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By: Joy Ann L. Gurtiza, GPC-LUPTO | Photos By: Judibert E. Catbagan, DMMMSU-MLUC | Date: June 29, 2022
Strengthening its culture and heritage initiatives through expanded collaboration and partnerships, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) through the La Union Provincial Tourism Office (LUPTO) β Culture and the Arts Unit (CAU) attended a meeting with representatives of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) to set parameters and plans for the establishment of the Center for Ilokano Studies on June 29, 2022 at the DMMMSU- Mid-La Union (MLUC) Library.
The resource center in support of Gov. Raphaelle Veronica βRafyβ Ortega-Davidβs plan to set-up an ELYUkano Center, will be hosted at the 2nd floor of DMMMSU- MLUC Library, City of San Fernando, La Union. It will house print, oral and digitized collection of books, IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) materials, magazines, publications, researches, works, and other forms of resources on Ilokano culture, heritage, and literature for academic and research purposes.
The PGLU was represented by Provincial Tourism Officer Arthur S. Cortez, Jr., Senior Culture and Arts Officer Jeddahn P. Rosario, and LUPTO-CAU personnel. While the panel from DMMMSU includes University Library Services Director Dr. Sonia Isip, Open University System Director Dr. Cristita Guerra, MLUC Library Services Head Ruby Lyn Narra, and MLUC Secretary to the Chancellor Dr. Maricel Pajimola.
Discussions also included the institutionsβ commitment to promote and implement the Language Code of La Union through benchmarking, competitions, research, training and workshops. Ms. Djuna Alcantara of the Gunglo Dagiti Mannurat ti Iloko (GUMIL) β La Union San Fernando City Chapter shared her proposal on the revival of the Iloko Creative Writing series that will form part of the launching of the center. The 2021 Kampeon Ti Lengguahe awardee believes that the center will primarily advocate the preservation of the Iloko identity and language for the people of La Union.
Meanwhile, Mr. Cortez expressed intention to formalize the partnership by creating a Technical Working Group (TWG), and eventually by signing a Memorandum of Agreement. The TWG will be composed of members from PGLU, DMMMSU, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, GUMIL β La Union, and La Union Council for Culture, Arts and Language.
The collaboration looks forward to giving sourced information, collaborative research activities, exchange programs and opportunities, not only to researchers and academic community, but most importantly the youth in the Province of La Union. PGLU and DMMMSU hopes that the center will be a well-known repository of our Kaprobinsiaanβs colorful and rich heritage in support of preserving and promoting La Unionβs culture and tradition to the rest of the country and the world.
