May 4, 2015, 3:52 p.m. – UST and the National Commission
for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) have formed an alliance to “further protect and
preserve the country’s cultural heritage.”
Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P., director of the UST Research
and Endowment Foundation Inc. (UST-REFI) and Fr. Harold Rentoria, OSA, NCCA
commissioner for cultural heritage, on Monday signed a memorandum of
understanding to make the partnership formal.
UST is the first university to form a partnership with
government agency.
“It could mean a series of activities or conferences that we
are going to [hold] with UST in the future, so that it will be easier for us to
request UST to help us conduct research or to be the host of a particular
conference or gathering of cultural workers or historians related to cultural
heritage,” said Fr. Rentoria.
The event, held at the lobby of the Buenaventura Garcia
Paredes, O.P. Building, also launched theme of Heritage Month and activities of
the Taoid Heritage Program of the NCCA Subcommission for Cultural Heritage.
The Santo Nino: Hope of the People photo exhibit was also
opened. It featured photographs taken by Varsitarian
alumnus Paul Quiambao and Adamson University’s Angelo Bacani. The collection
depicts the cultural identity of the Filipinos in relation to the image of Sto.
Nino de Cebu, the oldest Catholic relic in the Philippines. The exhibit will
run until May 20.
The day-long event also featured the UST J. Elizalde Navarro
Exhibit and a roundtable discussion on the standards of Cultural Heritage
Conservation, which were co-organized by the Varsitarian. Kristelle-Ann A. Batchelor
