MANILA – The Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) 50th-anniversary exhibit, entitled “(KA)LOOB(AN) has welcomed over 10,000 guests during its two-week run at the IVC Teatro, Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila, according to the data from the Marketing and Operations of the NPF.
The exhibit, held from November 4-18, 2022, featured a rich collection of ethnographic artifacts from various ethnolinguistic groups, from textiles, personal ornaments, ritual items, hunting and warfare, and domestic objects, which the Foundation has treasured and cared for in the last five decades.
According to NPF Executive Director Gertie Duran-Batocabe, the exhibition was the celebration of the Filipino values of “malasakit” and “malikhain” as spotlights the unique and skilled craftsmanship of indigenous groups from different “Nayon” in the country.
“This exhibit, a representation of the NPF’s vast collection of more than 3,000 heritage pieces, comes at a most auspicious time as we stand at the crossroads where old and historical facts struggle to be relevant amidst an ever-dynamic world,” she said.
“The founding of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation fifty years ago was carved on this same cornerstone and is ultimately driven by its mission to “celebrate cultural heritage, Filipino diversity, and creativity as a social and economic force for national development,” she added.
This exhibit has played a critical role in developing and engaging the general public’s understanding, appreciation, and commitment to the safeguarding and dissemination of history, culture, and the legacies of our forebears. It also encouraged the public to come together to conserve and protect our country’s rich colonial heritage.
The NPF, an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT) was founded under Presidential Decree no. 37 s. 1972, signed by former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr., which is primarily mandated to promote, espouse, and initiate research and development projects on social sciences, humanities, and other related fields.
Aside from the exhibit, the agency is set to conduct its 2nd Research Summit on November 22-24, 2022 with the theme “Kultura para sa Likas-Kayang Pag-unlad” . The summit which will be held at the National Library of the Philippines will zero in on the critical importance of culture in driving sustainable and inclusive governance at both local and national levels.
The agency is also hosting a symbolic tree planting activity with the National Parks Development Committee on November 29, 2022, at the NPF property in the Entertainment City, Parañaque.
Meanwhile, to promote cycling tourism in Metro Manila, the agency is set to bare the NPF Bike Trail that will transverse from NPF Property and nearby areas in Parañaque City, in partnership with DOT-NCR and the City Government of Parañaque on December 4, 2022.
