THE CULTURAL Mapping of Antique Province kicks into high gear by January 2021 following the collaboration among the Department of Education Antique, University of the Philippines Visayas, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the provincial government of Antique.

The DepEd will conduct cultural mapping training in Antique per the General Appropriation Act for fiscal year 2019 as initiated by Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda.

“The training is meant to establish baseline documentation and interconnectivity of cultural resources in localities and develop primary and secondary teachers’ learning materials,” UP Visayas said in a statement.

“Cultural mapping is a fitting response to revitalize the core of Antique’s culture through a comprehensive inventory of its tangible and intangible heritage.”

Through the one year project, social studies and MAPEH teachers from the 22 school districts of Antique will be trained and to be joined by 18 tourism officers of the province.

“The focus of the project is the mapping of Antique, following the NCCA format and taking note of the Traditional Knowledge System Model themes: Water Bodies and Coastal Environments, Arable and Habitable Terrains, Sustainable Arts and Crafts, Forest and Biodiversity, Environmental Rituals and Traditions, and Personages and the tangible heritage of Antique through the NCCA toolkit,” UP Visayas added.

DepEd Antique will spearhead the project through School’s Division Superintendent Dr. Felisa Beriong, Dr. Eleanor Dagala, and Supervisor for Social Studies and Supervisor for MAPEH Dr. Rodrigo Sarapanan.

Antique cultural experts that are part of the project meanwhile, include Board Member Errol Santillan, Jay Tondares, Richard Magbanua, Dante Beriong, Fr. Cornelius Ysulat, Jonathan Degracia, and Sammy Rabido.

UPV Project Development Assistant for Antique Anna Razel Ramirez will be the overall project manager alongside the school’s team of experts headed by Dr. Alicia Magos, an anthropologist and Professor Emeritus.

“The UPV and DepEd team is expected to come up with a cultural mapping compendium/ collection, which may be in the form of a book/s and/or any tangible pieces of evidence such as photographs, videos of TKS, a mini-museum, or display area,” the university said.