The Catanduanes Culture and Arts Council (CCAC) last week presented the updated inventory of local cultural properties in the province and discussed various strategies for continuing the documentation, preservation, and promotion of the province’s cultural heritage.
In the Nov. 12, 2024 meeting at the Governor’s Office conference room, Gov. Joseph Cua and the council members reiterated their unwavering commitment to preserve and promote the listed cultural properties, expressing their belief that culture and the arts are the heart and soul of every community.
Provincial tourism officer Carmel Bonifacio Garcia told the Tribune that the council is in the process of updating the inventory based on the assessment report of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). The updating is supposed to be done annually pursuant to the guidelines.
Included in the summary list of tangible and immovable cultural properties submitted by the provincial council to the NCCA are 22 edifices, most of them parish churches of historical significance.
The religious sites are: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Virac, Diocesan Shrine of the Holy Cross in Bato, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Church in Viga, Our Lady of Sorrows Shrine in Batong Paloway, San Andres, Shrine of the Holy Innocents in Virac, St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Church in San Andres, St. Anthony de Padus Parish Church in Cabugao, Bato, St. Ignatius de Loyola Parish Church in Pandan, St. James the Greater Parish Church in Panganiban, St. John the Baptist Parish Church in Bato, St. John the Baptist Parish Church in Caramoran, St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish Church in Baras, St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church in San Miguel,
The other cultural properties are the Catanduanes Provincial Capitol in Virac, the Catanduanes World War II Memorial Fountain in Virac, the Cong. Francisco A. Perfecto Building in Virac, Jose M. Alberto Memorial Plaza in Virac, Luyang Cave Park in San Andres, Mount Cagmasoso in San Andres, Museo de Catanduanes, Vitex Parviflora (Molave) tree in Virac, and the Gabaldon school building at the Virac Pilot Elementary School.
The provincial list also includes some properties in the inventory submitted by the 11 towns, particularly the parish churches.
Aside from the parish church and the Batalay shrine, the Bato LGU also included in its inventory the old Japanese garrison, the Himno kan Munisipyo nin Bato, Mutya nin Bato Hymn, and the Bato Foundation Day.
The Tribune has yet to get hold of the inventory of local cultural properties from the other 10 towns.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts provides data from the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP) which is a repository of information related to culturally properties. The registry was established through Article V Section 4 of the National Heritage Act of 2009 Republic Act 10066. The main page contains maps of registered cultural properties, inventories of registered properties, works from national artists, forms to submit cultural properties, and internal reports from the registry.
his is map of local cultural heritage from the submitted cultural inventories of Philippine local government units (LGUs). It includes registered properties and local cultural properties.
his drive contains the inventory of properties registered with the PRECUP. It has data available for properties nationwide and separated by region. The drive also contains information on Works from national artists.