PHILIPPINE LEAGUE OF SECRETARIES TO THE SANGGUNIAN, (PLEASES) INC.

4TH PLEASES NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES CONFERENCES AND VISAYAS ISLAND CONGRESS CUM SEMINAR ON CULTURAL HERITAGE AND TOURISM ACTIVITY DESIGN Theme: CULTURAL HERITAGE AND TOURISM - Tools toward Philippine Progress I. Rationale:

Aside from the regular Executive and National Board of Trustees Meetings, the 4th for the PLEASES present administration, the league contemplated on providing all the delegates with enhancement trainings through lectures and audio-video presentations that are useful in their respective local government units. Culture is the soul of the nation. It is a whole package of patrimonial qualities that differentiate a Filipino from his Asian brothers and sisters. Corollary to this is Tourism, the

worlds largest economic activity. Of course, Philippines had taken part on this and in fact a fast buck earner. Tourism is more than just a business. Beyond its economic benefits is its deeper impact on society. CULTURE MUST BE PRESERVED but must be relevant to the changing times. IT MUST BE CULTIVATED without sacrificing its true meaning to the everyday life of the people. IT MUST BE USED TO PROMOTE TOURISM WITH SENSITIVITY portraying our own culture as the mirror of the unique soul and character of the Filipino nation. There is a growing recognition that cultural heritage and its conservation is a shared responsibility of all levels of government, proponents and members of a community. We are now gradually moving away from simply making an inventory of heritage resources, to an integrated and interlinked approach to heritage management. Heritage is more that a record of the past it is becoming an integral part of the urban identity now, and for the future. Conserving this precious and ancient heritage has been a challenge to both governments as well as the civil society at large. This is particularly true for city governments that are in direct contact with the manifestations of heritage at the local level. Cities have recognized that many of the old historic areas are in danger of being destroyed in the name of economic development and modernization.

II.
1. 2. 3.

Objectives:

4.

5.

To conduct regular meetings of the PLEASES Executive and Board of Trustees. To provide participants additional areas of learning through topics and discussions from resource speakers. To provide the participants with ideas on how their respective local government units can strategize and develop a strong tourism industry based on their respective tourist products cultural festivals, historical attractions and unique tourist facilities and services. To enhance the participants knowledge on the formulation of an integrated sustainable tourism management plan for their respective areas, identifying viable critical environmental, infrastructure and community-based projects to link and integrate the tourism development of the area. To motivate the participants in the development of their respective areas on the cultural and heritage tourism thru the best practices presentations of Cebu Province and Cebu City.

III.

Date and Venue:

This event will be conducted on March 6-9, 2013 in the Asean City of Culture Cebu City at the Crown Regency Residences, V. Rama Avenue, Guadalupe, Cebu City.

IV.

Topics:

1. A Presentation Cebu City as Asean City of Culture Showcasing Best Practices of Cebu City Resource Speaker: Hon. Margarita V. Osmea Cebu City Councilor 2. Cultural Tourism Resource Speaker:

Dr. Jocelyn Gerra Executive Director Ramon Aboitiz Foundation 3. Heritage Conservation Resource Speaker: Mr. Jobert Bersales Professor and Museum Curator 4. Eco-Tourism Resource Speaker:

Ms. Melanie Ng Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry

5. Cebu Provinces Heritage and Tourism Practices Resource Speaker: Cebu Provincial Tourism Officer

Prepared by: The Training Team