San Nicolas bags PH heritage award on education, interpretation

MALACAÑANG, Manila – Municipal Vice-Mayor Edistio P. Valdez on Wednesday, October 24, received the 2018 Philippine Heritage Award (Heritage Education and Interpretation Category) of the Municipality of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.

The award is in recognition of the town’s exemplary works and contributions in the field of heritage preservation and conservation efforts through the Damili or earthenware modules and Damili School of Living Traditions.

Said award helps sustain and reinvigorate earthenware-making as an integral part of the community’s social life.

President Rodrigo Duterte conferred the presidential citation to the municipality along with five (5) other recipients from various institutions and local governments after careful evaluation and recommendation of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

In his speech, Duterte said that it is vital to preserve and promote the nation’s homegrown talents in spite of today’s fast-paced world filled with modern technology, “we must recognize and fulfill our duty to stay true to who we are, remember where we came from, and honor the timelessness of our culture and traditions,” he said.

“I urge our awardees to never hesitate to pass down their knowledge and skills to the younger generation because it is only by educating and training the youth the legacy and work of our artists can live on,” he added.

The Philippine Heritage Awards is the first recognition program for special achievements and important contributions and services in the area of heritage preservation and conservation efforts which is pursuant to Section 37 of Republic Act No. 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009. – Rod Jerick R. Ribao