By Mikee Natinga Norico

Attendees of the Iloilo Youth Forum on Heritage gather for a group photo during the first day of the seminar focused on cultural heritage awareness and digital storytelling at the Audio-Visual Room, CPU Senior High School Department.

In celebration of National Heritage Month, Central Philippine University (CPU) served as the venue for the Iloilo Youth Forum on Heritage held on May 27 to 29, 2025, at the Audio-Visual Room of the Senior High School Department. The event was organized by the Provincial Culture, Arts, History, and Tourism Office, with sponsorship from the Filipino Heritage Festival and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). In partnership with DDB Group Philippines, Security Bank, Central Philippine University, and the CPU College of Hospitality Management, the forum aimed to inspire and empower youth to understand, appreciate, and actively contribute to preserving the country’s rich cultural legacy.

The three-day forum welcomed around 60 student leaders and youth advocates from various academic institutions, including the University of San Agustin, St. Therese College, West Visayas State University, and Central Philippine University. CPU students played a leading role throughout the event, guiding participants from other schools and demonstrating active participation in all activities. Their collaboration with peers helped foster a positive and productive learning environment.

On the first day, discussions focused on the fundamentals of cultural heritage and the importance of stakeholder involvement in its preservation. Sir Delan Robillos from the NCCA provided an insightful overview of the Commission’s role and initiatives, while in the afternoon, content creator Sir Buji Babiera led an engaging session titled “Ikaw Mismo, Turismo.” He emphasized the power of digital platforms in promoting local heritage and shared techniques for creating effective online content. Participants were then assigned to choose a site within CPU for a cultural mapping activity and produce a short video highlighting its historical and cultural relevance.

Day two gave participants the opportunity to apply what they had learned. Groups arrived early to gather information about their chosen sites and began working on their cultural mapping forms and video content. In the afternoon, each group presented their outputs, which were reviewed and critiqued by facilitators, offering constructive feedback to enhance their understanding of the process and improve their documentation efforts.

The final day of the forum continued with the evaluation of the cultural mapping forms and video submissions. The forum concluded with an awarding ceremony, recognizing the best outputs in both categories, and the distribution of tokens and certificates to all participants. The event also featured themed sessions such as Cultural Heritage Protection: Navigating Legal Landscapes, Reopening the Heritage Lens Through Cultural Mapping, and Pamanaruga: Project Proposal and Policy Making, which deepened the attendees’ knowledge of heritage conservation and civic involvement.

For many participants, the experience was both educational and transformative. Arra Vielle Hope Tipon, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Tourism student, expressed that the forum helped her appreciate Iloilo’s heritage more deeply through firsthand experience in cultural mapping and exposure to local values. “It was eye-opening to realize how important it is to know the history behind each structure, site, and tradition,” she said. Meanwhile, Rene Joy Barredo, a BSTM-4 student, highlighted how the sessions helped her recognize the value of digital media in heritage promotion. “It encouraged me to become more involved in preserving and promoting Iloilo’s heritage in meaningful ways,” she added.

The success of the Iloilo Youth Forum on Heritage was made possible through the leadership of Sir Gilbert “Bombette” Golez Marin, Provincial Government Assistant Department Head, who envisioned the forum as a platform for young Ilonggos to take active roles in cultural preservation.

In a time when rapid modernization can blur cultural lines, events like this emphasize the power of heritage in shaping identity and building community. As echoed throughout the sessions, the future of Iloilo’s cultural treasures lies in the hands of its youth—empowered, informed, and ready to embrace their role as heritage champions.