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Likha 4

<p>It begins with the first step. As you walk up the driveway of the <strong>Foro de Intramuros</strong>, the meticulously orchestrated façade and the ebullient greenery promise wonder and a palpable sense of discovery. <strong>Higantes</strong>, the signature papier-mâché figures of Rizal, welcome all who enter, and they throb with riotous color and wide smiles. A particularly cheeky and detailed one is of our national hero, complete with cowlick and black overcoat. Vignettes of Pampanga furniture, Abel Iloco throw pillows, and bright <em>banigs</em> are akin to the sitting rooms of gracious ancestral homes. There is so much to take in, and all of it is a proud and joyous declaration of what it means to be a Filipino artisan.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749276364650likha 4 foro de intramuros 4.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>Likha ko, lahi ko</strong></div><p><strong>Dina Arroyo Tantoco</strong> welcomes us and then introduces us to <strong>Al Valenciano</strong>, heritage director and convenor of Likha. She makes it crystal clear: “Everything Al does is voluntary !”</p><p>Al has been working with Ilocano artisans for decades, with his own brand<strong> Balay Ni Atong</strong>, and collaborated with <strong>First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos</strong> when she first became the First Lady of Ilocos Norte. Three years ago, she called him and said, “Let’s do what we did for the crafts of Ilocos, but let’s do it for the whole country.”</p><p>In defining and describing Likha, Al says softly but adamantly, “It’s not about sales, it’s not a bazaar. It’s education, education, education. People say, ‘<em>Ay ang mahal</em>.’ But we are not just selling products, we are sharing a story. It may look like just a blanket made by one <em>Manang</em>. But the threads for that blanket were harvested by her husband, the threads were set on the looms by a whole community of ladies, so it’s not just a product but a labor of love. We want people to meet the artisans, hold their hands, feel their hands, and understand the intricacy of their labor .”</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749276389067likha 4 foro de intramuros 8.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>When asked how artisans are chosen and invited, Al uses a medical analogy. “We have had traditional crafts that have already died; some now are in the ICU. So we look for the crafts that are rare and the ones that really need help. Then, they begin with Section One, and meet other artisans, and we emphasize why their crafts have value and they have to be passed on. When they move to Section Two, they are inspired, and they have come up with more products. Then there’s Section Three, they become brands, they become legal entities, they can register their businesses. Not everyone moves to Section Three and becomes a success, but that’s okay, too; not everyone’s ready to take that step, but at least they know that they have something valuable to pass on.”</p><p>Al also came up with the tagline: “<strong>Likha Ko, Lahi Ko</strong>.“ He explains it this way: “We want people to be proud of their work. We want them to take out the &#x27;<em>lang&#x27;</em> as in &#x27;blanket <em>lang</em>,&#x27; <em>o</em> &#x27;basket <em>lang</em>&#x27;; to see that it’s not just a <em>lalagyan ng asin</em>. We want them to see and feel: ‘this is me, this is my heritage.’ Knowledge and appreciation will make them motivated to preserve the traditions. And the Millennials and the Gen Zs, they want to know the stories behind what they buy.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749276757950likha 4 foro de intramuros 10.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749276650112likha 4 foro de intramuros 9.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><strong>The common good</strong></div><p>“When we have town hall meetings and they tell us their problems, it can be as simple as not having electricity all the time. So there was one meeting, and the First Lady gave everyone the little boxes, so they could have internet,” Al shares. “And when we bring the lawyers (for their business concerns), sometimes, they also discuss their marital problems or their tribal wars.”</p><p>But what comes across so strongly is that the artisans have a tremendous instinct for sharing. During the press preview, Al shared the story of Simpio Mata from Palawan. He first joined Likha last year and brought six hand-carved knives, which sold out in two hours. He returned to Palawan and went to ten different communities to teach carving, and joined Likha this year with more than a hundred knives. When he addressed the press preview, Simpio began with a greeting: “<em>Magandang hapon sa ating lahat.</em>” His phrasing was so simple and yet inclusive, not just wishing the audience a good afternoon, but extending the goodwill to all who were present. He then shared that being in Likha opened his eyes to the value of his work and skill set. “<em>May halaga ang aming kakayahan</em>.”</p><p><strong>Dr. Eric Zerrudo</strong>, Executive Director of the <strong>National Commission of Culture and the Arts</strong>, and also a pillar of Likha, added a philosophical spin on the ethos of Likha. “The artisans have conquered time and space. Space because some of them have travelled hours and hours, across mountains and rivers. Time because some of their crafts have been marginalized. Or because some of them, like former revolutionaries, have just rejoined society and, through crafts, have become part of the mainstream. So when you meet them, shake their hands and show your gratitude.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749277079101likha 4 foro de intramuros 13.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749277127642likha 4 foro de intramuros 16.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749277321161likha 4 foro de intramuros 19.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>The launch of Likha was also the unveiling of the Foro de Intramuros. <strong>Architect Nico Manalo</strong> shared: “We were inspired by the old Ateneo, which was across this site. This was a tent that had fallen into disrepair. We don’t have any original drafts or plans of that original Ateneo, so around the shell of the tent, we integrated the motifs of weaves, so that the architecture and what you find in Likha, you will also see in Foro.”</p><p>The founder of <strong>Sikolohiyang Pilipino</strong>, <strong>Dr. Virgilio Enriquez</strong>, defined “<em></em><em>kapwa</em>“<em></em> as the core of Filipino identity. He defined <em>kapwa</em> as the recognition that we exist in each other, and that “<em>pakikipagkapwa“</em> (empathy and compassion) isn’t just a value but a way of life. Dr. Zerrudo described Likha as an annual pilgrimage site for lovers of Filipino creativity, and the root of that is that all the products aren’t just made by a community, but are meant to be shared. Likha spotlights not just surface aesthetics but the deep, deep ties within each artisan and those they love.</p><div><br/></div><div><em>Likha is open to the public until June 8, 9AM to 6PM, at Foro de Intramuros. Admission is free.</em></div><div><br/></div><p>Photos by <strong>Leah Puyat </strong>and <strong>Giselle Interior</strong><strong></strong></p>

<p>LIKHA 4 stands as one of the key highlights of this year’s Independence Day celebration. This much-anticipated event brings to the forefront the rich artistry and cultural heritage of the Philippines by showcasing the talents of artisans from across the nation.</p>

LIKHA 4 stands as one of the key highlights of this year’s Independence Day celebration. This much-anticipated event brings to the forefront the rich artistry and cultural heritage of the Philippines by showcasing the talents of artisans from across the nation.

A Celebration of Creativity, Collaboration, and Culture—What 'LIKHA 4' Is All About

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A Celebration of Creativity, Collaboration, and Culture—What 'LIKHA 4' Is All About

Leah Puyat

Published June 07, 2025 02:25 PM PHT

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Updated June 07, 2025 02:28 PM PHT

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