The College of Tourism and Hospitality Management (CTHM), together with the UST Graduate School – Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics (GS-CCCPET) and the UST Simbahayan Community Development Office, is conducting the Natural and Cultural Heritage Mapping Project and Preliminary Assessment of Tourist Sites and Attraction in the Municipality of Maragondon, Cavite.
The project’s objectives are to identify and document the distinct natural, built, intangible, and tangible heritages of Maragondon, Cavite covering 27 barangays; to create heritage awareness and appreciation amongst stakeholders and community around the town; to provide a basis for a comprehensive master development plan for the town and initiate local heritage ordinances through participatory approach and heritage utilization; and to provide an impetus for the promotion of cultural industries and develop tourism campaign or any heritage driven projects based on the heritage outputs of the town.
The project began with classes from September 16 until October 5, 2021, facilitated by Assoc. Prof. Eric B. Zerrudo, PhD, the Director of UST GS-CCCPET, and Ms. Beverly M. Bautista, Project Coordinator. During the virtual classes, the facilitators discuss topics on how to document the natural, built, intangible, local history, and movable heritages of the community. An on-site seminar workshop on October 18 and 19 will complement the virtual classes and focus on how to utilize the documented heritage resources through tourism and hospitality.
The preliminary assessments of different tourist sites and attractions will also be facilitated by #TeamMaragondon from UST CTHM headed by Assoc. Prof. Atty. Gezzez Giezi G. Granado, DCL, CHE, the Dean of the College, together with Asst. Prof. Jane G. Devanadera, MSTM, CHE, CGSP (Project Co-Director), Asst. Prof. Fredeswindo R. Medina, MCHS, CHE, CGSP (Team Representative), Asst. Prof. Maria Concepcion A. Ang, MBA, CHE, CGSP (Budget Officer and Writer/Researcher), Mr. Jame Monren T. Mercado, MACHS (Project Coordinator), Ms. Karla Paricia G. Colmenar, MDS (Writer/Researcher), Mr. Godofredo Cezar D. Vizconde, LPT, MBA (Writer/Researcher), and Mr. Reinald A. Andaya, MSHM (Writer/Researcher). The project is supported by the UST Simbahayan Community Development Office through the help of Asst. Prof. Froilan A. Alipao, MCD, Director and Asst. Prof. Joreen T. Rocamora, Ph.D., the CTHM Community Development Coordinator.
Zerrudo delivering a lecture 
Bautista delivering a lecture 
Virtual class attendees 
Virtual class attendees
Asst. Prof. Medina, a native from Maragondon, said that the project is vital for the “development of Maragondon Cultural Tourism program through improving their identified and documented cultural properties of the community.”
The project is in partnership with the Municipal Government of Maragondon, Cavite, headed by Hon. Reynaldo A. Rillo. The implementation of the project is also in line with the celebration of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) World Tourism Day 2021, with the theme “Tourism for Inclusive Growth.
