Culture
Appreciate the Craftsmanship of Over 70 Filipino Artisans Through LIKHA 4
Take pieces of Philippine history home, in the form of crafts and narratives.
by Kyla Villena
Published on Jun 9, 2025
Supporting local is something many Filipinos aspire to do, but what does it actually mean?
Purchasing goods from homegrown brands, big or small, allows you to add beautifully crafted items to your arsenal while supporting the country’s economy and workforce. But going beyond these, it is the experience of witnessing the artists bring their works to life, as well as the practice of learning the rich history behind their crafts, that allows us to keep local alive truly.
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Photos courtesy of the Office of the Social Secretary
The fourth installment of LIKHA, an exhibit celebrating Filipino traditional crafts, is finally here with its doors open. Over 70 artisanal brands are showcasing various Philippine traditions—from the art of Lagang, Capiz shells, textiles, and embroidery, to the practices of weaving, basket-making, and wood carving, to name a few—all of which are deeply engraved in the country’s diverse communities.
Not only will they be displaying and selling the outcomes of their hard work, but they will also be utilizing the space as an avenue to create more and converse with anyone willing to learn about them.
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Photos courtesy of the Office of the Social Secretary
In an exclusive media forum, Lenora “Len” Cabili of Filip + Inna expressed, “[Artisans] play a significant role because they’re the custodians of the cultural expressions that we are working with. And so as we create, it’s also celebrating them. It’s really pushing them out into the forefront.” She also highlighted that “everyone has the responsibility to actually be more inquisitive.”
Dr. Eric Zerrudo, the Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA), also imparted his insights, saying, “When you talk of creativity, it’s always more [of an] intangible heritage. It’s always a process.”
This journey, he expounded, is able to evolve because of various factors such as “the creator, the space where he’s working, the vocabulary that he’s working with, the inspiration from nature, the conversation with society. It’s one whole ecosystem,” which you can now be part of.
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Photos courtesy of the Office of the Social Secretary.
Regardless of which specific art form you find yourself interested in, each Filipino tradition takes hours or even months of tedious work that results in unique, intricate, and meaningful creations. Apart from bringing a literal piece of history home, you can also carry with you the narratives from years ago that remain culturally significant today—the same ones that will drive our artisans into deserved flourishing for years to come.
Filipino crafts are marvelous enough, but it is the sincere interest in the fragments of history they carry that will pave the way for more people to dig deeper, go beyond the surface, preserve heritage, and truly bring artisans into the limelight.
Photo courtesy of Capricho
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Photo courtesy of Good Luck, Humans
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Photo courtesy of Creative Definitions
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Photo courtesy of Strozzi
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Photo courtesy of ATOA by Cheeky Chic
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Photo courtesy of Filip + Inna
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These creations are not only items; they are embodiments of identity and physical manifestations of our country’s story. Through opportunities like such where Filipino craftsmen from all over the country gather in one place, there will be no reason not to explore and learn about them firsthand.
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Photos courtesy of the Office of the Social Secretary.
LIKHA 4 is an one of the key highlights of this year’s Independence Day celebration. It takes place at Foro de Intramuros on June 6 to 8, 2025, from 9AM to 6PM. Admission is free and open for all.
Kyla Villena loves a good lip gloss and a trip to the art gallery. She is Preview's beauty girl, who doubles as a self-proclaimed motivational speaker.