MANILA, Philippines -- A textile gallery, which will showcase various Philippine fabrics woven mostly by indigenous weavers, is set to open at the National Museum next month.

Senator Loren Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities, is spearheading the creation of the new gallery.

"The textile gallery that we are setting up in the National Museum is part of our initiative to celebrate the richness and distinctiveness of our indigenous textiles, to encourage Filipinos to patronize its use, and to strengthen the tropical fabrics industry, which is attuned to our advocacy of promoting sustainable development and preserving our nation's rich heritage," Legarda said in a statement released on Thursday.

The gallery will primarily showcase fabrics such as the Tinguian cloth from Northern Luzon, Ifugao cloth from Mountain Province, Bilaan textile from Southern Mindanao, Mandaya textile from Davao Oriental, Bagobo textile from Davao del Sur, and the Banton Burial Cloth from Romblon, to name a few; and weaving looms from Vigan, La Union, and Mountain Province, among many others.

Legarda said she also loaned fabrics and weaving looms from her personal collection.

Legarda is the principal author of the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law of 2004 (R.A. No. 9242), which aims to promote the country's tropical fabrics.

"The tropical fabrics industry has great potential in the world market. We already have the raw materials-pineapple, banana, and abaca fibers-and the skill to start with," she said.

President Benigno Aquino III recently signed Proclamation No. 313, which declares January of every year as Philippine Tropical Fabrics month.