The APHEN-ICH Secretariat is composed of four member universities: University of Santo Tomas as the lead together with the bureau members; University of Dhaka in Bangladesh for South Asia, Vietnam National University-Hanoi in Vietnam for Southeast Asia, and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in South Korea for East/North Asia.

USTGS-CCCPET, with its wealth of experience and expertise, will serve for two years as the Secretariat of APHEN-ICH. Assoc. Prof. Eric B. Zerrudo, PhD, the Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Program Lead of the UST Graduate School – Cultural Heritage Studies, will serve as the Head of the Secretariat alongside CCCPET Officer-in-Charge Ms. Beverly Macayan-Bautista, MAED, who will serve as the International Coordinator of the network. In this role, USTGS-CCCPET will be instrumental in orchestrating the activities and programs of the network, ensuring its seamless operation and the effective execution of its mission.

The election of the USTGS-CCCPET was grounded on its successful hosting of the Intangible Cultural Heritage International Conference and APHEN-ICH Field School in the Philippines with the City Government of Mabalacat and other LGU partners in the Pampanga province last 2023.

APHEN-ICH, a collaborative initiative established in September 2018 in partnership with the International Information and Networking Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia Pacific Region (ICHCAP) under the auspices of United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), stands as a testament to the joint dedication to preserving intangible cultural heritage in the Asia-Pacific. Aligned with the 2003 UNESCO Convention, the network is focused on nurturing and reinforcing this capacity through joint programs and activities to promote the 2003 Convention for Intangible Cultural heritage. As of 2024, the network proudly counts 23 member universities in the Asia-Pacific Region.

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During the training, two major cultural frameworks were introduced by Dr. Eric B. Zerrudo, CCCPET Director and training facilitator. The first lecture focused on the design and dignification of creative industries, well aligned with this year’s theme “Creative Governance is Good Governance”. The second lecture delved into cultural development planning, a forward-looking activity that defines culture and its context to impact on sustainable development.

The training also featured select case studies of different Local Government Units’ (LGUs) best practices on culture-based governance. These were demonstrated in Iloilo City Creative Governance presented by Ms. Junel Ann Divinagracia, Iloilo City Tourism Officer and Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippine incoming President; in Biñan City’s Cultural Program delivered by Dr. Bryan Jason Borja, Biñan City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer; and in Echague’s Municipality Cultural Development Program  by Mr. Louie Simbe, Municipal Tourism Officer.

The experiences of the World Heritage City of Vigan, forerunner of culture-based governance in the country, was also shared by its former Mayor Eva Marie S. Medina. The highlight of the training was the Spark Culture presentation of Samar Province’s Governor Sharee Ann Tan. She sincerely narrated how her administration endeavored to change the negative image of Samar Province to address the problems on insurgency, disaster, and poverty. As a highpoint, she impressed the importance of conducting cultural mapping program, to move forward and to know how to deal these problems in a culturally sensitive governance landscape. Both the cultural mapping programs of the Heritage City of Vigan and the Province of Samar were conducted by USTGS-CCCPET.

The face-to-face training gathered around 200 participants from the academe, local officials, tourism and cultural officers, artists club and organizations from different parts of the country.

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The meeting provided an opportunity for all CCCPET team members to present their plans and to share valuable insights on the preparation, planning, implementation and completion of the aforementioned projects. Also included in the visit was the conduct of  ocular survey to the different areas. The engagement was facilitated by Pangasinan Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office headed by Ms. Malu Elduayan, Provincial Tourism Officer.

Governor Mon-Mon along with other key stakeholders expressed their optimism and shared their visions for the province of Pangasinan. His vision of a cultural revolution for the province was valuably supported and taken as development agenda by the CCCPET team.

The cultural heritage conservation and management program is a set of composite projects across Pangasinan province. At the moment, CCCPET has initiated the development of Bana’an: The Provincial Museum of Pangasinan in Lingayen and the Binalonan Municipal Museum. The initial projects were complemented by the following: Site Development of Casa Real Grounds, Conservation Management Plan and Adaptive Reuse Plan of Pangasiinan Provincial Jail, Bengzon-Yuson House Adaptive Reuse Plan, and Conservation Management Plan of Pangasinan Capitol Building. 

