The story of the Kuwentista Movement began to unfold at the Museo ng Makati. Then called the “Presidencia,” it was the seat of the local government before it became a museum that showcases the relics and artifacts of the city’s culture and history.
The Museo ng Makati served as a vital bridge, introducing the Kuwentista Movement to key public and private stakeholders in Makati City, including the Mayor’s Office, the Department of Education Schools Division Office of Makati, and the University of Makati.
I remember meeting Bambi Mañosa-Tanjutco for the first time. As Makati City’s Tourism Officer and Head of the Museum and Cultural Affairs Office, she brought not only a passion for the arts and cultural programming, but also a genuine love for listening to stories. I believe it was this appreciation for storytelling that led her to support the movement.
She would fondly recall how her father, Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa, the late National Artist for Architecture, read stories to them every day. It was only later that they discovered he had often been reading from the very same storybook, bringing each telling to life in a different and uniquely memorable way.
Such is the story of life. We often feel that it redirects us, only to realize that it is leading us toward horizons more wonderful than we had imagined.
One of the co-lead convenors of the Kuwentista Movement is marketing and creatives veteran Dennis Joseph S. Tiu. His passion lies in developing ideas that not only to solve business challenges but also to create meaningful experiences for people and communities.
The other lead convenor is Rey S. Bufi, our storyteller, who is just four provinces away from having covered the entire Philippines, reaching even the most remote corners of the country in his unwavering mission to share the power of storytelling.
Rey often speaks about storytelling through the lens of the 4Cs of 21st-century skills, which are critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication. Dennis builds on this perspective by considering the needs of learners across the entire spectrum, from students in schools to professionals pursuing lifelong learning and continuing development.
Derived from the Filipino word kuwento (story) and the suffix -ista, a kuwentista is literally a storyteller, someone who tells, shares, creates, or champions stories.
As Kuwentista Movement co-lead convenors including myself, we believe that the significance of storytelling lies in its ability to give children hope and help them imagine a better future beyond their current circumstances. It builds love for reading, especially among children who may not yet see books as exciting or accessible.
Storytelling makes learning more meaningful, especially for children in public schools and underserved communities. It empowers teachers and volunteers to become more effective educators and communicators, while helping transform communities by making learning more participatory, engaging, and joyful.
We believe storytelling is important because it nurtures imagination, the foundation of creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and lifelong learning.
Storytelling also helps preserve Filipino culture, values, and identity by passing on shared narratives across generations. It builds connections among people from different communities, backgrounds, and lived experiences, fostering greater understanding and empathy.
Now more than ever, storytelling matters because it gives voice to stories that might otherwise go unheard, particularly those from remote and marginalized sectors. By bringing these stories to light, storytelling promotes inclusion, representation, and a deeper appreciation of our shared humanity.
Above all, storytelling inspires collective action. It encourages people to care, to serve, and to contribute meaningfully to nation-building, one story at a time.
Talking about the Kuwentista Movement, I shared how storytelling gives us a natural way to engage people in meaningful conversations about important yet often complex topics that affect our well-being.
Now I see how providential it is that the birthplace of the Kuwentista Movement is the Museo ng Makati. The museum is itself a storyteller and guardian of heritage, ensuring that the stories that shaped us, the values, and experiences that shaped our communities continue to inspire future generations.
