Loren Legarda
MANILA, Philippines 鈥撀燬enator Loren Legarda called on embracing cultural preservation as an indispensable investment in the nation鈥檚 future during her keynote address at Cultural Thoughts and Trajectories, held at Manila House on Monday, February 26, 2025.
The event, organized in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in celebration of National Arts Month, brought together policymakers, diplomats, cultural leaders, and academics for a thought-provoking exchange on safeguarding and advancing Filipino identity in an era of rapid global change.
鈥淲e cannot possibly fully grasp the world that awaits two thousand years ahead, but what we choose to preserve today鈥攐ur knowledge, our traditions, our stories鈥攚ill ripple through time, shaping lives long after we are gone, just as the wisdom of the past continues to guide us now,鈥� Legarda declared.
The four-term senator opened her address with a vivid image of the ancient Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, emphasizing how ancestral ingenuity offers solutions to contemporary challenges. 鈥淭hese terraces endure because of the quiet brilliance of a people who, long before the world had the language for it, understood sustainability, engineering, and balance,鈥� she explained. 鈥淣ow, as modern societies grapple with climate crises, food insecurity, and ecological resilience, the world looks back to these ancient marvels鈥攖o learn.鈥�
A recipient of the prestigious Dangal ng Haraya Award, Legarda reframed cultural preservation as both a pillar of national resilience and a source of innovation. 鈥淚n an era where power is measured in economic might, the Philippines carries a different wealth: a soft power that endures rather than conquers, that inspires rather than imposes,鈥� she asserted. 鈥淲ithin the lessons of our ancestors may be found the answers to questions future generations have yet to ask. And in that, perhaps, lies our greatest advantage.鈥�
A staunch advocate for cultural preservation, Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts, has authored landmark legislation such as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 (RA 10066) and the Cultural Mapping Law (RA 11961), mandating a comprehensive inventory of Filipino tangible and intangible heritage. Her advocacy extends beyond policy into tangible impact: from community-driven programs, sustainable livelihood projects, and international cultural diplomacy. From publications and media productions to museums, galleries, gastronomy, music, built heritage, and indigenous languages, her work has elevated cultural preservation into a national development strategy.
鈥淏ut let me be clear about our purpose: culture is not mere adornment; it is a vital engine of livelihood and economic growth. The hands that keep it alive must be equipped with the necessary infrastructure, resources, and market access to sustain their craft as a viable profession. Anything less is a betrayal of the very legacy we seek to protect,鈥� Legarda stressed.
The event also highlighted how Legarda鈥檚 cultural diplomacy has elevated the Philippines on the world stage. From leading the country鈥檚 triumphant return to the Venice Biennale in 2015 after a 51-year absence to securing its role as Guest of Honor at the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025, she has ensured global recognition for Filipino artistry and scholarship. Her initiatives, such as Sentro Rizal, a global network of cultural centers in Philippine embassies, and the Philippine Studies Program, now housed in over 20 universities worldwide, have institutionalized the academic study of Filipino culture and history across continents.
An internationally recognized champion for climate resilience and disaster risk reduction, Legarda, who serves as UNDRR Global Champion for Resilience, also underscored the urgent intersection of culture and climate action.
鈥淔or a nation consistently ranked among the most vulnerable in the World Risk Index, the stakes are nothing less than survival. Integrating the wisdom of our cultural heritage into climate action may very well be the key to climate resilience.鈥�
Legarda鈥檚 collaborations with state universities have already shaped national conservation policies, informing sustainable approaches to forest management, coastal stewardship, and upland resource governance. By merging indigenous knowledge with modern science, these initiatives offer forward-looking solutions to environmental challenges.
Following her keynote, the program featured two in-depth lectures delivered by National Artist Virgilio Almario and NCCA Chair Victorino Mapa Manalo. The event concluded with a dynamic open forum, facilitating cross-sectoral dialogue and reinforcing a collective resolve to embed cultural preservation as an integral pillar of national development.