The CCCPET Team was composed of Dr. Eric Zerrudo (heritage and development), Architect Paulo Alcazaren (urban planning), Ms. Beverly Bautista (CCCPET technical assistance), Ms. Daphne Frias (CTHM on-the-job training student), Dr. Caryn Santillan (architecture), Mr. Joselito Corpuz (heritage preservation), Architect John Clemence Pinlac (architecture), and Dr. Mary Ann Bulanadi (exhibition design). 

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The activity was basket conservation advocate Ar. Jovie Ladura’s immediate response to the Uswag Artesano Leyte assembly on basket weaving networking and capacity building, which was held on May 23 and 24, 2022 in Villaba, Leyte.

Known as the Basket Capital of the Province, Antequera experiences innumerable issues and concerns regarding the traditional industry such as the lack of safeguarding mechanisms for the intangible heritage, unfair labor practices in the market, lack of capacity building and education for artisans, lack of facilities, equipment, and instruments, and the aging population of weavers.

The afternoon assembly was organized through the valuable support of Ms. Jadulco, the Antequera Tourism Officer, and the active participation of Councilor-elect Ar. Hector Balonda, Councilor-elect Johnny Coquilla, and Councilor-elect Edwin Cuenca.

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With the agreement, UST will perform the onsite and digital documentation and safekeeping and ensure the accessibility of data to potential researchers approved by ATOP, as well as concerned local government units.

������Ƶ of Santo Tomas team was led by Secretary-General Rev. Fr. Louie R. Coronel, O.P., EHL as the official representative of the Rector, the Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., PhD. He was joined by CTHM Regent Rev. Fr. Roland D. Mactal, O.P., SThD, CTHM Dean Assoc. Prof. Atty. Dr. Gezzez Giezi G. Granado, Graduate School Dean Prof. Dr. Michael Anthony C. Vasco, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eric B. Zerrudo (Director, Graduate School – Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics).

ATOP was represented by Mr. Arwin Paul A. Lingat (National President and City Tourism Officer, City Government of Mabalacat, Pampanga) and Ms. Jomelyn M. Abuan (National Secretary-General and Municipal Tourism Officer, Municipal Government of Montalban (Rodriguez), Rizal). They were also accompanied by Atty. Jose Maria Cesar C. San Pedro (Regional Representative, Region 3 and the Provincial Tourism Officer, Provincial Government of Nueva Ecija), Atty. Jeffrey C. Saclot (Regional Representative, Region 10 and the Provincial Tourism Officer, Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental), Mr. Edwin B. Guinto (Secretary for Luzon and the Supervising Tourism Operations Officer, City Government of Bacoor, Cavite), and Mr. Charlie Dungo (Regional Representative, NCR and the Officer-in-charge, Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila, City Government of Manila).

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The project aims to: 1) define the weaving traditions of the artisans of the third district of Leyte through the customized heritage online mapping experience (HOME) template; 2) add value to the tradition and creativity of artisans through design, skill, knowledge and collaborative lectures from the academe and the industry both from national and international levels; 3) evolve climate change protocols to safeguard the tradition and encourage the adaptability of the artisans through case study discussions with representatives from resilient artisanal communities; 4) propose support mechanism and reinforcement towards sustainability through integration in the formal basic education system, particularly in the livelihood education subject/course

USTGS-CCCPET Director Assoc. Prof. Eric B. Zerrudo, PhD conducted the plenary orientation on intangible cultural heritage and safeguarding mechanism together with Ms. Beverly Bautista, USTGS-CCCPET Support Staff, who discussed the HOME Craft, the customized online template lodge in the Centers’ website. Board Member Anna Veloso-Tuazon delivered the Welcome Message to the participants from the municipalities of Villaba, Tabango, San Isidro, Calubihan and Leyte of the 3^rd District of Leyte.

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Under the vision of Congressman Vicente “Ching” Veloso of the Third District of Leyte, and the Leyte Provincial Board Member Ana Veloso-Tuason, the project envisions to harness the creativity of local artisans toward global designs that will generate revenues and livelihood for the community. “Uswag” is a Waray term that means ‘(move/come) forward.’

The DCP, through the leadership of Executive Director Rhea Matute and Consultant Milo Raval, mobilized design experts who engaged the community in capacity-building, hand-holding and exhibition display of the products.

The documentation synergy was a critical mass of knowledge and skills from the USTGS-CCCPET, CFAD, DCP, DTI-Leyte. The culminating activity was an exhibition in Robinsons in Marasbaras, Tacloban, Leyte, from Nov 25 to 29, 2021 and in Lolo Inting’s Heritage House in Villaba, Leyte, from December 1 to 14, 2021. The institutional buyers exhibition was held in Guinciaman, San Miguel, Leyte from December 15 to 25, 2021.

