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The 2024 Youth Forum on Heritage (YFH) will be held May 20 to 22 in Pavia, Iloilo, as part of the National Heritage Month celebrations. This year’s theme, “Heritage: Capacity Building to Transform Communities,” underscores the importance of cultural heritage in community development.
The forum is a partnership between the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc. (FHFI), which has spearheaded NHM celebrations for the past 20 years.
Presidential Proclamation No. 439, s. 2003 declares May as National Heritage Month (NHM)
The annual YFH, conducted since 2016, aims to instill among young Filipinos a passion for preserving the nation’s cultural treasures and understanding their importance in nation-building, according to Armita B. Rufino, president of FHFI.
Organized through partnerships with public and private sectors, YFH is designed to equip young participants with the knowledge and tools necessary for heritage preservation.
This year’s forum will include workshops and fieldwork, focusing on “Project Development for the Preservation and Protection of the Local Cultural Heritage” and “The Youth as an Integral Part of Tourism Development and Cultural Heritage Preservation.”
The event is supported by the Office of the 2nd District of Iloilo through Congressman Michael B. Gorriceta, with participants from the eight municipalities of the district: Alimodian, Leganes, Leon, New Lucena, Pavia, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, and Zarraga.
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The forum’s objectives are to promote local cultural heritage awareness, foster community pride, equip participants with heritage preservation knowledge, and encourage youth participation in cultural mapping and preservation programs.
Delan Lopez Robillos, program consultant for YFH, emphasized the forum’s evolution and its impact on local communities.
“The most important contribution is that the fora have inculcated in young minds a love for heritage through ‘malasakit’,” said Robillos.
The 2024 YFH is also supported by the Office of Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and Security Bank Corporation.
For more information, visit www.heritagefestival.com.ph or follow Filipino Heritage Festival Inc. on Facebook and @filheritagefest on Instagram.