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By: Joy Ann L. Gurtiza, GPC-LUPTO | Photos By: Jestoni βTonetβ Gaerlan and βMicoβ Salamanca, LUPTO | Date: November 16β18, 2022
To support the diverse and sustainable heritage-centered Programs, Projects and Activities (PPAs) of the province in the spirit of #LaUnionPROBINSYAnihan from 2022 and beyond, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) through the La Union Provincial Tourism Office β Culture and the Arts Unit organized the first-ever La Union Annual Youth Taoid Camp (LUAYTC) on November 16 β 18, 2022 at Ynadβs Place Hotel and Resort, Barangay Namtutan, City of San Fernando, La Union.
Designed to serve as a platform for young Kaprobinsiaans who advocate the promotion and preservation of the local cultural heritage, LUAYTC 2022 brought together 20 young heritage advocates and cultural workers representing the lone city and 19 municipalities of the Province of La Union as the first batch of 20 youth heritage ambassadors.
Provincial Tourism Officer Arthur S. Cortez, Jr. delivered the welcome message of Gov. Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David with emphasis on how to integrate the youth into the chronicles of the past which is considered as the history. Gov. Rafy has been lauded as a βyouth leader,β being the youngest elected Governor of the Province of La Union.
βPaulit-ulit na po nating sinasabi ang mga katagang galing kay Gat Jose Rizal: βKabataan ang Pag-asa ng Bayan.β And that responsibility will only be fulfilled when our youth is equipped with their knowledge of our history,β Gov. Rafy said in her message. βKarapat-dapat lang po na maging maalam sila sa kasaysayan. Ang kaalaman sa mga makasaysayang kaganapan ay hindi lang po dapat nalilimitahan sa apat na sulok ng silid-aralan. Their knowledge of La Union cultural heritage and history must go beyond the norm. This is our aim and this is our purposed β to empower the youth in establishing, promoting and preserving local cultural heritage,β she added.
Board Members Alyssa Sibuma and Cynthia Angelica Bacurnay, who are known to be active youth leaders in the province, were present in the said activity and delivered messages of support to the participants
The first day of the camp commenced with a team-building activity facilitated by Saint Louis College (SLC) School of Advanced Studies Program Head Mark Anthony D. Latoja. In the LUAYTC forum, six special topics were discussed, which included Hashtag Heritage: Cultural Consciousness and Indigenous Identity in the Time of Social Media that were tackled by Gunglo dagiti Mannurat nga Ilokano β La Union Chapter Board of Director Justin Paul D. Marbella. He stressed the power of media in raising heritage awareness, sharing knowledge, strengthening, and maintaining Indigenous identity, and how it is widely acknowledged in shaping peopleβs lives. A Cultural Night to welcome the youth ambassadors was also conducted.
The topic on Addressing the Challenges and Issues in Initiating Youth Heritage Programs was discussed by SLC Faculty Member John Carlo A. Manabat. He shared approaches and alternative solutions in dealing with the youth sector and immediate communities, and in financing which are crucial in initiating heritage PPAs. He also mentioned forging partnership and collaboration with cultural offices/agencies and institutions. Similarly, Youth Advocate and Tourism Branding and Marketing Communications Officer Angelica M. Maglanoc discussed Youth Volunteerism wherein she shared some of the benefits of youth volunteerism, and how young volunteers can make valuable contributions to their respective organizations.
The second day ended with the topic 'βRevisiting Cultural Contexts of Tourism and Creative Industriesβ by Tourism Operations Officer II of Baguio City Tourism Office Rachelle Anne N. Montoya. She encouraged youth ambassadors to be involved by integrating cultural sensitivities in tourism per se and the cultural concerns in intellectual property on native designs and arts-and-crafts in the rise of creative industries.
On the third and last day of the camp, topics on Digital and our Local Heritage: Explore and Emerge, and Cultural Heritage Research and Documentation were presented by Multimedia Producer/Digital and Social Media Consultant of ABS-CBN Raymond S. Sakiwat and National Commission for Culture and the Arts Representative Farland D. Valera, respectively. Mr. Sakiwat discussed strategies in harmonizing cultural heritage with the current youth preference, integrating local heritage in the programs of various artistic groups, and sharing cultural space with young artists in promoting unity and peace, while Mr. Farland was able to equip young heritage ambassadors with strategies on and principles of cultural and historical research, and the areas to be researched and documented.
As a proud youth program by the youth, of the youth, and for the youth under the initiative of Gov. Rafy, the LUAYTC 2022 was sealed by the youth ambassadors with a promise to become champions of sustainability. With the help and support of their respective LGUs, these young leaders are expected to identify points of convergence in the implementation of P.U.S.O. Agenda of PGLU through submission of project proposals on the promotion and preservation of local cultural heritage.
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