Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres Gomez has filed a resolution encouraging all Filipinos to wear the country’s traditional clothing every June 12, Independence Day, to address the supposed "dilution of the Filipino culture.”
Under House Resolution No. 1374, the chairperson of the House Committee on Disaster Resilience proposed to designate June 12 of every year as “Philippine Traditional Wear Day” to further promote awareness and practice of Filipino culture on Independence Day.
“Globalization and openness to international cultures have contributed to a dilution of the Filipino culture,” she said.
“The practice of wearing Filipino traditional clothing is a form of cultural soft power, a non-coercive mechanism that could be used to support cultural heritage and further reinforce the sense of nationalism among Filipinos, especially among the younger generation,” Gomez said.
She cited that currently, youth population, in the Philippines and abroad, has a newfound enthusiasm to discover and deeply immerse in one’s cultural roots.
“Promoting interest and pride in Filipino traditional wear will create demand for Filipino cultural products,” she said.
“An increased demand for Filipino cultural products could enliven interest in learning traditional Filipino crafts and boost the traditional Filipino crafts industry,” the House leader said.
Under HR 1374, all public and private institutions, and the Filipino citizenry, in general are encouraged “to dress with much pride in their best Filipino traditional wear,-Gomez said.