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MORE THAN JUST pristine beaches and fancy accommodations, heritage tourism in Cebu is currently eyed as a novel industry aspect that shows promise and potential for growth aside from the usual commercial attractions that lure in majority of the country’s visitors. This, aside from the fact that Cebu is the oldest city in the Philippines and serves as the cradle of Christianity in the Far East just goes to show that heritage tourism is definitely of immense value as it showcases the priceless cultural identity and historical background of the city.
 In his speech during a forum on “Community-Based Heritage Tourism” held at the in Cebu, Jose Ng, area vice president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), stressed the fact that local communities need to be involved in the conservation of the cultural landscapes and natural heritage.“This is so because cultural legacies passing through various generations need to be revived for the future in order to maintain the well-being of its resources for years to come,” he told the crowd gathered at the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center, or the EADSC. Ng is also the past president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, or the CCCI.
Cebu Heritage Monument
PROPEL-ling the Present
Playing an instrumental role is PROPEL, or Promoting Regional Opportunities for Enterprise and Livelihood, as the project aims to develop grassroots entrepreneurship through heritage tourism that will lower the poverty rate and raise economic growth in communities.
 This is implemented by providing the target communities with entrepreneurial skills and abilities; LGU/barangay, local chamber and institutional capacity-building; and local development partnership initiatives.A year-long project funded by the office of Sen. Kiko Pangilinan and the Department of Trade and Industry, or the DTI, PROPEL utilizes the pro-poor tourism approach to elevate the economic standing of the have-nots through employment, micro-enterprise development, and empowerment.
“This way, the project shall ensure that the locals are able to secure economic benefits from tourism in a fair and sustainable manner,” Ng added. Three city barangays are directly involved in the PROPEL project. These are Santo Nino (well-known for the Basilica del Santo Nino), Ermita (noted for the Carbon market), and Pari-an (known for the Heritage Monument as created by National Artist Edgardo Castrillo.)
Magellan Cross
MOU Details
In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the CCCI, the three barangays, along with their respective people’s organizations, all three parties have agreed to jointly implement the PROPEL to develop micro entrepreneurs in the area of heritage tourism. Three components in its project thrusts are the formation of a tourism committee to develop micro entrepreneurs; capacity building to equip the community with the necessary knowledge and skills relevant to the project; networking and linkaging to ensure the sustainability of the project; and the creation of a Local Tourism Policy to ensure the sustainability of cultural and heritage awareness.
Serving as signatories are CCCI bigwigs, along with the barangay captains, councilors, and heads of the homeowners associations of the three locales.With the PROPEL in place, it is hoped that Cebu would further widen its tourism genre as well as involve a greater cross-section of society in order to pave the way for qualitative, and not just quantitative, tourism growth.
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The British School Manila’s GCSE results now belongs to the top two percent from a total of over 5000 senior/high school students in the world. The new government measure in UK with regards to GCSE results measures the percentage of students who gain 5 grade A*-C including English and maths. As a school last year, The British School Manila got 100% by this measure. Only 114 schools in the UK managed this and the British School Manila ranked 78th overall.
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The British School Manila has once again demonstrated magnificent GCSE results and continue to prove that it is one of the very best schools in the world, as shown by its top scores on the United Kingdom‘s rigorous standardized test for all pupils at age 16, or in year 11.
The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examinations are a two year course culminating in the exams in May /June of year 11. A passing grade is a direct stepping stone to pre-university courses such as International Baccalaureate or A level. |
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JAPAN SUPPORTS PHILIPPINE BAMBOO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
Director Hiroko Taniguchi of the Japan Information and Cultural Center, Embassy of Japan shares a light moment with the students of P. Gomez Elementary School during the turnover ceremony of “The Project for the Improvement of Bamboo Musical Instruments” at the Philippine Normal University in Manila on March 7, 2007. The Philippine Society for Music Education received the endowment through the Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects for the purchase of bamboo musical instruments, which will be loaned to four selected schools, namely, Dagupan City National High School, Jose Juan Serapio Elementary School, Philippine Normal University, and Olongapo City National High School. |
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THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN TURNS OVER BAMBOO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TO THE PHILIPPINE SOCIETY FOR MUSIC EDUCATION (PMSE).
Director Hiroko Taniguchi (right), of the Japan Information and Cultural Center, Embassy of Japan, lead the turnover ceremony of “The Project for the Improvement of Bamboo Musical Instruments” amounting to US$11,177 to PSME President Prof. Leticia del Valle (center), at the Philippine Normal University on March 7, 2007. This project, aiming to promote music education, was funded by Japan’s Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Project. Photo also shows: Himig Kawayan Project Director, Dr. Loreto Gloria. |
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