A CEBU-based non-government organization will launch in Iloilo City on February 19 a regional heritage program calling for nominations of exemplary individuals and outstanding institutions in Visayas and Mindanao.
Artist Eugene Jamerlan of the Iloilo Heritage Council said the regional heritage caravan of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated (Rafi) will search and award outstanding men, women and institutions by giving them due recognition as the “unsung heroes in this part of the country.”
The search will focus mostly on the preservation of heritage in the locality, Rafi said.
Doctor Joyce Gerra of the Rafi heritage program will lead the Iloilo leg of the caravan to be held at the Central Philippine University (CPU) Media Center starting at nine in the morning.
Rafi will give out the nomination forms and accept nominations to the heritage search in close cooperation with CPU Outreach Center and Iloilo Heritage Council.
Rafi is widely known to conduct education and leadership training programs to outstanding students and mentors in the Visayas and Mindanao. It is sponsoring the only social development award program given to outstanding individuals and institutions every three years.
Iloilo has existing two Rafi awardees who won the awards in 2007. Wilfredo Homicillada of Process Foundation and Nanay Cubing of Central Panay both were able to preserve and maintain the cultural heritage practices of central Panay Ilonggos.
This year, Rafi will expand its criteria, which will include institutions engaged in the preservation of Ilonggo heritage.
After the Iloilo leg, the Rafi team will go to Bacolod City and then to Davao and other cities in Mindanao.