Continuing her steadfast commitment to uphold the Philippines’ dynamic arts and culture, Senator Loren Legarda advocates for the provincial leg of the ‘Himig Himbing: Ang Mga Ambahanun Natin – an event that highlights the country’s rich indigenous and folk lullabies – at the University of Antique in the Municipality of Sibalom.
‘Himig Himbing’ is a collaborative initiative involving the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, the Office of Antique Representative AA Legarda, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and the University of Antique.
The project aims to reach a wider audience around the nation, showcasing a curated collection of lullabies by various Filipino musical talents.
It features a workshop that integrates music, film, literature, visual arts, performance, and dance designed to deepen participants’ appreciation of traditional lullabies and their broader connections to life.
In her message, Legarda emphasized that the project exemplifies a whole-of-nation approach to preserving cultural heritage, highlighting that it is every Filipino’s responsibility to honor and recognize the value of indigenous and traditional music.
“Sabay-sabay nating balikan ang mga alaalang dala ng mga hele.”
“Bahagi na ng ating kabataan ang mga kantang humele sa atin sa pagtulog – tila bulong ng pagmamahal at pag-aaruga ng ating ina na nagbibigay ng kapayapaan at ginhawa sa ating paghinga… Sabay-sabay nating balikan ang mga alaalang dala ng mga heleng ito,” the veteran legislator said.
“Nawa’y manatiling buhay ang mga himig at lirika, at patuloy na awitin at marinig ng mga susunod na henerasyon.”
“Nawa’y manatiling buhay ang mga himig at lirika, at patuloy na awitin at marinig ng mga susunod na henerasyon. Sama-sama nating pangalagaan ang yaman ng ating nakaraan at ng ating kultura bilang mga Pilipino,” the seasoned lawmaker continued.
Moreover, the workshop also introduces the Himig Himbing Book published by the CCP in 2023. It features 16 lullabies compiled by ethnomusicologist Sol Trinidad, which reintroduces indigenous and folk lullabies to a broader Filipino audience.
“Taos puso akong nagpapasalamat sa Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), katuwang ang Pambansang Komisyon para sa Kultura at mga Sining, at sa lahat ng nag-alay ng kanilang talento at dedikasyon para sa proyektong ito. Isang inspirasyon ang inyong pagsisikap na muling buhayin ang mga heleng naging bahagi na ng kulturang Pilipino,” the lady senator concluded.
