UP Baguio SILBI conducts a series of lectures and workshops for its incubatees and local entrepreneurs. (Photo courtesy: UPB SILBI)
BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The University of the Philippines (UP) Baguio is breaking new ground in innovation and cultural preservation through the Social Innovation Laboratory and Business Inclusion (SILBI).
As a Technology Business Incubator (TBI), SILBI serves as a nurturing space for local artisans, crafters, and startups to grow their businesses while promoting and protecting traditional crafts.
TBIs, now present in many higher education institutions across the country, are part of a national movement backed by the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).
Avereen Tibalao of UP Baguio shares about the UP Baguio SILBI during the City Hall Hour on April 10, 2025
Avereen Tibalao of UP Baguio said that many artisans lack training in entrepreneurship and SILBI provides free support in areas such as business planning, pricing, costing, and product development.
“Inaalagaan po namin sila, ini-incubate parang itlog, para maging business-ready na sila. Gawa lang sila ng gawa, so ‘yun ‘yung ending, pare-parehas na ang ginagawa nila. So, this program po ay para sa kanila, para matulungan po sila sa business development aspect,” she said.
SILBI is distinct for its cultural focus. It supports artisans rooted in folk arts, aligning with Baguio’s status as the first UNESCO Creative City for Crafts and Folk Arts in the Philippines.
The program builds on UP Baguio’s academic strengths in indigenous studies and sciences, making it uniquely positioned to carry out this mission.
“Ang niche po ng University of the Philippines Baguio ay indigenous studies and sciences, so kami po ang pinakamaliit na constituent unit ng UP system at ‘yun po ang strength namin,” Tibalao explained.
SILBI provides support to those involved in traditional crafts like weaving, basket-making, silverwork, and even indigenous tattooing, practices that are increasingly at risk of disappearing.
“Namamatay po ‘yung culture kasi namamatay din ‘yung business, kasi tayo mismo, hindi natin sila binibili kasi lagi natin sinasabi na mahal. Pero ipinapaintindi rin namin ‘yung labor of love kung bakit mahal ang weaving, kasi marami at tedious po ang process,” Tibalao said.
“We are promoting the culture by sustaining the business,” she added.
With this initiative, UP Baguio is not only preserving Filipino culture, but also empowering its creative communities with tools to thrive in the modern economy, bridging tradition and innovation. (JDP/DEG/Chelsea Mas- PIA CAR-SLU Intern]
