Training for the cultural mapping of Antique begins

“The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognizes cultural mapping as a vital and crucial tool in providing the society an overall framework in the preservation of our heritage, may it be tangible or intangible, built, man-made or natural.”

This is what Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda emphasized in her keynote address during the 1st leg of the “Training on Cultural Mapping of Antique” on February 6, 2021, at St. Anthony’s College, where Asst. Schools Division Superintendent Felisa Beriong read her message.

Legarda is an advocate of culture, heritage, and environmental preservation. She authored and filed House Bill 6891, amending RA 10066 (National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009). The proposed measures will mandate all LGUs to conduct cultural mapping of their areas – intangible or intangible, natural or built.

UP Visayas Chancellor Clement Camposano commended “the efforts of the indefatigable Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda for ensuring the funding so that this endeavor on cultural mapping can be materialized.”

“Truly, we are fortunate to have with us a public servant who is a champion of cultural documentation and preservation,” he added.

The Chancellor said that our identity as individuals is anchored on our collective identity as a community.

“We can never truly say that we know who we are if we do not make an effort to understand our history and culture. It is imperative then that activities such as cultural mapping can be held so that our identities are established,” the Chancellor emphasized.

Tourism officers and a hundred twenty teachers from the Department of Education from the various high schools from the municipalities of Antique attended the face-to-face training. It was the first in a series that will be conducted in the entire month of February, the rest of which will be done online.

Joining them via Zoom was former UP professor Arvin Manuel Villalon of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, who served as a resource person.

The Cultural Mapping of Antique is a project of UP Visayas in partnership with DepEd Antique with SDS Felisa Beriong as head and various LGUs of the province. With Dr. Beriong are DepEd Antique’s Supervisors, Eleanore M. Dagala, EPS-Araling Panlipunan; Rodrigo N. Sarapanan Jr., Eps-Music, Arts, PE and Health (MAPEH); Anita S. Gubalane, EPS-Science; Schubert Anthony C. Sialongo, EPS-Learning Resources Management System (LRMS); Emerose B. Balondo, DepEd Accountant; Lester Ton J. Espenocilla, DepEd Finance Staff; Ma Christine C. Nietes, DepEd Budget Officer; and Miracle Faith C. Senario, DepEd Supply Officer.

UPV’s Anna Razel Ramirez is the Overall Project Coordinator. Joining the team are Chancellor Clement Camposano and Dr. Alicia P. Magos as chief consultants. Mapping Experts from UPV are Prof. Jose Taton, Jr., Sashah Dioso, and Ramon Ramirez. Also, part of the UPV Team are Prof. Martin Genodepa, Dr. Randy Madrid, Dr. Rex Sadaba, Neyah Grace Cartago, Vanessa Coo, Mary Lyncen Fernandez, Jocelyn Genesila, Gian Niño Genoza, Juvy Janeo, Wilfredo Palete, Jr., Lea Papilota, Alven Polido, and Marites Yu.

Cultural experts from Antique who will serve as consultants are Mr. Dante Beriong, Engr. Jonathan Degracia, Fr. Glicerio Geremia, Mr. Sammy Rubido, Hon. Errol Santillan, Mr. Jay Tondares, and Fr. Cornelio Ysulat. The project will run for a year, starting December 2020 to November 2021. (Mary Lyncen Fernandez, IPO)