Cultural Mapping of Panay and Guimaras

𝟯𝟮 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘀 𝗢𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 🧡

The Cultural Mapping team of Panay, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental (CMPG) formally launched the cultural inventories of Negros Occidental in a ceremonial turnover held at the Acacia Hotel in Bacolod City on February 19, 2026.

The project documented a total of 646 cultural assets in Negros Occidental. This comprises 154 natural resources, 238 tangible immovable heritage, 62 tangible movable heritage, and 104 intangible cultural heritage assets. 55 significant personalities and 33 cultural institutions were also documented.

As a result, the project produced 32 books, each representing a city and municipality of Negros Occidental. These books reflect the collaborative efforts of teacher-mappers, tourism officers, and cultural workers from Negros Occidental, including personnel from the University of the Philippines Visayas, all of whom worked closely with local government units and community stakeholders of the province.

The books were received by the teacher-mappers, tourism officers, and local government officials from the various cities and municipalities.

Present during the activity were NCCA Deputy Executive Director Marichu Tellano, Negros Occidental Senior Tourism Officer Raymond Alunan, Project Leader for DepEd Dr. Pamela Pinky Guanzon, and Consultant for Negros Occidental mapping Dr. Joefe Santarita. The event was organized by the CMPG Team from UP Visayas, led by Prof. Martin Genodepa and Anna Razel Limoso Ramirez. Other members of the CMPG team include Lissandrine Espartero, Michelle Villavert, Marc Leo Layson, Dennis Daniel Jr., Aodh Alegoro, Almera Facto, Teresita Quezon, Chrystal Zaki, Alven Polido, and Ian Dapulaza.

The Cultural Mapping of Negros Occidental was made possible through the initiative and steadfast support of Senator Loren Legarda, the principal author of the Cultural Mapping Law. Senator Legarda’s continued advocacy for cultural preservation and heritage conservation has significantly advanced efforts to safeguard local histories and traditions across the country.

These 32-volume cultural inventories mark a significant milestone in heritage documentation and preservation. Beyond documentation, these books strengthen cultural identity. It ensures that the rich legacy of Negros Occidental is preserved for future generations.

A heartfelt congratulations to our talented Video Producer and Editor, Mr. Daniel de la Cruz, for garnering the Best Short Film award for his film “Ang Gadya Sang Suba” during the Sinag Maynila 2025, an independent film festival. The award-winning film of de la Cruz uses a folkloric lens of Western Visayas' environmental spirits to discuss the urgent issues of climate change and deforestation. A truly well-earned success and one in which the Cultural Mapping of Panay, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental Project takes pride.

Your CMPG family is thrilled for you, Dan! Cheers to your hard work!

Congratulations Senator Loren Legarda on being elected as the Chairperson of the Committees on Culture and the Arts; Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education; National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation; and Accounts.

The Cultural Mapping of Panay, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental Project wish you the best as you embark on this new journey.

𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐀 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐥

The research paper titled “Cultural Mapping of Natural Heritages in the First and Second Congressional Districts in Iloilo Province, West Central Philippines”, authored by Prof. Joselito Trandio P. Mendoza of Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISATU) and Anna Razel L. Ramirez of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), was presented during the 30th C**A 2025 Symposium held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from August 25–29, 2025.

The paper highlights the documentation and data management strategies for natural heritage sites in Iloilo through digitization and website development. It forms part of the broader Cultural Mapping of Panay and Guimaras (CMPG) initiative and contributes to the evolving discourse on digital heritage conservation.

The C**A 2025 Symposium, themed “Heritage Conservation from Bits: From Digital Documentation to Data-driven Heritage Conservation,” emphasized the growing role of data and artificial intelligence in cultural heritage preservation. The event brought together experts from diverse fields to explore how digital tools and data analysis can support the conservation of artifacts, archaeological sites, historic buildings, landscapes, and museums.

The paper by Mendoza and Ramirez was also approved for publication in the Copernicus ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, marking an important academic milestone for Philippine cultural heritage research on an international platform.

This work was made possible through the support of the Government of the Philippines (GOP), with funding for the CMPG project. Special acknowledgment is extended to Senator Loren B. Legarda for her initiative and full support, and to partner institutions UPV and ISATU for their collaboration in this significant endeavor.

Congratulations to Sen. Loren Legarda on her Chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Arts and Culture!

A true champion of Philippine heritage, Sen. Legarda walks her talk - consistently advancing the cause of culture and the arts in Western Visayas and the whole country.

We cannot thank her enough for her tireless efforts and meaningful initiatives that preserve and celebrate our rich cultural identity, specifically through the Cultural Mapping of Panay, Guimaras and Negros Occidental!

Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, UPV Chancellor Clement Camposano and Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension, Prof. Encarnacion Emilia S. Yap! Thank you for your unwavering support for the Cultural Mapping of Panay, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental Project!

The University of the Philippines Visayas (UP Visayas) has been recognized as a Heritage Awardee by the Iloilo City Government for its vital role in preserving and promoting cultural heritage through the Cultural Mapping of Panay and Guimaras (CMPG) Project.

The award was conferred during a ceremony held at Diversion 21 Hotel, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, on June 26, 2025. UPV Chancellor Clement C. Camposano received the award alongside CMPG core team leaders Prof. Martin Genodepa, Ms. Anna Razel L. Ramirez, and Prof. Anthea Redison. The CMPG is a cultural initiative of Sen. Loren Legarda who is the author of the Cultural Mapping Law. (Photos by Marc Leo Layson)

The CMPG team went to Caluya and Sibato islands in the province of Antique last weekend June 7-9, 2025 to document the Seaweed Farming of Caluya, and to capture their pristine waters and white sands.

This serves as the second phase of Caluya's cultural mapping after its participation in the Cultural Mapping project of Antique last 2022.🧡

LOOK: 𝗖𝗠𝗣𝗚 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 📊📈

After its launch during the Kasanag sang Kultura: Western Visayas sa Mata sang Kamera on May 24, 2025, the website of the Cultural Mapping of Panay, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental Project (CMPG) is gaining impressive traction, attracting not only local interest but international attention as well.

Our most recent analytics reveal a significant percentage of visitors engaging with our listings of cultural assets in Western Visayas, with the majority coming from specific countries and cities. Interestingly, among our listings of cultural assets, the "Badiang" plant gained the most visits, drawing the attention of heritage seekers.