Balay Kasamtangan
The birth of a new ecosystem
Conscious Creatives are Searching for Home
Following years of isolation and disillusionment in the post-2020 era, adolescents and adults (aged 16-45) based locally and in the diaspora were made acutely conscious of systemic cracks, leading to skepticism on large corporations and their effects on society.
While motivated to contribute to social and climate solutions, they lack access to physical spaces that are participatory and deeply-rooted to the land. As a result, their potential capital remains untapped.
We are their home
Incubator + Showroom + Third Space
The Capital –Creative Gap
Traditional capital is structurally allergic to the timelines of craft and legitimate sustainability practices. It relegates creative ventures (which are usually women-led) into simply “lifestyle businesses” at best and worst.
Due to this, almost 100% of climate and impact funding ignores the Creative Economy and its role in achieving the SDGs. ¹ ² ³
Art and Impact
In the latest Philippine report by Asia-Europe Foundation’s Culture360, creative initiatives across the archipelago are almost always involved in social or environmental causes.
1.94T
sales in the creative industry 2025 as reported by DTI Sec. Maria Cristina Roque
7.1%
Creative economy share of Philippine GDP and growing
Creatives are a nation’s secret weapon
In the latest report by PSA and DTI, the creative sector employs 7.51 M Filipinos within the nation, which represents 15.4% of the Philippines’ total workforce.
Recognizing the power of a creative industry in propelling a nation’s economy, R.A. 11904 a.k.a the Philippine Creative Industry Development Act was passed.
The Philippine Creative Industries Month (PCIM) was made to promote and celebrate the role of creatives in nation-building and socioeconomic advancement in stride with other nations’ developed art programs.
Competition
Hotel franchises
Private Resorts
Airbnbs
Similar spaces
Butanding Barrio
Balay da Judge
Linangan Art Residency
Complement, collaborate
Sharing a common goal of developing culture and the industry, residents of other spaces may be recommended to ours and vice versa. This builds camaraderie among us creative homestays, strengthens attachment that leads to repeated patronage, and enables unique engagements between creatives and non-creatives.
Business practice rooted in Western individualism weakened our fragmented nation and industry. We must use our communal culture to elevate ourselves in the global arena.
This is our competitive advantage.
Harnessing Indigenius
Among the Indigenous communities exist 25 Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) or National Living Treasures.
These individuals are carry legacies of cultures who deeply revere the environment as more than just a landscape, but as the womb and symbiotic protector.
Here, we intend to create more.
14
21
Events
(community immersions, hosted gatherings)
Creative collectives collaborated
43
Indigenous leaders engaged
Partners
Bukidnon Local Artists Kulektib
Bukidnon Business Community
HoliCow
Atúa Midtown
Lost Books, Cebu
By Rahina, Oman
Gubat Banwa
Sikodiwa
Mata Art Gallery, LA
Tagalikha, NYC
and growing!
Unsa’y naa?
Artifacts and offerings currently in circulation within our Balay
A bridge between the mountains and the sea. This androgynous necklace is a study in texture and color, featuring a rhythmic and fragrant blend of Sandalwood, Moonstone, and Mother of Pearl. The focal point is a vibrant Citrine bead nestled between hand-carved Conch Shells, capturing the warmth of a setting sun. Detailed with Murano glass, Agate, and Red Tiger Eye, it is a versatile piece designed for anyone who carries the spirit of the nomad.
A contemporary artifact by Datú Kalindaan. Every necklace is a one-off piece.
Length: 22 inches
Materials: Conch Shell, Mother of Pearl, Sandalwood, Moonstone, and Citrine.
Accents: Murano Glass, Agate, Red Tiger Eye, and Ceramic.
Style: Airy, architectural, and effortlessly androgynous.
For non-credit card payments (bank transfer, QR code, e-wallet), click here.
Channeling the raw and refined. This necklace is built for those who appreciate the weight of natural materials. Featuring a bone bead focal point flanked by piercing red Murano glass eyes; combined with the metallic cool of hematite, organic warmth of soft wood, and the hidden depth of Yooperlite.
A contemporary artifact by Datú Kalindaan. Every necklace is a one-off piece.
Length: 16.5 inches
Materials: Murano Glass, Hematite, Yooperlite, Soft Wood, Ceramic
Style: Masculine, Raw, Iconic
For non-credit card payments (bank transfer, QR code, e-wallet), click here.
