Iloilo City has gained another repository of its rich history, as well as a future tourist destination, with the establishment of the Cultural Heritage and Educational Research Center (CHER) at the Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT U) in La Paz district.
The PHP12.5-million center was established through a PHP9-million grant from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and PHP3.5 million from the savings of the university.
“I am happy that the building is now finished. They have some initial collections in place. The next step is how they can enhance the collection that is included in the museum so that it is attractive for people to visit,” CHED chairperson J. Prospero D. De Vera III said during the blessing and soft launch of the heritage center on Thursday.
He said the university will coordinate with the provincial and city governments, as well as other museums, so CHER can showcase different types of collections to become a tourist attraction.
The two-story CHER has an audio-visual room, a gallery of the paintings of former students, old machines used for furniture making, and old weaving and sewing equipment showcasing the school’s expertise in arts and trades.
ISAT U president Dr. Gabriel Salistre Jr. said the CHER is proof of their “commitment to preserving and promoting our rich Ilonggo cultural heritage while fostering educational research.”
“The ISAT U Cultural Heritage and Educational Research Center will serve as a museum with a cultural digital platform to communicate the Ilonggo ancestry, heritage, and history to 21st-century learners in the Philippines and our partner institutions abroad,” he said in a message during the short program.
The center will allow students, faculty, researchers, and historians to learn and conduct further study and research through digitized data on the Ilonggo ancestry, heritage, history, journalism, and literature, he said.
“Through this center, we aim to create an environment that encourages the preservation, appreciation, and understanding of our cultural legacy. It will catalyze interdisciplinary research, enabling scholars to explore the intersections between culture, education, and society,” Salistre said. (PNA)
