As part of the 126th Independence Day celebration, the Office of the First Lady presents Likha 4, an ongoing three-day showcase of Filipino craftsmanship at Foro de Intramuros, running from June 6 to 8.

As a platform for collaboration, Likha fosters meaningful exchanges among master craftsmen, emerging artisans, and local designers. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

Open to the public and free of charge, Likha 4 offers vibrant, hands-on celebration of the country’s traditional crafts, evolving artistry, and cultural resilience in one place.

This year’s edition features 30 new artisans, along with returning Likha graduates and local designers, all showcasing a diverse range of handmade products and practices. The goal is to bring the Philippines’ rich artisanal heritage into the present and ensure its future.

First Lady Marie Louise ‘Liza’ Araneta-Marcos

Likha, which means “create” in Filipino, is a convention series and artisanal exhibit focused on preserving and evolving traditional crafts. Since its inception, it has become a space where master craftsmen, emerging artisans, and contemporary designers converge — merging ancestral skills with modern aesthetics.

This year’s edition is divided into three sections: Section 1 for first-time participants, Section 2 for Likha graduates and designers, and Section 3 for artisan-led brands that have matured through previous editions.

(From left) Deputy Social Secretary Dina Tantoco; Len Cabili of Filip + Inna; Event organizer Al Valenciano of Balay ni Atong; NCCA chairperson Eric Zerrudo; Simpio Mata of Palaw’an Master Woodcarver; Siegrid Bangyay of SAGADA Pottery; and Mico Manalo

“Likha actually came from the need to do a craft map for the Philippines. We wanted to do documentation for preservation and conservation of traditional crafts of the Philippines. But then we said for us to be able to conserve and preserve these crafts, we have to make them sustainable,” said Al Valenciano, event organizer and founder of Balay ni Atong during the press preview.

From that simple premise grew an entire ecosystem for growth and mentorship.

Binakul is a traditional handwoven textile pattern from Ilocos in the Philippines.

“So sustainability came by going around and coming with sections. Section 1 would be people who have joined us for the first time. Some of them are crafts that were forgotten but [are] evolving and we partner them usually with designers and or brands that can use their talents and bring the craft to now to make it sustainable. Then they graduate to Section 2, these are our artisans that come back with more produce and using what they’ve learned from us from the first Likha,” Valenciano continued.

Eventually, the most successful artisans move into Section 3.

Miriam Mutalib weaves tepo banigs of Tawi-Tawi which serve both as sleeping mats and as traditional dance floors for the Sama people during their festive pangalay performances.

He explained, “They become brands, they become more sustainable so these are people who sell their crafts but with a guiding principle that they remain true to the tradition of their crafts, but they tweak them to make sure that it is going to be used now, it’s more contemporary. So that’s how we envision for Likha to be.”

This vision is shared and expanded by Eric Zerrudo, executive director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), who reflects on the meaning behind the event’s name and experience.

Urna carving refers to the traditional Filipino art form of crafting miniature, decorated wooden niches, or altars, known as retablo urna.

“What we would like to highlight here is Likha is a Filipino word for create, creation or creativity and when you come over, you will have a better appreciation of how we craft creativity,” said Zerrudo.

“I look at these opportunity in three ways. One, if you talk to these artisans, you will realize how far they’ve come. Some have come all the way from the mountains of Malungon, Sarangani, it’s a 12-hour trek from the top of the mountains, down to the highway and to the airport and they fly here to Manila. The others would travel eight hours from Tandubas in Tawi-Tawi and they will have a long travel by boat just for them to come over,” he added.

First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos leads the opening of Likha 4 at the Foro de Intramuros on June 5, 2025. Likha 4 celebrates the creativity of the FIlipino artisans as they take pride in their craftsmanship while giving importance to sustainability practices. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos leads the opening of Likha 4 at the Foro de Intramuros on June 5, 2025. Likha 4 celebrates the creativity of the FIlipino artisans as they take pride in their craftsmanship while giving importance to sustainability practices. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos leads the opening of Likha 4 at the Foro de Intramuros on June 5, 2025. Likha 4 celebrates the creativity of the FIlipino artisans as they take pride in their craftsmanship while giving importance to sustainability practices. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos leads the opening of Likha 4 at the Foro de Intramuros on June 5, 2025. Likha 4 celebrates the creativity of the FIlipino artisans as they take pride in their craftsmanship while giving importance to sustainability practices. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos leads the opening of Likha 4 at the Foro de Intramuros on June 5, 2025. Likha 4 celebrates the creativity of the FIlipino artisans as they take pride in their craftsmanship while giving importance to sustainability practices. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos leads the opening of Likha 4 at the Foro de Intramuros on June 5, 2025. Likha 4 celebrates the creativity of the FIlipino artisans as they take pride in their craftsmanship while giving importance to sustainability practices. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos leads the opening of Likha 4 at the Foro de Intramuros on June 5, 2025. Likha 4 celebrates the creativity of the FIlipino artisans as they take pride in their craftsmanship while giving importance to sustainability practices. PHOTOS BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

These journeys aren’t just geographical — they are personal, historical and sometimes ideological.

“We have a group from Negros and for some time, they have stayed in the mountains because they have been part of the insurgency movement or the rebel movement. But they decided to come down and be part of the mainstream society so it’s really conquering all these different spaces both physical and even ideological space,” Zerrudo shared.

“This experience lets you see heritage through time, showing how traditional crafts remain significant today. You will see all of these convergence and confluence in different iterations that express a lot of our diversity. It is crafting our creativity at the same time, defining that Filipino identity. That’s the beauty of this experience,” he added.

Likha’s success lies not just in the quality of the work but in its intent to foster a creative economy rooted in identity. Beyond celebration, it supports micro-enterprises, encouraging cultural pride, and helping local products inch toward global relevance.

Visitors are encouraged to engage with artisans, ask questions, watch demonstrations, and support Filipino-made goods.