The Ecosystem
✹
The Ecosystem ✹
Experiences
Craft
Art Market
Media
Food Sovereignty
Multiple streams held in one ecosystem
✴
Steward tiers spanning PHP 25,000 to 1,000,000
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Licensing of media created in-house (film, music)
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Collaborations or consignments with 10-15% markup
250K
Bootstrapped by founders for product creation, event organization, sponsorships, etc.
✴
500+
Cultural leaders, creatives, academics, and diaspora engaged physically
A Blue Ocean
Marketing and Product-led
Creatives as trendsetters call in the crowd
What we’ve done so far
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Kamugnaan Sa Atúa
Datús meet in the heart of Cebu
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TMC105.1 — Top of the Morning
Conversations with The Voice of Cebu
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The Responsible Traveler
Revisiting Cotabato in 2025
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Matigsalug Day 2025
Celebrations in Brgy. Panganan
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Batasan Sa Bukidnon
Walking deep ancestral paths
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Bahandi ni Baï Ming
Promoting Maranao collectibles
Stepping into Tropical Futurism
Sustainable solutions require a holistic and intersectional approach.
We are connected to both land and technology. Carbon credits, AI-native institutions, and other rapidly unfolding realities while remaining critical of the relationship between them.
Strength in Singapore
Kapanahonan shall be registered in Singapore for broader funding access, gaining international appeal
Timeline
2024
Conceptualization, branding
2025
Awareness campaigning, cultural immersions, partnership building, applications to grants and programs
2026
Initial fundraising rounds: 50 Seeds launch
2027
500 Seeds launch, construction begins
2028
5000 Seeds campaign → opening
5000 SEEDS
✴
5000 SEEDS ✴
Our multi-pronged, long-term campaign that invites individuals and collectives to grow Balay Kasamtangan from sapling to ecosystem
2026
50 Seeds
The first supporters will establish our institutional backbone through:
Legal registration
Pilot structure (tulugan)
Core team operational runway
Campaign infrastructure
2027
500 Seeds
The campaign expands with governance in place to secure:
Land lease commitments
Architectural development of main structure (off-grid, indigenous-informed)
Expanded operational capacity
Public programming groundwork
2028
5000 Seeds
This phase presents full public capitalization and ecosystem maturity through:
Completion of the main structure
Fully supported commissions and residencies
Extended operating runway
Institutional stability and long-term sustainability mechanisms
Steward Tiers
Dracontomelon Dao seed by unknown photographer
Euanthe sanderiana (Waling-waling) by Dalton Holland Baptista
Brass Datu by unknown sculptor — Poblacion Market, Davao
Beaded Pearl Eye detail by Remus Abella
Jade Bangles given by Dr. Eli Sajonia
Sun Chief Medallion by Master Oslog and Adam Pereyra
Kapanahonan Holdings
The mature ecosystem
The parent entity registered in Singapore that stewards the physical space, creative intellectual property, and other fruits that may bear. This allows both growth and grounding.
A Heritage Site in Progress
We are a living archive.
Early supporters help create a cultural institution whose value appreciates over time.
The Directors
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Cultural Director
Datú Kalindaan of Iligan City
Master in Culture and Arts Studies, MSU-IIT
Ethnomusicologist and sound engineer for Philippine historic and cultural film production Ang Baláang Humayán
Music Director for international award-winning TTRPG Gubat Banwa
Co-project head of Siningko Foundation
Multilinguial in English, Binisaya, Binukid, and Tausug
Fair Futures Accelerator by Villgro Philippines batch 2025
HIFI – Benilde Trailblazer Startup program by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde batch 2026
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Creative Director
3rd generation descendant of Salvador Araneta
SHE Accelerator by The Spark Project pioneer batch 2023
Youth Co:lab by UNDP and Citi Foundation batch 2024
Impact Creativepreneurs by Young South East Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), U.S. Department of State, and Fulbright University Vietnam pioneer batch 2025
SCALE NCR Acceleration by DOST-TBI pioneer batch 2025
Fair Futures Accelerator by Villgro Philippines batch 2025
HIFI – Benilde Trailblazer Startup program by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde batch 2026
Building a Fair Future
Culture and climate are not separate. To create a fairer future, we must rediscover the connection between the land and ourselves ✴
