IIT Onboard: Histo Dept, Society Sails National Stage on History and Heritage Convergence

by Maan Deuda

To foster an exchange of best practices and explore opportunities in preserving history and cultural assets, Historical Society Mayor Jay Mark Gac-ang and History Department Chairperson of Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), Dr. Jamelyn B. Palattao took part in the 11th Local Historical Committees Network (LHCN) General Assembly and 2024 National Conference on Local History and Heritage, from August 28-30, at the Berjaya Hotel, Makati City.


This year's national conference touched on subject matters such as innovations in local history and heritage, challenges and opportunities, conservation practices, and public history through the house and local museums in Southeast Asia.


Present at the LHCN General Assembly were networks of historians, cultural workers, and more than ninety (90) public and private groups that actively support local history and heritage in their respective areas.


In an interview with Gac-ang, he expressed that young academics get access to a network of seasoned historians, cultural workers, and authorities on local history and heritage through the General Assembly.


“This serves as leverage for students like me to connect with prominent historians and learn directly from them. It also challenges students like me to strive for excellence in the field of history,” he said.


The platform it established provided educational possibilities through talks, discussions, and collaborative projects on the newest developments and difficulties facing historical and cultural heritage work.


The assembly also championed greater comprehension of public history by encouraging young academics to investigate various historical viewpoints and take an active role in forming historical narratives.


Gac-ang also highlighted that through the establishment of regional clusters, the assembly facilitates stronger linkages between local historians and improves community access to historical materials and expertise.


The Department of History and the Historical Society’s commitment to historical work, as manifested in this collaborative endeavour, not only protects regional legacy but also fosters the creation of fresh historical perspectives and inventions— increasing the public's understanding and relevance of history in Mindanao and beyond.