Legarda launches textile gallery, poetry book in Antique

Senator Loren Legarda underscored the power of culture to shape identity and empower communities during the twin launch of two major cultural projects in her home province of Antique on July 16, 2025.

Held at the restored Old Capitol Building in San Jose de Buenavista, the events featured the unveiling of Hibla ng Lahing Filipino Gallery: Paghabül sa Antique and the book launch of Lemlunay: Paggunita sa Gunita, a collection of poems by National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario.

“Culture is our lifeline,” Legarda said in her opening remarks. “Ang pagbibigay-buhay sa kultura ay pagbibigay-buhay sa bawat Pilipino. Dahil sa bawat sining at kultura na ating binibigyan ng halaga, may isang komunidad na nabibigyan ng pagkakakilanlan, kabuhayan, at dignidad.”

The Hibla ng Lahing Filipino Gallery: Paghabül sa Antique celebrates Antique’s rich textile heritage and local weaving traditions that predate colonial times.

Now housed permanently at the revitalized Old Capitol Building, the gallery displays locally produced textiles and the artistry of Antiqueño weavers, showcasing both cultural continuity and economic resilience.

“The restoration of this Old Capitol building is my way of showing my kasimanwa that progress does not mean letting go of the past. It means embracing it, honoring it, and building on it,” Legarda said.

She also noted that heritage preservation can fuel sustainable development, especially when it supports local livelihoods.

“The weaving process is not just art—it is livelihood and the narrative of a people who value their past,” she added.

The gallery’s opening comes alongside Legarda’s broader efforts to revive traditional industries, such as her authorship of the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law and support for the establishment of cotton farms and weaving centers nationwide.

On the same day, Legarda launched Lemlunay: Paggunita sa Gunita, a poetic anthology by Virgilio Almario with English translations by poet Marne Kilates.

“Sa bawat pahina ng aklat na ito, nabibigyan ng buhay ang mga gunita ng ating nakaraan—mga kasangkapan, sagisag, at pangarap ng ating bayan,” Legarda said during the ceremony.

She explained that the title Lemlunay is a T’boli word for a sacred paradise of peace and prosperity—an ancestral ideal that represents a return to cultural roots and memory.

“In a world reshaped by technology, where each sentence can be erased or distorted, may this book rekindle our longing for Lemlunay—a paradise that mirrors peace, memory, culture, and our Filipino identity,” she said.

Legarda emphasized the need to revisit and revalue history to forge deeper self-knowledge and national consciousness.

“Ang ating kinabukasan ay parte at hinubog ng ating nakaraan. Kailangang balikan ang gunita upang marating ang mas malalim na pagkilala sa ating sarili at sa ating bayan,” she said.

The senator concluded with a reflection on her legacy, hoping to be remembered as a public servant who uplifted fading traditions.

“I want to be remembered as someone who gave life to what was fading, someone who stood beside the weaver, the farmer, the artisan, and gave them a voice,” Legarda said.

Both projects are part of Legarda’s long-standing cultural advocacy and are expected to deepen public engagement with Philippine heritage, promote local craftsmanship, and elevate national pride.