'TOUCH THE CRAFTSMEN'S HANDS, FEEL THEIR SOULS'

The idea behind 'Likha' is to future-proof the past. The vision of First Lady Liza Marcos is to bring forgotten cottage industries into the 21st century.

- LISA GUERRERO NAKPIL

Touch the craftsmen's hands, feel their souls," admonishes Eric Zerrudo, one of the three maestros who orchestrated the ongoing Likha 4 craft festival at the stunning Foro de Intramuros event space along Calle Arzobispo in the old Walled City. (The "fiesta" of crafts runs from Saturday, June 7 to Sunday, June 8, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; admission is free.)

Al Valenciano, who could best be described as a "culture warrior," is Likha's fiercest driving force. He admits it was all an offshoot from nothing more workaday than a project to map the traditional crafts across the country. The study revealed exactly what was to be found where — and which needed emergency triage — as past masters perished, unable to pass on their skills to the next generation, or old materials vanished or, worst of all, sent to the dustheap of distant memory.

Likha is thus all about making Filipino craft — in Valenciano's words, "sustainable." He is quick to point out that it's not just about turning a profit, although that's important, too. After all, to attract young artisans willing to put in the hours to become maestros, a career track with attractive wages is needed. How else to woo away the talented from the easy money of call centers and the life dreams of becoming influencers?

Enter the vision and yes, the clout-of First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos who is intent on providing the logistics, the venue and, equally important, the media attention and the necessary style and glamor to make the project a success. Through a system of tiered activities, micro-enterprises are introduced to mentors from similar fields, given a chance to come to the Likha trade fair in Manila, and to meet future clients and contacts. (These include the diplomatic corps and the ladies that lunch and shop voraciously.) It is, in short, a dream come true for every one of these cultural entrepreneurs.