Today would be a good time to explore a museum to revisit the stories that formed the Filipino culture and identity. Even for avid museum visitors, there will always be something new about an artifact that will give another view to an old story.

Today would also be a good day for story-telling. Sit with family, friends, or members of the community to pass on stories about our cultural practices and the rituals of traditions.  Oral history has been recognized for its value in passing on tradition.

Why not make it a shopping day for traditional artworks and crafts, instead of imported products?  That will help preserve the age-old crafts, and also provide income to the artists.

These suggested activities are for celebrating May as National Heritage Month which was declared by Presidential Proclamation No. 439 signed in 2003, “to strengthen the people’s awareness of cultural heritage sites, structures and landscapes, and encourage their participation in the preservation of these cultural legacies through various activities such as performing arts, visual art and fashion exhibits, thematic culinary events, as well as popular folk food fairs, design retrospectives and competitions, media and literary events, and homage to living traditions and intangible heritage.”

National Heritage Month 2024 focuses on the theme “Championing heritage: Capacity building to transform communities,”  to enhance the skills of heritage workers to preserve our cultural and historical markers.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) said it intends to make capacity-building programs and tools such as cultural mapping available to all Filipinos. “The activity strives to recognize, conserve, and preserve our ancestors' historical heritage and identity for future generations.”
Cultural mapping aims to identify and document cultural assets, such as historical sites, traditional practices, art forms, languages, and stories – to understand the cultural heritage of a place and guide policies on its preservation.

The significant role of communities in protecting and conserving our cultural heritage was emphasized by NCCA Chairperson Victorino Mapa Manalo, who said: “It is within these communities that traditions are passed down from generation to generation ensuring that our rich cultural heritage continues to thrive.”

The month-long celebration includes lectures, exhibits, and cultural performances to give Filipinos venues to reconnect with the past. Find time to look for the venues of the activities where traditional dances will be performed, old-craft making demonstrated, and stories will be told for the young to pass on to the next generation.  Bring the young members of the family to witness the cultural activities that will celebrate multi-cultural traditions of our people.

It is also time for private groups to revive their corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects that aims to preserve pieces of our heritage.  In the past years, there were CSR programs that documented chants and rituals performed before planting and harvesting crops. There are many other rituals from each region that should be recorded.

Each of us is responsible for preserving and passing on the threads that weave the rich fabric of our heritage.  A strong heritage is a factor that strengthens the Filipino identity and builds a strong nation.