FHFI, Bacolod City Gov’t Hold Youth Forum on Heritage by: James U. Sy Jr.

Organizers, officials, lecturers, and participants at the conclusion of the Youth Forum on Heritage on May 25, 2016 in celebration of National Heritage Month 2016 at the Bacolod Pavillon Hotel, Bacolod City (James U. Sy Jr. photo).

Atty. Lucille Karen Malilong-Isberto, Head, NCAA Committee on Monuments and Sites, and Fr. Harold Rentoria, Commissioner, NCCA on Submission for Cultural Heritage, with delegates from STI West Negros University during the Youth Forum on Heritage last May 25, 2016 at the Bacolod Pavillon Hotel (James U. Sy Jr. photo).

Gil Alfredo B. Severino, MA, Fr. Harold Rentoria, Commissioner, NCCA on Submission for Cultural Heritage, and Atty. Lucille Karen Malilong-Isberto, Head, NCAA Committee on Monuments and Sites with delegates from Silay City led by Councilor Neil Solomon L. Locsin James U. Sy Jr. photo).

Fr. Harold Rentoria, Commissioner, NCCA on Submission for Cultural Heritage, giving his lecture on “Understanding Filipino Cultural Heritage” during the Youth Forum on Heritage on May 25, 2016 in celebration of National Heritage Month 2016 at the Bacolod Pavillon Hotel, Bacolod City (James U. Sy Jr. photo).

Organizers, officials, lecturers, and participants of the 2nd day/tour of the Youth Forum on Heritage on May 27, 2016 in celebration of National Heritage Month 2016 at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol building, Bacolod City (James U. Sy Jr. photo). The Youth Forum on Heritage last May 25 and 26 2016 at the Pavillon Hotel was successfully facilitated by the Filipino Heritage Festival Inc. (FHFI) under its President Armita B. Rufino and the Bacolod City Government under Mayor Monico O. Puentevella with the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the ASEAN, Security Bank, and BBB Foundation, Inc. Said youth forum is in line with the annual celebration of National Heritage Month pursuant to Proclamation No. 439 signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last August 11, 2003, “in recognition of the need to create among the people a consciousness, respect, and pride for the legacies of Filipino cultural history and love of country. A heritage tour followed the next day. The forum emcee Mary Ann Dino, Executive Director of the BBB Foundation Inc. welcomed around 80 participants coming from the youth sector of Bacolod City and from other sectors representing government offices and other Cities of Negros Occidental. Councilor Wilson “Jun” Gamboa Jr., representing Mayor Puentevella, gave an inspirational message highlighting the meaning of cultural heritage, saying, “The key word here is ‘legacy’ which is synonymous to ‘heritage’, ‘Ang Pamana’ in Tagalog, ‘habilin’ in our very own Hiligaynon. These are beautiful words which means, ‘the need to interconnect with what was handed by the past and to be responsible in preserving them for the present and the future.’ These are our beliefs, customs, traditions, culture, arts, literature, stories and structures - the entire history of a people which is giving us a glimpse of the past so that we can decide how we are to live in the present and build a community for the future.” Resource speakers were NCCA Commissioner Fr. Harold Rentoria who spoke on “Understanding Filipino Cultural Heritage”, NCAA Committee on Monuments and Sites Head Atty. Lucille Karen Malilong-Isberto who spoke on “The Philippine Heritage Law”; and Gil Alfredo B. Severino, MA, a UP Diliman trained educator, Negros Daily Bulletin (NDB) writer and Board Director of the Negros Occidental Historical Council, Inc. (NOHCI) who spoke on “Issues and Concerns on Local Cultural Heritage.” The “power” behind the forum were Jeremy R. Chan, NCCA Project Development Officer III, Program Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Christianne Insigne, forum organizer-facilitator, FHFI, representing the Bacolod City Mayor’s Office (CMO) were Engr. Mae Cuaycong, RN, Asst. Secretary to the Mayor;Lora Maria Teresa S. Esguerra, Project Development Officer II and designated Youth Forum Coordinator; and Ronald “Boy” G. Amihan, PESO Scholarship Coordinator. The forum was covered by the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) and the Negros Daily Bulletin (NDB) through columnist/feature writer James U. Sy Jr. The forum was well attended by participants from the Negros Occidental Tourism Office, Silay City delegation led by Councilor Neil Solomon L. Locsin, Manapla LGU, Victorias LGU, Iloilo City, Diocese of Bacolod City/Fr. Jovit Lemoncito, Negros Occidental Historical Commission (NOHC) represented by Executive Director Roque Hofileña, University of St. La Salle (USLS), STI West Negros University (STI WNU), Central Philippine state University (CPSU), Technological University of the Philippines–Visayas (TUP-V), La Consolacion College-Bacolod (LCC-B), and John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation (JBLCF). The following day was a tour of Bacolod’s heritage sites. NOHCI Executive Director Hofilena shared the history onsite of the Provincial Capitol complex while history mentor Severino led the tour to the San Sebastian Cathedral closely observing its architecture; then recalling the history of the Tindalo tree planted by President Manuel L. Quezon on October 19, 1938, during the inauguration of Bacolod from a municipality to a city under its first Mayor Alfredo Montelibano, Sr. A visit to the Dizon Ramos Museum along Burgos St. followed. Simple lunch was served at Ting-Ting’s sponsored by the Bacolod City Government where certificates were distributed and a closing remark was given by NCCA Commissioner Fr. Rentoria. The bus used for the Heritage Tour was courtesy of Bong-Bong’s Piaya and Barquillos Bacolod Pasalubong Center.