LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), together with the Provincial Government of Pangasinan through the Center for Pangasinan Studies (CPS), conducted a 3-day local history and heritage training workshop last June 20-22, 2023, held at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen.

Dr. Perla Legazpi, Executive Director of Center for Pangasinan Studies, welcomed the participants while Ms. Carminda Arevalo presented the overview of the training syllabus. With over 150 participants from different LGUs and HEIs in Pangasinan, the event focused on 6 lectures: Sources on Local History Research, Professionalizing Local History and Heritage, Agents of Deterioration, Identifying, Documenting, Surveying, and Marking Historic Sites and Structures, Handling Heritage Issues, Case Studies of the NHCP-HPD, and Local History and Heritage Planning and Programming. The lectures were delivered by the representatives from NHCP including Mr. Gerwill I. Cruz, Mr. Josef Alec D. Geradilla, Mr. Rommel R. Aquino, Ms. Juvelyn D. Niervres, and Ar. Genissa O. Villegas. Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III, known for being an advocate for the province’s culture and heritage, also joined the seminar and was able to listen to some of the lectures.

“You know, heritage, culture, history, arts–these are very important things. Hindi lang po lahat ng bagay ay puro infrastructure, social services (Not all things are purely infrastructure, social services),” Governor Guico emphasized in his speech. Addressing engineers and architects who represented various LGUs at the seminar, Governor Guico likewise shared how he strictly follows the Building Code and Highway Code, highlighting the value of respecting both the safety and aesthetic aspects of spaces in the province. Governor Guico connected this with the significance of knowing their town’s or city’s history and heritage structures so that these would not be mistakenly demolished in the event of constructing new buildings and/or roadways.

Meanwhile, other activities included fieldwork and presentation of outputs on Survey and Documentation of selected Historic and Heritage Sites in Lingayen, Practical Demonstration of Repainting and Rehabilitation of Historical Markers, and open forums.
The event successfully concluded with the awarding of certificates to the participants.

/JBT & MCDG-U
Photos: KFC