The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Metropolitan Theater (MET) launched Saplot ng Entablado: Kasuotang Pilipino sa Sining, Tanghalan, at Pamana on September 1 at the Metropolitan Theater Gallery, marking the celebration of Linggo ng Kasuotang Pilipino 2026.
The exhibition brings together Filipino attire seen across different stages, productions, periods, and artistic settings, offering visitors a look at how clothing has helped shape the characters and identities portrayed in Philippine theater and the performing arts.
The celebration is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 241, which declares the third week of September every year as Linggo ng Kasuotang Pilipino. The observance recognizes the role of Filipino attire in fostering pride in Filipino identity and promoting appreciation of the country’s cultural heritage.
Curated by Rommel Padillo Serrano, Saplot ng Entablado features various styles of Filipiniana and Barong worn in different productions and eras. The exhibition traces changes in design and presentation while highlighting elements that continue to connect contemporary clothing with traditional Filipino fashion.
Beyond the garments themselves, Serrano dedicates the exhibition to the people whose work allows knowledge of Philippine arts and culture to be preserved and passed on– including teachers, researchers, artists, seamstresses, designers, performers, cultural workers, and others who contribute to the continuity of these traditions.
“To each and every one of you, I would like to thank you for being a symbol of remembrance of this institution in our country,” Serrano said in his speech during the opening ceremony.
From left: Metropolitan Theater Chief Administrative Officer CJ Serrano, Curator Rommel Padillo Serrano, NCCA DED for Operations Bernan Joseph Corpuz, and CPRD Chief Administrative Officer Patrick Lee unties the ribbon—marking the opening of the exhibit. Photo by Jonathan Vergara – NCCA Public Affairs and Information Office.
NCCA Deputy Executive Director for Operations Bernan Joseph Corpuz underscored the often-unseen work behind stage productions, particularly the role of costumes in bringing characters and their historical contexts to life.
“Pero ngayong araw, ating bibigyan ng puwang ang buhay at mga galaw na nangyayari sa likod ng entablado … Dito nabubuo—sa tulong at sa pamamagitan ng mga kasuotan—ang mga karakter na ating napapanood kasama ang konteksto ng kanilang panahon at pagkakakilanlan,” Corpuz said. (“But today, we will give space to the life and activity unfolding backstage… It is here—with the help and through the medium of costumes—that the characters we see come to life, along with the context of their era and identity.“)
Also present at the opening were Metropolitan Theater Chief Administrative Officer CJ Serrano, Cultural Properties and Regulations Division Chief Administrative Officer Patrick Lee, soprano and opera singer Rachelle Gerodias, as well as artists, cultural workers, and cultural enthusiasts.
Saplot ng Entablado: Kasuotang Pilipino sa Sining, Tanghalan, at Pamana exhibit. Photo by Jonathan Vergara – NCCA Public Affairs and Information Office.
The exhibition is mounted with the support of the Intramuros Administration, Rotary Club of Heritage Advocates, Rotary Club of BonPen-Quezon Premier, BelCanto Opera Philippines, KameraMan by Kristian Marquez, and The Kalilayan Folkloric Group.
Through the exhibition, the MET Gallery becomes a space where costumes can be viewed not only as garments, but also as records of performance, craftsmanship, and the people who have helped shape Philippine cultural expression.
Saplot ng Entablado: Kasuotang Pilipino sa Sining, Tanghalan, at Pamana runs from September 1 to 30, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the Metropolitan Theater Gallery in Manila. Admission is free.
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For details on this press release, contact Mr. Rene S. Napeñas, Chief Administrative Officer and Head, Public Affairs and Information Office, through paio@ncca.gov.ph or 0945 788 5698. Visit www.ncca.gov.ph and the Facebook page @NCCAOfficial.
