The Center for West Visayan Studies (CWVS), in partnership with the Office of Continuing Education and Pahinungod (OCEP), and in collaboration with Department of Education (DepEd) schools in Carles, Iloilo launched the public-service initiative, “Pulo, Panublion, Pagpadayon: A Participatory Heritage Mapping Initiative in the Gigantes Group of Islands, Carles, Iloilo” through participatory heritage mapping workshops last May 21-22, 2026 at Gigantes Group of Islands, Carles, Iloilo.
The initiative aims to strengthen community-based heritage documentation in the context of island communities through participatory heritage mapping workshops for public school teachers who are also locals of the islands. The workshops, held last May 21 at Granada National High School and May 22 at Granada National High School Ballesteros Campus, produced a preliminary, community-generated listing of heritage assets identified by participating teachers, including participatory heritage maps that visually locate key cultural and natural heritage resources across North and South Gigantes Islands.
Sixty (60) teachers from six public schools participated in the activity – 30 from North Gigantes (Granada National High School, Granada Elementary School, and Asluman Elementary School), and 30 from South Gigantes (Granada National High School Ballesteros Campus, Gabi Elementary School, and Lantangan Elementary School). These teachers will be documenting their heritage assets on their available time outside of their teaching responsibilities for a duration of four months, which will be followed by writeshops and validation activities.
This one-year initiative is a response to the need of many island communities in Western Visayas that remain underrepresented in formal heritage documentation despite possessing rich cultural traditions shaped by maritime environments.
The project team is composed of Prof. Jonevee Amparo (CWVS Acting Director), Darlene Joy Calsado (CWVS University Research Associate), Sashah Dioso (CWVS University Research Associate), Marianito Ramirez (OCEP University Extension Associate), Faith Saraza (CWVS Administrative Assistant), and Michelle Villavert (heritage mapping expert).
Written by Darlene Joy Calsado
Photos courtesy of CWVS
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