Senatorial candidate Loren Legarda said she is supporting Antique’s culture-based livelihood and natural wonders through the launch of the Antique Trade and Tourism Fair which will run until May 27 at the Old Capitol Building.
She noted that Antique is considerably a small province, but each of the 18 municipalities has its unique features including cultural and heritage landmarks, historical significance and natural wonders such as rich landscape and seascape.
“This trade and tourism fair is an opportunity for our ‘’kasimanwa’ to showcase the natural wealth and the potential of their home province as a premier ecotourism destination. It will also provide sustainable livelihood and employment opportunities,” she said.
To make Antique a premier ecotourism destination, Legarda has been supporting local micro-enterprises 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.
“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 said.
The preservation of Antiqueño heritage is also among Legarda’s plan. Together with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), she has been supporting the School of Living Traditions (SLT) of the Pantad Ati Indigenous Community in Sitio Pantad, Igcalawagan, Tobias Fornier.
To support Antique local artists, the Antique Artists Fair was opened in Balay nga Bato in Antique. This will also run until May 3.
The participants in this fair are Antique’s RAHMAG visual arts group engaged in painting, sculpting, photography, engraving, and graphic arts, among others.