In an effort to support heritage preservation, the provincial government of La Union has validated 359 cultural components in total to finish its cultural mapping.
The La Union Provincial Information Office stated that the list comprises 111 natural heritage elements, 104 intangible cultural heritage, 71 tangible moveable objects, 46 immovable property, 17 cultural institutions, and 10 significant personalities.
Using a community validation process, the validators included community leaders, key informants, government representatives, and other cultural stakeholders, whose contributions and knowledge were critical in refining the cultural map and confirming inventory entries.
Most significant findings
Among the most notable discoveries are Panagdamili (potterymaking), Panagabel (loomweaving), Gayang (ethnographic object), San Pedro Bell (tangible), and Cedula De Bautismo (archival).
Since ancient times, Panagdamili has been a significant piece in human history, symbolizing the emergence and advancement of civilization. According to the La Union Provincial Tourism Office, Barangay Taboc is one of the places in San Juan, La Union where pottery has flourished.
The San Pedro Bell, owned by the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of San Fernando La Union, has been verified under the tangible things. Friar Mariano Garcia received it on behalf of the St. Peter and Paul Church in 1883, photographed by Hilario Calica and Governor Mariona Balancio. The tourism bureau further stated that it was taken out of the church belfry by US forces stationed in the Philippines in 1901.
The archiving system also revealed the existence of the Cedula De Bautismo, a baptism certificate printed on ordinary paper with dimensions of six by eight inches.
In addition, a printed image of Christ's baptism was positioned in the upper center of the page.
Cultural mapping program
Cultural mapping at La Union started in 2022, with approximately 10 cultural mappers employed to collect the data.
The printing and replication of the inventory, scheduled for June or July of this year, will be the program's climax.
Dr. Leah Abayao, a history professor at the University of the Philippines Baguio; Dr. Danilo Alterado, a former philosophy professor at Saint Louis University; and Dr. Jocelyn Alimondo, a former administrator of the Diocese of Baguio Schools, served as external validators for the process.
