The University of Santo Tomas Graduate School–Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics (USTGS-CCCPET) served as the National Secretariat for the 14th Biennial National Convention of Church Cultural Heritage Workers, held from March 2 to 5, 2026, at Chali Resort and Conference Centre in Cagayan de Oro City.

Organized under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines–Episcopal Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church (CBCP-ECCHC), the convention gathered diocesan heritage officers, archivists, historians, architects, scholars, and cultural workers from across the country for dialogue and collaboration on the stewardship of ecclesiastical cultural heritage.

The convention was held in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), reinforcing collaboration between Church institutions and national cultural agencies. Through this partnership, the gathering served as a platform for aligning mandates, policies, and conservation guidelines, particularly in the protection of historic church structures and ecclesiastical cultural properties.

USTGS-CCCPET has long been an academic partner of the CBCP-ECCHC in advancing heritage conservation initiatives within the Catholic Church in the Philippines. Since 2009, the Center has provided technical and administrative support to the Commission through research, publications, training programs, and national conventions that promote the pastoral care and stewardship of church heritage.

As the National Secretariat, USTGS-CCCPET undertook the critical task of coordinating the national organization of the convention. Its responsibilities included program coordination, communication with dioceses and partner institutions, preparation of conference materials, management of registrations, and logistical support, all in close collaboration with the local host, the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.

Through these efforts, the Secretariat helped ensure that the convention served as an effective venue for professional exchange, pastoral collaboration, and dialogue among church heritage practitioners.

The Center’s involvement reflects the University of Santo Tomas’ continuing commitment to safeguarding the cultural heritage of the Church through research, training, and community engagement. Through its academic programs in Cultural Heritage Studies and sustained collaboration with dioceses, government cultural agencies, and international partners, USTGS-CCCPET contributes to the formation of heritage professionals who bring together scholarship, technical competence, and pastoral sensitivity in the service of conservation.