PH gears for the 1st National Youth Forum on Heritage

Preservation of vernacular languages, popularization of the native syllabary, raising heritage awareness through animation, biodiversity and culture synergy, impact of tourism and creative industries to culture and history, cultural mapping for local governments’ reference in policy making, campaigning for the indigenous peoples’ rights. These are some of the themes and issues extracted from the applications of the 54 selected regional delegates to the 1st National Youth Forum on Heritage (1NYFH).

After four years of development, the 1NYFH will finally commence on 11-14 November 2015 at Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna. It is very serendipitous that the theme of the 1NYFH “Entering the Future Remembering the Past” is inspired by Laguna-native Jose Rizal in his epigraph to his 1880 award-winning play El Consejo de los Dioses: “Con el recuerdo del pasado entro en el porvenir” (“I enter the future remembering the past”).

The 1NYFH Secretariat has received 238 applications from all over the country. Ninety-six (96) have reached the National Screening Assembly, and from them the 54 regional delegates were selected. In addition, the Secretariat has selected from the applicants 26 to fill the Sectoral Seats, e.g. religious, creative industry, music, journalism. Six more seats were recently added for young volunteers active in the six UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the country.

Delegates from as far as Batanes and Tawi-Tawi are expected to compose the 1NYFH. There are also Lumads of Mindanao and indigenous peoples from Palawan selected, hence, the background of the delegates is quite diverse, with educators and undergraduate students making up the majority.

The members of the National Screening Board (NSB) who screened the applications on 27 September 2015 were: Engr. Ricardo Favis (retired Cultural Affairs Officer, UNESCO Regional Office Bangkok representing Ilocano and the Cultural Work Sector), Norma Crisologo-Liongoren (Member of the HABI Philippine Textile Council, representing Pangasinan and the Creative Industry Sector), and Joel Pabustan Mallari (Researcher, Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, representing Kapampangan and the Archaeological Studies Sector) for Northern Philippine Sector A (Regions I, II, III, CAR, and NCR).

Ar. Arnulfo Dado (from the National Museum of the Philippines, representing Bicolano and the Built Heritage Sector), Hon. Victor Emmanuel Carmelo Nadera, Jr. (Commissioner, UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines and Director IV, Philippine High School for the Arts, representing Tagalog Tayabasin and the Literary Arts Sector), Hon. Rev. Fr. Harold Ll. Rentoria, O.S.A. (Commissioner, National Commission on Culture and the Arts, representing Bicolano and the Church Heritage Sector), and Dr. Lars Raymund Ubaldo (History Professor from the De La Salle University History Department, representing Tagalog Mindoro and the Historical and Cultural Studies Sector) are assigned to the Northern Philippine Sector B (Regions IV-A, IV-B, and V).

The Central Philippine Sector C (Regions VI, VII, VII, and Negros Island Region) is composed of Ar. Veronica Dado (Deputy Executive Director of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, representing Ilonggo Negros and the Built Heritage Sector) and Atty. Lucille Karen Malilong-Isberto (Head of the NCCA National Committee on Monuments and Sites, representing Cebuano and the Built Heritage Sector).

Finally, Toym Imao (independent artist, representing Tausug and Maranao and the Visual Arts Sector) and Noorain S. Sabdulla (Program Director of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines, RFM Foundation, Inc., representing the Tausug and the Youth Sector) man the Southern Philippine Sector D.

The National Youth Forum on Heritage (NYFH) is a platform for both the Filipino youth who advocate for heritage and the stakeholders of Filipino heritage. Its thrusts are mainly focused on youth participation in nation-building through the promotion, conservation and education of Filipino heritage. The forum is anchored in awareness and empowerment of the youth.

NYFH envisions a Filipino youth who is aware of his or her identity through appreciating the nation’s past, culture and natural resources and drawing inspirations from these. Because he or she treasures everything that constitutes the nation’s soul (culture), inherent beauty (nature), and spirit (history), he or she is after the conservation and promotion of these. In doing so, the NYFH has a mission of fostering active youth involvement in increasing the community and fellow youth’s awareness of the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 and other similar initiatives on youth participation in heritage, and integrating them in various youth programs and initiatives, regardless of professional background and field.

The NYFH is a proud youth program by the youth, of the youth, and for the youth. Its steering group is composed of young men and women who selflessly consecrate their ideas, time, energy, and skills for its success, which includes the young leaders of The Outstanding Students of the Philippines Region 3 Alumni Community of Heroes, Inc., Project Saysay, and Proyekto PH. It is supported by the RFM Foundation, Inc., together with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Philippine High School for the Arts, Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

For queries, contact the Secretariat at nyfh.secretariat@gmail.com and visit www.facebook.com/nyfhph and www.nyfhph.com.

#NYFH #PressRelease