The self-styled “artist on a mission,” who also has indigenous roots in the Visayas, celebrated women’s month last March with indigenous people.
The Blaan tribe adopted Kristine Soguilon – Lim as their princess and baptized her as Bai Mebe Kasbakas (Princess Leading Unity). The Manuvu tribe also adopter her and named her Bae Pinadajag (Princess Most Respected and Most Loved). The artist gained such titles from the tribal council of elders in grateful recognition of her contribution to empower and promote the welfare and development of indigenous people’s communities and preserve their traditions.
As part of the military, and a proud woman with indigenous Filipino roots, the celebrated visual artist has projects lined up that will be in close collaboration with the civil military operations efforts of the Philippine Navy and the AFP, and the leaders of the country’s indigenous groups led by the Blaan tribe. She aims to empower them and “uphold their name in a highly, respected, and global scale.” As a whole, Kristine’s vision and thrust is to make sure that the indigenous groups will be an integral part of the development of the whole Philippines.
Kristine was also given the title “Ambassador of Arts and Culture, and Indigenous People” by Gawad Pilipino. According to her, this is the most humbling title that she has received. It is also, she said, dearest to her heart. She’s proud of her indigenous roots from her ancestors who originated in Panay.
Soguilon, Kristine’s maiden surname, is an old Filipino name derived from a Visayan word, which means “story”. Taken into context, it means to tell, to report, to whisper, to let someone know. Those who tell these stories are tasked with a sacred task to tell others what really happened. They are like secrets that are waiting to be told.
Her maiden surname cannot be found in the Catálogo Alfabético de Apellidos. It is believed to be of Filipino indigenous origin, and assumed to have been the surname that was kept by members of the baptized Ati tribe who welcomed a group of Spanish colonizers when they were discovering different parts of the Philippine archipelago.
