There is more to a place than what meets the eye.
That is why a guide is necessary if someone is visiting a place if the
first time.
In Argao town, southern Cebu, learning its history and culture is made easier by the Argao Youth Heritage Society (AYHS), a group of heritage volunteers led by Rodel Campaner.
Campaner is a second year Industrial Engineering student of Cebu Technological University (CTU)-Argao campus. He is a scholar of the Cebu Tertiary Assistance Program.
For Campaner, 17, from the mountain barangay of Jampang, the youth should develop a passion for preserving heritage and its tangible artifacts, like the town plaza’s coral stone walls and the church’s intricately designed ceiling. Both were built during the Spanish period.
“I am always eager to learn more, especially about history and culture,” he said.
Argao town has emerged to become a heritage and eco-tourism destination in the province, and the AYHS was formed to guide foreign and local visitors.
Campaner was only 12 when he and 79 other schoolmates in high school joined the group in 2008. He said an Argao tourism office representative visited their school and recruited them as tour guide volunteers.
The volunteers underwent a series of workshops and trainings, which included the ethics of tour guiding, tour planning and tour packing. The group also holds regular meetings every Saturday to enhance their skills in handling tourists.
cultural preservation
As president of AYHS, Campaner is always looking for ways to inspire others to work towards cultural preservation.
So when the municipality of Argao launched the Integrated Children’s Development Program (ICDP) in 2012, the AYHS members joined the group. The ICDP is held on weekends in April.
ICDP focuses on the growth of Argao’s youth in arts, sports and personality development.
At present, the AYHS with only 20 members left holds outreach programs in schools to recruit
more members.
The new AYHS members undergo a mock tour and critical review to determine if they are ready.
Argao, with the help of AYHS, also has its own version of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.’s (RAFI) Gabii sa Kabilin held
every May.
CABECERA TOUR
Local and foreign visitors are treated to a tour of Cabecera de Argao, a Spanish-era pueblo which is home to the historical municipal hall known as the Casa Real, St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church, the Puerta Marina, the Hall of Justice that is also called Cuartel and the town’s delicacy industry. Argao is famous for its torta, a baked delicacy made with tuba.
An educational tour of 100 students from the University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR) was Rodel’s most memorable experience when he handled their Cabecera tour in 2009.
Rodel, the youngest pioneering member of the group, said he was uneasy at first and was mindful of his English, but eventually he regained his confidence and breezed through the tour.
Later that year, he was one of the facilitators of a cultural tour of 20 Dutch visitors. With the help of residents, they shared discussions with the guests, caught land crabs, and toured them in the town’s Romahan (a field of Roma plants).
Last May, Campaner participated in RAFI’s Kool Adventure Camp challenge ropes course, which he said honed his leadership and coordination skills.
“A leader should be a good example to his fellow youth. If they can see a good role model, perhaps they would follow in his steps,” he said.