Senatorial candidate and incumbent House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda said her long time advocacy of boosting the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the province of Antique has been one of her major priorities.
According to Legarda, showcasing local products and promoting Antique as a premier ecotourism destination has been her significant goal as representative of the province.
That is why, Legarda, said she continues to invest invaluable support in culture-based livelihood and protection of natural wonders all over the province.
“Antique is considerably a small province, but each of the 18 municipalities has its unique features including cultural and heritage landmarks, historical significance, natural wonders such as rich landscape and seascape,” Legarda said.
“Nararapat lamang na ating mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang bawat munisipalidad na maipakilala ang kani-kanilang ganda sa buong Pilipinas at maging sa buong mundo (It’s only fitting to give each municipality a chance to show their individual assets to the whole Philippines and to the whole world),” she stressed.
Legarda has launched the Antique Trade and Tourism Fair at the newly-restored Old Capitol Building. The event was held in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Provincial Tourism Office, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, and the Antique Hotel and Restaurants Organization.
“This trade and tourism fair is an opportunity for our kasimanwa to showcase the natural wealth and the potential of our home province as a premier ecotourism destination that will also provide sustainable livelihood and employment opportunities,” said Legarda, who is seeking a fresh six-year term in the Senate in the upcoming May 9 elections.
Legarda has been supporting local MSMEs in Antique like the Bagtason Loom Weavers Association (BLWA) in Bugasong; the Malabor Abaca - Piña Weavers Association (MAPWA) and the Tibiao Active Weavers and Knotters Association (TAWKA) in Tibiao; the Pahinis Muscovado Sugar of Laua-an Multipurpose Cooperative (LMPC); and the Ati Bukidnon Tribal Organization in Libertad, among many others through government programs that would improve their products and sustain their businesses.
She also partnered with the DTI to bring local enterprises to Manila through the National Arts and Crafts Fair, and in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT), invited tourists to visit Antique through the showcase of products in Antique Harvest.
“Local food and products are always part of the experience when visiting a province. This is why we help our local industries that produce Antique’s best products such as tablea, muscovado sugar, handwoven patadyong, handmade clay pots, and handicrafts made of nito, buri, bariw, abaca and bamboo,” Legarda had said in a previous statement.
According to the former senator, the preservation of Antiqueño heritage is also an essential part of her plan, not only to boost tourism in the province but also to ensure that its culture and traditions will be passed on to the next generations of Antiqueños.
Moreover, Legarda also announced the opening of the Antique Artists Fair in the only remaining Balay nga Bato in Antique, which is part of her efforts to support Antique’s local artists. The RAHMAG visual arts group, which is composed of Antiqueño artists engaged in painting, sculpting, photography, engraving, and graphic arts, among others, are participating in the art fair.
“Arts and culture reflect the identity and history of a community. Having a strong sense of identity is important in ensuring that progress is inclusive and lasting,” Legarda reminded everyone.
Together with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the lawmaker has also been supporting the School of Living Traditions (SLT) of the Pantad Ati Indigenous Community in Sitio Pantad, Igcalawagan, Tobias Fornier. This SLT teaches the Ati Language, nito and buri weaving, and the Meroy Kareñosa dance to the youth of the community.
Legarda called on all her constituents and Filipinos all over the country to visit the Antique Trade and Tourism Fair and the Antique Artist Fair which will run from April 27 to May 3.
“Patuloy po nating suportahan ang ating mga lokal na produkto at patuloy na pangalagaan ang ating kultura para sa mga susunod na henerasyon (Let us continue to support our local products and continue to preserve our culture for the next generation),” she said.