Last month I was in Baguio City in the Philippines aka 'The City of Pines' or the 'Summer Capital of the Philippines'. I was invited by Kezia Teresa Tabago, Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB) to visit and explore avenues of collaboration. Besides her academic work, Kezia works for UPB's SILBI Centre (Social Innovation Laboratory & Business Inclusion). The Centre works hard to grow a culture of innovation and sustainable development across the Cultural and Creative Industries of Baguio City and the region. SILBI supports creative individuals and organisations to boost their business competencies and enhance their work through tech & science knowledge. It helps them to strengthen their entrepreneurial skills, and makes sure they are armed with the right mindset and resources to innovate and to drive progress and change in their field. Baguio has become synonymous with creativity. In 2017 it was designated a "UNESCO Creative City" - the first Philippine City to be vested with the distinct honor. During the days I was there I met with Academics, Researchers, Leaders of Gov. agencies, Policymakers, an Innovation Consortium, and a Youth Innovation Hub. All of them seem to have creativity coming out of their pores. These organisations exemplify creative courage. They have the guts to marry tradition with progress, to fuse artistry with entrepreneurship, to encourage innovations in the city’s major crafts and folk art traditions, and to inspire a new generation of craftsmen & women and folk artists to take up creativity as serious business. All of this roots back to the City's ability to make a paradigm shift. From seeing the arts as 'something that needs its support' to seeing it as 'something that supports its needs' - socially and economically. Baguio's had set an audacious goal to become a center for innovation for traditional/indigenous arts & craft. A true recognition of the impact artists and artisans have on the city’s economic performance. No doubt SILBI will play a key role in making it happen. #cci #creativeindustry #innovation #creativity #unesco #creativecities #crossinnovation #crosssectorcollaboration #baguio #upb #centrefororganisationalcreativity
A DOST supported Technology Business Incubator at University of the Philippines Baguio
It's been a year since our inception, where despite the cold weather, we were warmly welcomed by the vibrant community of creatives and artisans in the Cordillera, alongside our fellow TBIs across the Philippines. Today, we proudly unveil our technology business incubator, dedicated to fostering honor and excellence in Creatives and Science Innovations. We are the Social Innovation Laboratory and Business Inclusion MagsiSILBI sa Bayan!
Its inspiring to learn about such bold progressive development in bringing innovation into the art and vice versa. I especially liked the phrase: ”From seeing the arts as 'something that needs its support' to seeing it as 'something that supports its needs' - socially and economically.”
Thanks for the warm welcome and insightful discussions Corazon Abansi Ma Easter Joy Sajo Rommel Marcelo Noriel Ramos And special thanks Kezia Tabago for your time and making me feel at home in beautiful Baguio