ABSTRACT
Historic buildings, monuments, and cultural landmarks are more than just physical structures because they reflect the history, identity, and traditions of a community. This study aimed to identify and examine the histo-cultural sites of Ligao City and understand their importance in a changing society. Specifically, the study focused on the historical sites found in the city, their significance to the community, and the instructional materials that could be developed from the findings. The research used a qualitative-descriptive method through interviews, documentary analysis, and observation of selected sites involving local residents and cultural informants. The findings revealed that Ligao City is home to several important histo-cultural sites, including St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish, the old Presidencia or Municipal Hall, the Monument of the Fallen Sons, Poblacion Elementary School, St. Mary’s Academy of Ligao, Inc., ancestral houses such as the Jaucian and Pigon ancestral houses, the Ligao City Heritage and Museum, and Kawa-Kawa Hill. The study showed that these sites help preserve the culture and history of Ligao City while also strengthening the community’s sense of pride, identity, and belonging. It also highlighted that preserving these landmarks allows younger generations to appreciate the city’s heritage despite continuous modernization and development. Based on the findings, the study recommended the creation of informational and instructional materials to further promote awareness, appreciation, and preservation of the histo-cultural heritage of Ligao City.
Keywords: histo-cultural sites, heritage preservation, cultural identity
INTRODUCTION
Historical and cultural heritage plays an important role in preserving the identity, traditions, and collective memory of a community. Historical landmarks, monuments, ancestral houses, and cultural sites help people understand their roots while strengthening cultural pride and social unity. According to Renato Constantino in The Philippines: A Past Revisited, “a people without a sense of history is like a person without memory,” emphasizing the importance of preserving heritage to maintain historical awareness and national identity. In the Philippines, Republic Act No. 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 supports the protection and promotion of historical and cultural resources.
In the local context, Ligao City is known for its rich history, cultural landmarks, and natural attractions such as St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish, the old Presidencia, ancestral houses, the Ligao City Heritage Library and Museum, and Kawa-Kawa Hill. Despite the presence of these important sites, many residents, especially younger generations, have limited awareness and appreciation of their local heritage due to modernization and changing lifestyles. Previous studies mainly focused on heritage preservation, tourism, and cultural mapping in places such as Banaue, Pampanga, and Naga City, while limited studies explored how histo-cultural sites serve as anchors of identity and heritage in a changing society, particularly in Ligao City. Existing studies also gave less attention to the lived experiences and cultural attachment of residents toward these historical landmarks.
Therefore, this study entitled Ligao Histo-Cultural Sites: Anchors of Heritage in a Changing Society aimed to identify and examine the histo-cultural sites of Ligao City and determine their significance in preserving cultural heritage and community identity. Using a qualitative-descriptive research design, the study gathered information from older residents, vendors of Kawa-Kawa Hill, church personnel, tourism staff, museum staff, and owners of ancestral houses. The study also aimed to develop a magazine-type instructional material to help promote awareness and appreciation of Ligao City’s rich cultural heritage.
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