UST GS CCCPET’s Cultural Mapping Project in 2018 spawned the USWAG Project as a Continuing Cultural Mapping Activity. With documented natural resources, local skills inventory, manpower profiling, and community organizing, the stakeholders decided to advance towards skills upgrade and product upscale.
The project produced heritage-inspired designs of housewares and lighting accessories made out of local indigenous materials. This heritage utilization model is integral to CCCPET’s heritage conservation and sustainable development framework.

The USTGS-CCCPET team was composed of Assoc. Prof. Eric Babar Zerrudo, PhD and Ms. Beverly Bautista, while the UST-CFAD was led by CFAD Dean Assoc. Prof. Christie Que, and Industrial Design Department Chair Mr. Romano Macaisa. One of the DCP’s lead designers, Mr. Charles Boris Mañez, is a graduate student of UST Graduate School Cultural Heritage Studies.

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Under the vision of Congressman Vicente “Ching” Veloso, Third District of Leyte, and the indefatigable work of Leyte Provincial Board Member Ana Veloso-Tuason, the project envisions to harness the creativity of local artisans toward global designs that will generate revenues and livelihood for the community. The DCP, through the leadership of Executive Director Rhea Matute and Consultant Milo Raval, mobilized design experts who engaged the community in capacity-building, hand-holding and exhibition display of the products. The documentation synergy was a critical mass of knowledge and skills from the USTGS-CCCPET, CFAD, DCP, DTI-Leyte. The institutional buyers exhibition will be in Guinciaman, San Miguel, Leyte on December 15-25, 2021.

UST GS CCCPET’s Cultural Mapping Project in 2018 spawned the USWAG Project as a Continuing Cultural Mapping Activity. With documented natural resources, local skills inventory, manpower profiling, and community organizing, the stakeholders decided to advance towards skills upgrade and product upscale. The project produced heritage-inspired designs of housewares and lighting accessories made out of local indigenous materials. This heritage utilization model is integral to CCCPET’s heritage conservation and sustainable development framework.

The USTGS-CCCPET team was composed Assoc. Prof. Eric Babar Zerrudo, PhD and Ms. Beverly Bautista, while the UST-CFAD was led by Dean Asst. Prof. Christie Que and Mr. Romano Macaisa, Chair of Department of Industrial Design. One of the DCP’s lead designers Mr. Charles Boris Mañez is a graduate student of UST Graduate School’s Master’s degree in Cultural Heritage Studies.  

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The seminal project under the GSP is the Dumyang: A Community-based Mapping Project for the Sustainable Development of Fisheries and Coastal Tourism of the 45 coastal barangays of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. Dumyang is a Waray-waray word for bountiful fish harvest. The 75 mappers are composed of fish catch enumerators, teachers, youth, and non-government organizations workers. During the event, CCCPET Director Eric Zerrudo, PhD gave an overview and initial presentation of the project.

Under the leadership of Hon. Annaliza Kwan, Mayor of Guiuan Municipality, Eastern Samar, the program is a multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary initiative toward marine heritage conservation and sustainable development. It aims to train and educate the stakeholders of coastal communities on the conservation and sustainable utilization of coastal resources; document and build community-based inventory of coastal resources, traditions, and technologies for sustainable utilization and development programs on fisheries and tourism; obtain a more accurate and understanding of the needs of the community in using and development and conserving coastal resources and develop coastal development programs based on the inventory to diversify the income of fishing communities and conserve the coastal resources and appreciate the coast and the sea as Heritage.

The coastal mapping activity will start in January 2022 and continue for 5 months. The USTGS-CCCPET will conduct the activity flexibly hybridizing two formats – face-to-face and the HOME program. Due to the uncertainty of internet signal in Samar, all lectures and activities will be through face-to face interaction, closely implemented in accordance with prevailing health protocols, to warrant the enumerators’ active involvement and commitment. The documentary submissions will be through HOME (Heritage Online Mapping Experience). The USTGS-CCCPET developed the newly customized virtual platform for Coastal Heritage Mapping where mappers will be guided to navigate to create the database. The Local Government of Guiuan is the very first LGU to conduct a comprehensive coastal heritage mapping documentation.

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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.

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.

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