SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) — Antiqueño officials welcomed their counterparts from the Province of Benguet who recently visited for a cultural benchmarking.
The activity intended to gather insights and best practices in the implementation of Antique’s Cultural Mapping and School of Living Traditions (SLT) programs, which ensure the survival of indigenous cultures.
To guarantee a productive two-day learning visit, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) and the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO) prepared a series of activities for the visitors.
The 18-member delegation of Benguet first engaged with local stakeholders in the implementation of the SLT program, which enables tribal leaders and elders to teach their younger generations their indigenous traditions and crafts.
Dr. Felisa Beriong, former Antique Schools Division Superintendent, then shared key points crucial in successful cultural mapping and resource profiling.
Cultural mapping and resource profiling are systematic approaches used in identifying, recording, and classifying cultural properties or resources of a particular community.
The visitors also had a dialogue with members of the Ati and Iraynon Bukidnon indigenous peoples (IP), discussing how the government has helped them secure the survival of their unique cultural heritage, particularly amid the digital age.
Recognizing the IP’s right to self-determination, Charlen P. Rosales from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) stressed the importance of securing Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for all IP-related projects.
Rosales said the FPIC upholds respect for the IP’s knowledge, cultures, and traditional practices.
Benguet Provincial Board Member Benjamin Palbusa, on behalf of their delegation, expressed his gratitude for the Antiqueño people’s hospitality and the opportunity to acquire knowledge about cultural preservation and protection.
Palbusa looked forward to replicating Antique’s culture-saving strategies in the conservation and promotion of their own Igorot culture. (AGP/BPS/PIA Antique)
