Senator Loren Legarda recently highlighted the multi-sensory richness of Filipino culture, saying the country’s heritage extends beyond historic landmarks to include literature, music and cuisine.

Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Culture and Arts, made the statement in line with the celebration of National Heritage Month this May, emphasizing the importance of preserving both tangible and intangible cultural assets.

“We are thankful that there are a lot of things that we could be proud of as Filipinos, among them is our cultural heritage,” the senator said.

“Not only do we have historic sites, but also literature, music and food, which complete the satisfaction of our five senses,” she added.

Legarda said the observance is a reminder of the collective duty to safeguard the country’s cultural legacy, which she described as a source of national pride.

National Heritage Month is observed every May under Presidential Proclamation No. 439, signed in 2003 by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The proclamation promotes awareness, respect and support for the preservation of Filipino cultural heritage.

Legarda also underscored the importance of the Cultural Mapping Act, which mandates local government units to document and register cultural properties in their areas.

The law also established the Philippine Registry of Cultural Properties, a national database of heritage assets.

“The month of May reminds us that our past is something that is not to be ignored, and it provides us with blueprints for us to be able to tread a better path towards the future.”