Original Source: www.ust.edu.ph
The University of Santo Tomas has secured the prestigious Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation grant, valued at $245,000, for the Samar Fortification Project. This initiative, part of the Safeguarding Sentinels Of The Samar Seas campaign, aims at revitalizing forgotten fortifications while promoting heritage research, educational programs, and tourism to enhance holistic development in Samar Province. By showcasing historically significant sites, this project will stimulate community-driven conservation efforts, helping to weave the past into the region’s future.
To commence this transformative project, US Embassy officials, including Deputy Director Chad Kinnear and Resource Coordination Specialist Edwin Vergara, visited three fortification sites in Samar on November 21-22, 2024, accompanied by a team from UST. Governor Sharee Ann Tan expressed gratitude for this collaboration between the embassy and the university, highlighting the project’s potential impact on the community’s cultural landscape. Beverly Bautista, project director at USTGS-CCCPET, asserted that this endeavor aligns with the university’s mission to preserve cultural heritage for future generations.
The Samar Fortification Project is scheduled to launch on December 4, 2024, in Sta. Rita, through partnerships with the Samar Provincial Government and the Local Government of Sta. Rita. The Ambassadors Fund, established by the US Department of State, actively supports global efforts to preserve cultural heritage, encompassing diverse elements from historic structures to traditional crafts, reinforcing the intrinsic value of cultural continuity.
In this narrative of hope and progress, UST’s initiative underlines the essential of cultural heritage as a foundation for community empowerment, fostering a legacy that nurtures both pride and responsibility in future stewards of the land. Together, the university, local governments, and the US Embassy embark on a journey towards reclamation and revitalization, inviting the community into a narrative steeped in history and promise.
The US State Department’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) aims to safeguard cultural heritage by providing grants for projects that focus on historic sites, collections, and practices. The funding allows institutions like the University of Santo Tomas to engage in significant conservation efforts, which not only enhance local tourism but also educate communities about their cultural legacy. This particular project focuses on the fortifications in Samar, which hold historical significance yet have often been overlooked. Through interdisciplinary approaches, the project promotes sustainable tourism and encourages responsible stewardship among the community. The collaboration between the US Embassy and UST represents a significant international partnership aimed at cultural conservation, aligning global efforts with local needs.
The University of Santo Tomas’s successful acquisition of the AFCP grant is poised to breathe new life into Samar’s rich cultural heritage. Through the Samar Fortification Project, forgotten historical structures will not only be preserved but also transformed into sites of education, tourism, and community engagement. This project epitomizes the power of collaboration in cultural preservation, promising a brighter future for both local communities and their historical treasures. The initiative champions the ideal of responsible stewardship, ensuring that cultural legacies are revered and passed down through generations.
