The National Summit of Church Archives and Heritage Workers was held on May 8 to 11, 2024, at the Multi-Function Room, 8th Floor, Buenaventura Garc铆a Paredes O.P. Building at the University of Santo Tomas (UST). The four-day summit gathered diocesan and religious archivists, parish secretaries, diocesan chancellors, and religious congregation secretaries, those appointed and directly involved in archiving roles, to participate in an academic and professional capacity-building event aimed toward the conservation of church archival heritage.
This summit reorganized the Society of Ecclesiastical Archivists of the Philippines (SEAP) membership from around the nation, reinforced the involvement of the archdiocese, dioceses, religious archivists, parish secretaries, and records custodians in the implementation and fulfillment of the Church records preservation, discussed existing practices and explored the pivotal role of archivists and heritage workers, and provided knowledge and skills in managing the Church鈥檚 cultural heritage records.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts Chairman Victorino Manalo graced the event and delivered a special message.
On the first day of the summit, UST Faculty of Civil Law Dean Atty. Nilo Divina, JD, delivered the keynote address on 鈥淚ntellectual Property Law – Applicable to Ecclesiastical and Archival Record and Domain鈥�, Prof. Regalado Trota Jos茅 discussed 鈥淭he Status Quo of the Catholic Church Heritage in the Philippines鈥�, and Commission on Cultural Heritage Executive Secretary Fr. Milan Ted Torralba tackled 鈥淎rchives and Canon Law鈥�.
Archdiocese of Manila Chancellor Fr. Isidro Marinay spoke about 鈥淭he Interplay of the Work of Diocesan Chancellors, Parish Secretaries, and Archivists鈥�, while the 鈥淧anel Discussion on Government Archives” was led by NCCA National Committee on Archives Head Ms. Emma Mu帽oz-Rey, Ms. Jacklyn Joyce Delgado from the National Archives of the Philippines, and Ms. Vilma Rodriguez from the Senate of the Philippines Archives.
Also included were lectures from Fr. Jonas Awayan of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, who headed the discussion on Diocesan Archives.
Meanwhile, Sr. Wilma Bumangabang, OP from the St. Catherine of Siena Archives, Rev. Mervin Lomague, O.P. from the Dominican Archives, and Fr. Nestor Impelido from the Salesian Archives jointly discussed the topic of Religious Archives, and Family Search Philippines Field Relations Manager Mr. Felvir Ordinario spoke about 鈥淭he Impact and Issues of the Genealogy Project of the Church of Jesus Christ鈥�.
Capping off the first day of the event was a Eucharistic Celebration at the Sant铆simo Rosario Parish presided by the Archivo de la Universidad de Santo Tomas Acting Archivist Rev. Fr. Gaspar Sigaya, O.P.
The lectures for Day 2 included 鈥淓thics and Accountability in the Management of Archives and Records Management鈥� by Ateneo de Manila University Archives Director Asst. Prof. Francis Navarro, Ph.D., which was followed by 鈥淒evelopment of Archives and Records Management Profession and Training in the Philippines鈥� by the Board for Librarians Chairperson Hon. Yolanda Granda and 鈥淒ata Privacy for Ecclesiastical Documents鈥� by the Executive Assistant for the Office of the UST Secretary-General Mr. Emmanuel Batulan, Ph.D.
A tour of the UST facilities, including the oldest school-based museum in the country, the UST Museum and its laboratory, the Archivo de la Universidad de Santo Tomas (AUST), andthe Antonio Vivencio del Rosario UST Heritage Library occupied the afternoon session.
Day 3 activities included lectures by the UST Prefect of Libraries Rev. Fr. Angel Aparicio, O.P. regarding the Antonio Vivencio del Rosario UST Heritage Library, 鈥淒isaster Resilience and Post-Disaster Recovery for Cultural Heritage鈥� by UST College of Tourism and Hospitality Management academic staff Mr. Karl Baroro, and 鈥淪ustainability in Conservation in the Philippine Setting鈥� by Okada Manila Records Specialist Ms. Lulu del Mar.
This was followed by a workshop on Archives Management conducted by Ms. Lulu del Mar, Ms. Jocelyn Marcos, and the AUST staff; a Eucharistic Celebration with Fr. Mequiades Serraon and Fr. Ric-Zeus Angobung as presider and homilist; 鈥淪EAP Moving Forward Workshop and Planning鈥� session led by UST Acting Archivist Fr. Gaspar Sigaya, O.P. and SEAP Secretary Ms. Jocelyn Marcos; and the Fellowship Night.
For the fourth and final day of the summit, the Assistant to the UST Rector for Information and Communications Technology Asst. Prof. Jerralyn Padua delivered a lecture on 鈥淧arish Registry Portal: E-Records Management of Sacramental Books鈥�, while NCCA Executive Director Hon. Eric Zerrudo, Ph.D. delivered the concluding lecture 鈥淎likabok, Access, and Animating Archives鈥�
Concluding the four-day National Summit was a concelebrated Mass with the Dumaguete Bishop Most Rev. Julito Cortes, D.D., as the main presider and homilist.
