost to time.”
Visitors to the Senate will find a curated collection of authentic indigenous artifacts, including:
- Traditional Textiles: Hand-woven fabrics featuring sacred patterns from the Cordilleras and Mindanao.
- Musical Instruments: Hand-carved lutes and brass gongs used in ritual ceremonies.
- Agricultural Wisdom: Displays on ancient sustainable farming techniques practiced by indigenous communities.
The exhibit also features stories of the “Manlilikha ng Bayan” (National Living Treasures), individuals who have dedicated their lives to mastering and teaching these traditional arts.
Beyond the aesthetic appeal, the exhibit serves a legislative purpose. Legarda is using the platform to push for increased funding and institutional support for the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to expand the SLT program nationwide.
The Senator noted that preserving these traditions is also a form of climate resilience, as many indigenous practices involve sustainable land management and deep environmental knowledge that could help the country navigate modern ecological challenges.
The exhibit is open to the public at the Senate of the Philippines and will run for the remainder of the month, inviting Filipinos to reconnect with their roots.