KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) – The South Cotabato provincial government has recently organized an art exhibit to honor and showcase the works and portraits of the Manlilikha ng Bayan awardees from the province.
The exhibit, headed by the province’s Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Museum (ACTM) Unit, features the cultural heritage and artistic excellence of South Cotabato’s living cultural icons.
These icons include Rosie Sula, a master of chanting; Bundos Farra, an expert in brass casting; and Barbara Ofong, a renowned Tnalak master weaver, whose contributions have been recognized nationally as part of the government’s efforts to honor Indigenous artistry and preserve Filipino traditions.
During the exhibit opening, the awardees are also recognized for their lifelong dedication to preserving traditional knowledge and Indigenous arts.
Indira Cagaanan, who heads the provincial government’s Arts and Culture Program, highlighted the deeper significance of the exhibit.
She noted that the event serves not only as a celebration of Indigenous art but also as a call to enhance cultural pride and unity, coinciding with the observance of National Heritage Month.
“Let us all actively participate in preserving and promoting our invaluable heritage for generations to come. As we embark on a journey of discovering and celebrating the beauty and diversity of our Filipino culture, this month is a time to reconnect—or to connect—with our roots, appreciate our traditions, and share the pride of being Filipino, especially of being South Cotabateño, or being Tboli, being Blaan, or being from [just] South Cotabato,” Cagaanan said.
The exhibit also serves as a tribute to the rich cultural identity of South Cotabato, which aims to inspire the younger generation to value and uphold Indigenous knowledge and traditions amid modern-day changes.
The exhibit is open to the public throughout the month of May at the South Cotabato Cultural and Arts Center in Koronadal City.
Cagaanan said it forms part of the province’s broader campaign to strengthen awareness and appreciation of local heritage. (AMB, PIA Region 12)
