“Preserve our own identity thru cultural heritage”- Gov. Abet

 BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Bataan Governor Albert S. Garcia on Wednesday led the official launching of the cultural mapping project of the Bataan Tourism Office, envisioned to document the significant heritage of the province in a broad awareness campaign for them to be valued, owned and used by the people so that the benefits of tourism would translate to the betterment of the community.

   Gov. Garcia in his brief remark said that the thrust of the provincial government is to preserve “our own identity through cultural heritage.” The governor pointed out that preservation of cultural heritage is akin to opening the province to would-be investors and become a component of globalization thus improving the constituents’ lives.

   The cultural mapping will be conducted in the eleven municipalities and one city to be facilitated by Professor Eric Zerrudo and the University of Santo Tomas Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and the Environment in the Tropics (UST-CCCPET) in cooperation with the Bataan Peninsula Tourism Council Foundation, Inc. chaired by the governor’s mother, Mrs. Vicky Garcia.

   With the expertise of UST-CCCPET, they will identify and map out all natural and man-made attractions, historical and cultural win the end in view of appreciating more everything about Bataan. “You must identify a specific historical place for development and try to understand its significance; the cohesive memories of your towns and you must relate them to the past,” Professor Zerudo said.

   Zerrudo, a professional who specializes on the development of cultural heritage, and an associate professor at the University of Santo Tomas was the resource person during the launching of the cultural heritage mapping project, attended by the provincial board members, municipal mayors, department heads of the provincial capitol, members of the academe, the media, and non-government organizations.