(L-R Front) Creative Baguio City Council Chairman Marie Venus Q. Tan, DTI-CAR Regional Director Juliet P. Lucas, DTI Competitiveness and Innovation Group Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba, DTI Competitiveness and Innovation Group Assistant Secretary Leonila T. Baluyut, Department of Tourism-CAR Regional Director Jovi Ganongan (L-R Back) DTI Ifugao Provincial Director Francis Pacio, DTI-CAR Assistant Regional Director Samuel Gallardo, Department of Information and Communications Technology-CAR Regional Director Regional Director Reynaldo T. Sy, DTI-Kalinga Provincial Director Renie Ramos, DTI-Apayao Provincial Director Wena M. Buston

Baguio City, Philippines—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) joined the grand parade of festivities in the 2nd Fiesta Haraya as the city government showcased the dynamic talent of the Cordillera region’s artists, weavers, and craftspeople on 29 October 2024.

DTI Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba highlighted the Department’s commitment to bolstering creative industries across the Philippines through her keynote speech.

“Fiesta Haraya showcases the diverse and dynamic creative talents across our regions through seminars, workshops, lightning talks, and performances designed to rally support from regional creative industries stakeholders and strengthen collaborative efforts,” Undersecretary Aldaba said.

The event included exhibitions of traditional and contemporary works, drawing together creative industry leaders and artists from around the Cordillera Autonomous Region. A standout exhibit featured the work of Kelvi Gali, a former welder turned artist, whose sculptures—such as a bulol atop the Banaue Rice Terraces and a carabao crafted from metal and a real skull—captured the region’s unique cultural heritage and inventive spirit.

DTI Competitiveness and Innovation Group Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba

Undersecretary Aldaba highlighted Fiesta Haraya as a key component of DTI’s mission to unite regional creative industries. “Through Fiesta Haraya, we’re setting a vision and driving initiatives for creative growth aligned with national goals,” she shared.

Reaffirming the DTI’s dedication, Undersecretary Aldaba expressed confidence in the creative sector’s potential to foster economic growth while celebrating Filipino culture. “The Department is committed to supporting creative industries nationwide, enabling sustainable livelihoods, promoting Filipino creativity globally, and fostering inclusive growth,” she stated.

Emphasizing Cordillera’s role, Aldaba praised its rich cultural heritage and Baguio City’s status as a UNESCO Creative City. “With the right support, we can elevate Cordillera’s creative industries, setting a model for national growth and culturally-rich urban development,” she said.

Additional Fiesta Haraya celebrations are scheduled across other regions in the country for the remainder of 2024, extending this vibrant showcase of Filipino creativity and heritage nationwide.

Fiesta Haraya is an initiative of the DTI under the Malikhaing Pinoy Program (MPP). Through the MPP, the DTI aims to develop and promote regional creative industries, facilitating their growth through programs that showcase talent and encourage community engagement in the arts. ♦

Date of release: 31 October 2024

Related posts:

DTI expands consumer protection with Timbangan ng Bayan rollout across Luzon regions DTI amends Vape Law IRR, implements stricter regulations to protect Filipino consumers DTI inaugurates first Tatak Pinoy SME Hub in Tokyo, eyes continuous global expansion DTI’s National Arts and Crafts Fair 2024 to showcase the fusion traditional and modern Filipino craftsmanship Trade Chief affirms PBBM’s push for stronger trade and investment relations with Vietnam DTI, OCCI discuss bolstering trade and investment ties between PH, Osaka firms DTI-EMB, EDC, and PHILEXPORT bring exporter services under the PEDP 2023-2028 to Davao and Cebu DTI to showcase Davao’s finest at ‘MTE 2024 goes Glorietta’