Mr. President, I would just like to express my full support for PS Resolution No. 538 of my seatmate, Senator Sonny Angara, which nominates Whang-Od Oggay for the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan for her timeless contribution to our nation’s artistic heritage. Her craft and skill in body art through the indigenous art of ‘batek’ has been treasured by the Filipino people and the global community. Her work has attracted a substantial number of local and foreign tourists, and the beauty of her unique craft deserves the utmost recognition from the Philippine government.
As such, I reiterate my full support for this Resolution and likewise humbly urge the National Commission for Culture and the Arts to act on it as soon as possible, in order to uphold Whang-Od’s distinction as a living legend of Philippine art.