La Union Wraps Cultural Mapping Program; Becomes First Province to Validate Cultural Elements in Region
By: Joy Ann L. Gurtiza, GPC-LUPTO | Photos By: Cris Jaime Balbuena, LUPTO and Rizalde Buenaventura, PIO | Date: April 16 – 17, 2024
Making a significant step to capture and preserve the diverse cultural heritage of the province, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) through the La Union Provincial Tourism Office – Culture and the Arts Unit, with the technical assistance of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, has successfully completed the final community validation phase of its Provincial Cultural Mapping Program on April 16 – 17, 2024 at the Speaker Pro-Tempore Francisco I. Ortega Convention Center, Sevilla, City of San Fernando, La Union.
The program aims to map and create a comprehensive inventory of cultural assets, resources, and activities across the province leading to enhanced community engagement, promotion of cultural tourism, and preservation of La Union's rich heritage for future generations.
During the community validation process, Local Government Units, community leaders, key informants, and other government agencies and cultural stakeholders were invited to participate in the verification and validation of the cultural data collected. Their inputs and expertise played a vital role in refining the cultural map and capturing the unique cultural assets of each community.
Out of 360 elements presented by the Provincial Cultural Mapping team, 359 were successfully validated, 111 including natural heritage, 71 tangible movable and 46 immovable heritage, 104 intangible cultural heritage, 10 significant personalities, and 17 cultural institutions.
The external validators involved in the process include Dr. Leah E. Abayao, History Professor of University of the Philippines – Baguio, Dr. Danilo S. Alterado, Former Philosophy Professor of Saint Louis University and Dr. Jocelyn L. Alimondo, Former Administrator of Diocese of Baguio Schools.
In her message, Gov. Raphaelle Veronica “Rafy” Ortega-David underscored the importance of cultural mapping in the La Union’s cultural journey.
“Today, as we finally validate our cultural elements and culminate years of dedicated effort and collaboration, may we reflect on the importance of this undertaking. May our cultural mapping program not only serve as a tool for conservation but also to engage communities and people in inter-generational dialogues,” Gov. Rafy’s message.
Board Member Cynthia Angelica M. Bacurnay, Committee Chairperson on Education, Culture and Arts, also expressed her excitement about this milestone, stating, "This phase was a critical step in ensuring that our cultural mapping efforts were inclusive, accurate, and reflective of the diverse cultural fabric of our province.”
Following the validation, the province became the first in Region 1 to have its cultural properties verified and documented through such a comprehensive program.
As the province moves forward with its La Union PROBINSYAnihan initiative, PGLU will continue to support and promote the validated cultural elements, ensuring that the province's diverse heritage and cultural assets are preserved and celebrated for generations to come.
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