Loren Legarda named Senate culture and arts chair

Four-term Senator Loren Legarda has been designated as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts for the 20th Congress, reinforcing her decades-long advocacy for cultural preservation and national identity.

“I am honored by the trust of my colleagues and the Senate as an institution in choosing me to lead this important Committee,” Legarda said in a statement.

“Through this Chairmanship, I am committed to deepening the understanding that our shared history, culture, and traditions, both tangible and intangible, are more than just markers of our identity,” she said.

“Arts and culture generate potential opportunities for development deserving of our utmost respect, protection, and promotion,” she added.

Legarda’s appointment is widely seen as a continuation of her longstanding cultural leadership, both in legislation and global representation.

She led the Philippines’ return to the Venice Biennale in 2015 after a 51-year absence, making the country visible again on one of the world’s most prestigious platforms for contemporary art.

Legarda also championed the Philippines’ upcoming role as Guest of Honour at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair, the largest international trade fair for books, where Filipino literature and publishing will take center stage.

“Too often, culture and the arts are overlooked, perceived as beautiful and meaningful, but disconnected from the realities of daily life and economic survival. This is the misconception I am determined to redefine,” Legarda said.

“Culture and the arts create livelihoods, businesses, and uplift local communities. They are threads that weave our national narrative and inspire creative innovation, building our nation toward inclusive and sustainable growth,” she added.

Legarda is the author and co-sponsor of Republic Act No. 10066, or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, which provides protection and conservation of the Philippines’ cultural heritage.

She also authored Republic Act No. 10908, or the Integrated History Act of 2016, mandating the integration of Filipino-Muslim and Indigenous Peoples’ history and culture in the national history curriculum.

Her most recent legislation, Republic Act No. 11961, enhances heritage conservation through mandatory cultural mapping and an expanded cultural education program.

In recognition of her efforts, Legarda received the Dangal ng Haraya – Patron of Arts and Culture Award from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the highest distinction given to cultural advocates.

Indigenous groups across the Philippines have also bestowed upon her honorary titles for her commitment to their rights and heritage.

These include “Bai a Labi” by the Marawi Sultanate; “Tukwifi” or ‘bright star’ by Cordillera Indigenous Women Leaders; “Cuyong Adlaw Dulpa-an Labaw sa Kadunggan,” which means ‘shining sun rising in power’ from Panay Bukidnon in the Visayas; and “Bae Matumpis,” or ‘the one who takes care,’ from Mindanao’s cultural communities.

As Chairperson, Legarda is expected to push for greater budget allocations, institutional reforms, and nationwide cultural programs that align with her belief in arts and heritage as catalysts for inclusive development.