Philippine Pavilion honors Mt. Banahaw’s influence on the Filipino cultural landscape

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The Philippine Pavilion held its vernissage at the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia and opened its doors to the public on April 20, 2024, at the Artiglierie, Arsenale, Venice, Italy, with the theme “Sa kabila ng tabing lamang sa panahong ito / Waiting just behind the curtain of this age.”

(L-R) Consul General Elmer Cato, Philippine Consulate General in Milan, Italy;  Ambassador Nathaniel Imperial Philippine Embassy in Rome, Italy;  Mark Salvatus, Participating Artist; Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda;  Chairman Victorino “Ino” Manalo, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Commissioner of the Philippine Pavilion;  Carlos Quijon, Jr., Curator of the Philippine Pavilion; Honorary Consul Giorgia Di Biasi;  Patrick Flores, Curator of the Tie a String Around the World in 2015, which marked the comeback of the Philippines after 51-year hiatus

The visionary behind the Philippines’ participation in the Venice Biennale, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, led the vernissage together with Carlos Quijon Jr, the curator; artist Mark Salvatus; Chairman Victorino Manalo of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Commissioner of the Philippine Pavilion; Consul General Elmer Cato of the Philippine Consulate General in Milan, Italy; and Ambassador Neal Imperial of the Philippine Embassy in Rome, Italy.

In her opening remarks during the vernissage, Legarda underscored that the exhibition explores the cultural and spiritual significance of Mount Banahaw—a protected natural and sacred site in the Philippines, in shaping Filipino consciousness and cultural landscape as it delves into the intricate relationship between mysticism and modernity, exploring the themes of tradition, faith, and resilience.

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda

“Enshrined by Republic Act 9847 as a Protected Area in 2009, Mount Banahaw stands as a sanctuary for both nature and culture, nurturing diverse ecosystems and serving as a beacon for spiritual seekers and pilgrims alike. Its slopes bear witness to the ebb and flow of history, as religious and political movements have found sanctuary amidst its peaks and verdant valleys,” Legarda said.

“As we unveil the Philippine Pavilion at the 60th International Art Exhibition at la Biennale di Venezia, we pay homage to the enduring legacy of Mount Banahaw and its profound influence on the Filipino cultural landscape,” Legarda added.

The four-term Senator, recognized as the Dangal ng Haraya awardee – Patron of Arts and Culture, emphasized how Salvatus’s evocative artwork and Quijon’s perceptive curation encourage us to explore the intricate relationship between nature, spirituality, and art. She urged everyone to ponder on the artworks, reflect on our interconnectedness with nature, and celebrate Mount Banahaw’s enduring spirit and the boundless creativity of the Filipino people.

“As we marvel at the pulchritude and complexity of the artworks on display, let us also reflect on the broader implications of our interconnectedness with the natural world. Mount Banahaw reminds us that we are not mere spectators but we are also active participants in the web of life, entrusted with the stewardship of our planet and the preservation of its sacred landscapes,” Legarda said.

“Art reflects who we are as a people. Art reflects our soul. Culture is the string, the element that binds us as a nation. No matter how diverse and divided we are,” Legarda concluded.

Aside from the exhibition in the Philippine Pavilion, Legarda proudly invites visitors to visit the main exhibition, “Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere,” curated by Adriano Pedrosa and featuring the works of five Filipino artists: Pacita Abad, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Nena Saguil, Joshua Serafin, and Maria Taniguchi.

The Philippine Pavilion, a joint project of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Office of Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, is open to the public from April 20 to November 24, 2024 at the Artiglierie, Arsenale, Venice, Italy.

Happy International Women's Day from Senator Loren Legarda!

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Happy Women's month at Happy International Women's Day sa lahat ng mga kababaihan! 

Ang mga kababaihan ay likas na malikhain, puno ng dedikasyon at pagpupursigi kaya nararapat lamang na mas paigtingin natin ang ating suporta upang mas mahasa ang kanilang kakayahan at magamit ang kanilang talento bilang makabuluhang kabahagi ng ating tuloy-tuloy na pagbangon.

Mas pinaigting na capability building at mas maraming oportunidad sa kabuhayan at trabaho, yan ang patuloy nating isusulong para mabigyan ng kakayahan ang kababaihan na kumilos at umunlad gamit ang kanilang sariling talento at kakayahan.

Mabuhay ang bawat Pilipina saan mang sulok ng mundo!

#WomensMonth 

#InternationalWomensDay 

#WomenEmpowerment 

#Filipina #Kababaihan

https://web.facebook.com/iamlorenlegarda/videos/3202053736696384

Happy Birthday 3-Term Senator, Deputy Speaker, Antique Congresswoman, Loren Legarda

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 LOREN: The Lady Who Leads 

From a multi-awarded broadcast journalist to a top-notch senator, and beyond. For the past three decades, Loren has dedicated her life to serving the Filipino people. In 1998, Loren became the youngest senator in the Philippines. She is also the only female to top the Senate race twice and the only female to become Senate Majority Leader.

Because of her advocacies on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and management, sustainability, and climate justice, the Philippines has been recognized for her pioneered laws on the environment.

Loren is also a women’s & children’s rights advocate, consistent with her efforts to promote the welfare of women and the protection of the Filipino youth. 

With celebrity, host and Vlogger Alex Gonzaga

She is a true Filipina at heart, passionately advocating for the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples and promoting arts and culture in the local and international arena.

Happy Birthday Ms Loren Legarda! 

Legarda is the first national candidate to file COC at 8 am, seeks re-election as Senator

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Three-term Senator, now Deputy Speaker , Loren Legarda filed her candidacy as Senator at the Sofitel Tent in Pasay City early morning on October 1.

Legarda currently serves as member of the House of Representatives, representing the Lone District of the Province of Antique. Prior to her election to the current position in May 2019, she was a three-term Senator and chaired the Committees on Finance, Foreign Relations, economic affairs, environment and Climate Change, among others. She has authored numerous laws currently being used during the pandemic, and, as Finance Chair for four years, ensured the funding of vital government programs aimed at improving the lives of Filipinos and making such programs more accessible to the people.

“Our pandemic recovery should respond to the health needs of our people and on our economic recovery and should be attuned to the climate pathway as we are also dealing with the climate crisis. With my 20 years of experience as Senator and my stint as Representative of the Lone District of Antique, I am confident that I can do much more to help solve the twin crisis, for the welfare of the Filipino people,” Legarda said

Legarda, who previously topped the Senate race twice, in 1998 and 2007, explained that she will be campaigning for the future generations and will continue to push for the advocacies she has always espoused for decades now.

“More jobs and livelihood, quality education, efficient healthcare system, stronger environmental protection and cultural preservation – these are what I have always championed since I was first elected Senator in 1998 and these are what I will continue to prioritize, given a fresh start in the Senate in 2022. I would like to continue what I have started and do much more – provide for the needs of all Filipinos, bring the government programs closer to them especially to the marginalized and vulnerable, and ensure an inclusive, equitable, resilient and sustainable growth and recovery for all,” Legarda concluded.