The Local Government of Echague in Isabela, in collaboration with the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School – Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics (UST GS CCCPET) conducted a cultural mapping orientation on May 5, 2023 at the Skybox Multipurpose Hall in Echague.
The orientation program was attended by the town’s mayor Hon. Francis Faustino A. Dy, town councilors, and members and officers of Liga ng mga Barangay ng Echague. Dr. Ricmar P. Aquino, University President of Isabela State University, participated together with some faculty members and administrators of Isabela Studies Center. The Department of Education Echague District was also well represented by district supervisors and principals during the orientation program. The public school teachers were the proposed enumerators of the cultural heritage mapping of the town covering 64 barangays.
During the program, CCCPET Director Assoc. Prof. Eric B. Zerrudo, Ph.D., delivered a presentation titled “Heritage, makakain ba ‘yan? Heritaging in Developing Economies.” He discussed the concept of heritage and how it can be utilized for sustainable development by presenting different case studies of cultural mapping and its impact to community development.
After his presentation, CCCPET support staff Ms. Beverly Bautista elaborated on the mechanics and requirements of Heritage Online Mapping Experience (HOME), an online platform developed and customized for local government units and the education sector to facilitate cultural mapping activities.
The University, through the CCCPET, will soon ink a Memorandum of Understanding and Memorandum of Agreement with the Local Government of Echague to operationalize the Seminar-Workshop on Cultural Heritage Mapping.
