Cecilia V. Picache is the Senior Tourism Operations Officer of the City Tourism and Development Office (CTDO) of the City Government of Imus, Province of Cavite, Philippines. Before joining CTDO in 2020, she was in charge of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Program (2008-2017) and the National Living Treasures Award Program (1993-2014) of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. For 24 years, she carried out fieldwork among ethnic groups in the Philippines. She earned her B.A. in Journalism and M.A. in Cultural Heritage Studies (magna cum laude) from the University of Santo Tomas. She was a research fellow of the Asia Cooperation Program on Conservation Science of the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Korea in 2010.

Balay ni Atong (literally “House of Atong”) currently houses the Study Center for Traditional Handwoven Textiles of thenNorthern Philippines. The center aims to document and reproduce an extensive collection of antique and vintage weavesnand blankets. Balay ni Atong showcases handwoven textiles done on traditional wooden looms by llocano artisans usingnweaving techniques passed on through generations.

Tao Foundation For Culture And Arts, Inc. runs diverse education programs with traditional music of the Philippines and tries to harmonize voices from bearers, professionals, and various stakeholders for transmission.