March 29, 2024

The City Planning and Development Office is hopeful the mapping of a hundred identified tangible and intangible heritage resources in Baguio City will be complete by Dec. 17.

City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) Coordinator Donna Rillera-Tabangin said a team, composed of a film group, an architect, lead mappers, and researchers who underwent training and lectures on historical culture and heritage mapping procedures is leading the cultural mapping.

For land forms and bodies of water which may be considered as cultural treasures, the location, area, description, and ownership are being sought, and the stories associated with it are recorded.

The team will report the significance of a natural resource, threat or issues, and suggestions on the manner of conservation.

Critical areas, such as those in flood or landslide areas, are also being mapped.

For plants considered to be cultural resources, the origin and habitat, description, classification and season when they grow and their common and scientific names are also being traced.

Tangible and immovable heritage structures include houses, schools, hospitals, churches, monuments, and even cemeteries.

These are classified based on the type of building, its history, indigeneity, importance, current status, and stories associated with them.

The structure may also be classified if they were established during the American, Spanish, or during the pre- or post-war period.

Tangible and movable heritage objects include tools, household items, clothing, craft, weaponry, art, decoration, games and hobbies, and even liturgical items: image, sculpture, vestments, relic.

Metal heraldic items such as furniture, coin, vehicle, flag, and buttons are also considered as tangible heritage resources. Stories associated with their origins or under which circumstances are considered in their preservation.

Artists’ items such as paintings, carvings, sculpture, drawings and papers, manuscripts, books and photographs’ negatives shall also be preserved, as with weavings, embroidery, and instruments.

The team is also mapping oral tradition including prayers, chants, arts, social practices, rituals, songs, and narratives and how these are transferred and their significance.

The mapping came after recommendation for policies were promulgated to ensure protection, preservation, conservation, and promotion of local cultural and historical heritage.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong signed a contract with the National Center for Culture and the Arts for training on cultural and heritage mapping. – Julie G. Fianza